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Moving Up?
Impala goes back to rwd in '09

By RICK KRANZ | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

AutoWeek | Published 11/13/06, 8:04 am et




DETROIT -- Chevrolet's Impala is going rear-wheel drive in 2009.

General Motors sources say the next Impala will share a rwd platform with the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro, which will be built late in 2008 in Oshawa, Ontario. Impala production will start several months later, a GM source said.

The rwd Impala also will be distinguished from the 2007 model by its long wheelbase and short front and rear overhangs. The car will be similar in length and width to the front-drive 2007 Impala. The passenger compartment will be larger than that of the 2007 Impala, the source said.

The rwd platform is being engineered by GM's Holden subsidiary in Australia.

GM has yet to decide whether to maintain the Impala as a mass-market sedan or move it upmarket. An upscale Impala would enable GM to avoid a market overlap with the restyled and re-engineered 2008 Chevrolet Malibu.

The 2008 Malibu will debut at the Detroit auto show in January. While the Malibu's sheet metal is unique, the car is similar to the Saturn Aura in shape and size.

The front-wheel-drive Malibu could steal sales from the Impala, GM insiders admit. And some buyers may prefer a front-drive Chevrolet sedan.

The 2008 model will be larger than the current Malibu and will have a more luxurious interior.

So will the Impala go upscale?

"It is too early to tell," the GM source said. "With Malibu's introduction next year and market analysis and trends and things like that, I think anything I said about that would be speculative."

 

So The RWD Impala should be out in Spring 2009. I can't wait to see it. I think it is one of the smartest moves GM could make. A larger Malibu should keep the FWD fans happy. I hope they don't go too upscale with the Impala. I'd like to see upscale packages, but other than they they should keep the price and content the same as the current car. (minus hub caps).


(also those optional SS rims on the '07 Impala look much better than the regular ones)

 

 

All I can state is my opinion . So ...if the 2008 Malibu is finally the car that can equally take the on the 2 best sellers ( Accord and Camry ) GM would be foolish if they didnt take the Impala upmarket into 300c/Avalon land . Make the car special and unique in everyway and let the Malibu appeal to the masses .

 

agreed

 

If they take the Impala up market will this intrude on the CTS or the rumored Pontiac Grand Prix? Or how would they differentiate the Impala so that it doesn't compete with other cars under the GM stable?

 

So will this get us our own version of the Holden Caprise in a Chevy??

 

The Impala would be MUCH bigger than the CTS , even if it touched the price of a CTS ...price alone doesnt make it a direct competitor or something that is cross shopped . I doubt too many people that paid mid-high 30's for a smaller CTS or G35 sedan cross shopped a 300-c's or a hemi Charger or SRT-8 versions of either . And those models seem to be selling well .

The Commodore , if Pontiac get its ...is a thouroughly modern design . Both inside and outside . I cant see someone scratching their heads over which to pick ..a modern upscale sport looking pontiac or a retro flavored Impala sedan .

 

If Malibu is moving not just to the virtural size of the current Impala but up market from it's current position, it's a pretty safe assumption that the next Impala will move up market, away from the next Malibu.

 

Very cool, there is going to be a nice performance lineup in a couple more years.

 

This is a good move. They've needed more seperation between models for a while.

Now... if they'll just build a friggin' Nomad, I'll be happy.

 

I'd like to see a midsize RWD sedan. Isn't the Commodore CTS sized?

 

VE Commodore is 192.7" long, 74.8" wide, 58.1" tall
07 CTS is 190.1", 70.6", 56.7"
07 Malibu is 188.3", 69.9", 57.5"
07 Impala is 200.4", 72.9", 58.7"

so yeah... i'd say the Commodore is closest to the CTS in size... though a couple inches longer, and a lot wider..

 

Commodore is pretty tidy in external size, but it's pretty large inside.

Someone else can look it up, but after sitting in back of the VE, I believe it's bigger (most certainly roomier in width) than the CTS.

The Caprice? fugitaboutit!

 

So if Pontiac gets the Commodore and the next Impala is the same size as the current one then that should take care of product overlap.