http://www.gminsidenews.com/forum/in...showtopic=7372

 

No big shocker.

Start with the V6, add a potential V8 "SS" the following year or so...

With the volume Impala does in it's cirrent state, it's not that big of a deal... The V6's sell like the proverbial hotcakes, and are going to be the volume of production anyway.

 

Yup, they will probably save the 5.3L V8 for the SS model a year later. 245HP 3.9L should be more than enough power for most people. Big upgrade over the current non-SS 180Hp 3.4L & 200HP 3.8L

 

I thought the whole point of naming the pontiac the "G8" was becasue it had a V8 engine.

 

Big mistake, IMO. THe new Dodges have the Hemi form the get go. And when are these Chevys showing up? 3+ years AFTER Dodge?

Not sayihg the 6 would flop but the V8s nice just for image.

There way late to the party and don't even bring the really hot date. Dumb

 

Beyond V6 only initially, it'll be interesting to see if GM actually has the ***** to call this car Impala......and replace the current Impala with it.

Personally, I think that they should.

 

I agree 100%. Having the V8 from day one will draw more attention to the car and probably get it more positive press. I just read yesterday that 47% of 300's come with the Hemi V8

If they want to save the V8 for a "Halo" of the Impala/Grand Prix line then they should do what DCX did. Have 2 V8s. Launch with the LS4 then put out an LS2 version a year later.

 

Best guess: Chevy's Zeta will be just as heavy as Chryslers V6-powered 300, and equally slow. However, the new OHV V6 Chevy will be a perfect car for "hearing impaired" drivers. After all, only the nearly-deaf won't mind the "junky drivetrain noises" that a pushrod V6 makes.

 

Hmmm, my pushrod V8 doesn't make "junky drivetrain noises". What is so special about a pushrod V6, especially when said V6 is a newly redesigned 60 degree block (as opposed to the 90 degree block of the 3800, and the Mercedes line of OHC V6s for that matter, and the 60 degree but older school design of the 3100/3400 engine)? Most reviews I've seen say that the 3500 six in the Malibu is quite refined sounding. The sound quality of an engine has much to do with the design of the block, oil pan, accessory brackets, intake resonators (like the "home plate" on the B-body LT1), etc. An oil pan can act like a big speaker, as can the heads or block walls or accessories. Proper tuning of these parts/devices helps keep broadcast sound to a minimum and of a more desired quality.

EDIT: Oh, and I'm guessing the Zeta cars will be a bit lighter than the LX cars. Even if they are not, though, they probably won't be as slow. Hell, a 200 hp, 3800 powered Impala (a few hundred pounds lighter than an LX, granted) will outrun the "250 hp" 3.5L V6 LX cars. That "250 hp V6" seems to have trouble performing up to its rating. The base 3800 cars are quicker, and the supercharged 3800 cars (all 240 or 260 hp) will destroy the n/a 3.5L Chrysler engine.

 

Push rods are making a comeback. It's even rumored that Toyota has a pushrod v8 in the works. They were suprised how well it worked in the Truck series they are now participating in.

 

Our mutual friend mentioned that this was the reason for just a light restyling for the 2006 Impala. However, I still have a hard time believing that GM, with it's history of hedging it's bets, will actually replace the "W" based Impala with the "Zeta". I strongly believe the 2 will run side by side for a period of time (a year or "years").

I know that when Bob Lutz said GM would be running FWD midsized cars permanently, he was probally talking about the Malibu & G6 type of vehicles. But I don't see LeCrosse going away before 2010, and it's not going to be the only car based on the mid-lux. There's got to be a Chevy in there.

Just for the record, Impala can only be made at Oshawa (ie: the Ste. Therese agreement). This news, if true, means that Oshawa #2 will be converted entirely to Zeta production instead of just partially.

 

Maybe the Zeta can be called Impala and the W-car Chevy Classic.

 

Why would they be using a pushrod six?? I thought Zeta V6 options was going to be variants of the HFV6??

 

The Holden cars will definately be using the Alloytec engines but in the US SAAB, Buick, and Caddy will get the HF 6s and Pontiac and Chevy will have HV 6s. It will be interesting to see where Saturn will run though because it is a value company, for now, and HF= higher building cost.

 

The names are not certain. I actually talked to the guy who wrote it about that after the fact. It will more likly be Caprice or Monte Carlo...


As for the V6 in 08....that is GM's current plans...and that is much more concrete than anything else here. Also, the V6 sedans will still have the 4L60E in 08, but the GTO will get something called the 6L80E.