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Edmunds seems to think that the HSV Grange will become the Impala SS and it looks intriguing, but I wonder how the mid 60s influence that's rumored to be the design direction for the Impala fits in with this car? It's chiseled and pretty modern looking.

 

I really am surprised some of you folks love the current gen Impala... that is one underwhelming (looking) vehicle. Totally last century design, badly needing a full makeover.

Whether it's Grange or Caprice, it will put your Impala to shame!!!

 

No argument here..... while I like the current W-bodies I love the VE/WM cars, it's too bad we have to wait as long as we do to get them here. They will already be on the market for a almost a year and a half before the Commodore SS arrives here as the G8 - too long (as far as I'm concerned) when you consider that the Middle East was getting exports soon after the Australian debut of the car.

Looking over the Grange though and the car as nice as it is, seems a wee bit upmarket for a car sporting the bowtie.

 

Meh, Impala (right now anyway) is positioned as a family mover in the Camry realm. Bread and butter family sedans are conservative in the States. Now that the '08 Malibu appears to finally be a worthy competitor in that arena, it will free up Impala to be the big, bold RWD sedan Chevy needs.

Besides, while I like what Holden does, it isn't like they consistantly set the world on fire with their styling (I always thought Aussies preferred subdued styling, which is why criticism of Impala from across the pond strikes me as quite ironic....)

 

Don't believe everything you read.....

 

The newest Chevy Rumble magazine has a big article about how the new rear drive Impala is dead, discontinued, and gone. They have got it all wrong I hope.
Is the Impala still going to be rwd?

 

Impala is still on. But it's been delayed.

 

I don't, especially when it comes to print mags. This site is usually far more accurate than any of the mags.

Personally, I think, as I said, that that Grange is too up-scale to be the Impala SS. It is a very nice car (looks pretty hot in white) but I think the price point for that particular vehicle would be well north of the Impala SS and its intended market. That and the car (Grange) sports no mid 60s heritage cues rumored to be injected into the Impala (and why would it). I don't really see such cues integrating well into the VE/WMs lines, but I guess we'll see - someday, hopefully.

Things have been pretty quiet on the GM RWD front since the fuel economy buzz hit the fan. The RWD Impala seems to have moved even further underground than it was before and it was Area 51 material well before all of this happened.

 

Honestly I don't think you can 100% believe anything you read in print, they're so far behind the info curve now it's not even worthwhile looking. This is even more evident when the GM-centric mags that you would think might have some "inside" knowledge that other mags don't, can't even get it right.

Sites like this one have it all over the mags.....

 

Accurate, but remember that Impala even its heyday was a conservative, bread and butter family mover - albeit an arguably stylish and very successful one. The high performance, but still conservative looking (409, 396 and 427) SS variants sold in fairly small numbers overall.

 

Hm. I heard phase 2 of the North American Zetas was delayed, but Camaro and Impala were supposedly still on track.

 

Pontiac's G8 is in stone.

GTO is still on barring a calamity.

Chevy Camaro's schedule has no change.

Impala will be delayed a few months due to rejuggling powertrain lineup.

Cadillac's zeta is still on schedule.


Phase 2 (which I suspect is either smaller variations of the Zeta, more niche zetas, or both) is being reevaluated and will likely find other architectures including Espilon 2 and this smaller RWD chassis that Cadillac, Pontiac, and Holden are supposed to have starting in 2011.

 

2011..so in GM speak thats 2017 right?? Hows this for phase 3..get the product to market.. Its nice that that great Impala we heard about that will revolutionize chevy is delayed and might be gone..nice..and all this wonderful product that the people of the future are enjoying. Those product cannot suffer the fate that is time to make..they need to be out in 2-3 years not 5-6 like mentioned. Its just not the best way to keep the ground it has gained. Heck look at Caddy..slipping again..I can tell you why..but you all know..time..how long has the CTS been out without a facelift?? a while. I know the 08 is now out soon but maybee it should of been out last year?? along with the new Escalade..the new STS and so on. the SRX should get something soon..
Basically im venting on a small fraction of the problem and yea some is part of what we known and some is just ramblings but is it me or is GM the guy in the dingy on the party boat getting the scraps that fall overboard?? Seams like it to me on many popular things to come out from other car makers. Its like GM had Eyor mentality or something..I really am surprised that the Camaro is a go..I really am..Now on the flip side I know Saturn has a turn around with the Aura and the Malibu with the 08..but what after that?? nothing for a couple of years??? to maybee 2011?? I could go on but I am just rambling on about something that in the current mix cannot be fixed..

 

If GM is going to keep whoring out the Commodore family, it'd be nice if they'd invest in some different exteriors for it. Don't get me wrong I think it's a very attractive car, but you see the exact same set of headlights and body panels with pretty much every worldwide brand GM owns.

 

guionM: Your post in this thread conspicuously didn't mention Buick. Can you please offer some good news there, too? Is the Lucerne (Park Avenue) delayed several months, too, due to "rejuggling powertrain lineup."? Will the Riviera be one of the niche Zetas / Epsilon II / RWD vehicles? Lastly, is NA Buick scheduled to get the Chinese Skylark or a small crossover (smaller than Enclave)? Thank you!