http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...BrandChannel=0

 

They're going to need to do something with the Impala if it's going to stay on the W-body for another 4 years. The platform is ancient.

 

Grand Prix = dead
Lacrosse = replaced in 2009
Impala = MCE???? What does this mean for the EPII Impala? Is the W-body filling the void for the canceled Zeta Impala until something else can fill that plant?

 

This sounds possible. I think that the EPII Impala (or a FWD replacement of some kind) is the "Chevrolet Notchback" that was supposed to go in at Fairfax as outlined in the plant documents that became public when the UAW contract was finalized.

It's possible the RWD Impala would have been the more niche vehicle with a larger EPII "Caprice" or otherwise in between Malibu and the niche RWD Impala.

Now with RWD Impala pretty much all but done for, maybe they are just trying to limp the W body along to keep the plant going until they can put something else in there.

 

It seems like the Impala and Malibu are competing in the same market. They need to go more upscale with the Impy.

 

I don't think it says that the W-car would continue. It just says Impala.

I would not call that article very acurate. It says, "Hargrove also said the union was given a commitment by GM to produce another vehicle at its Oshawa Flex operation, where it now assembles the Camaro and Camaro convertible." Last I heard, Camaro production hasn't started yet.

But, an additional vehicle on that line is intriguing...

 

It does, essentially -

"GM agreed to continue production of the Impala, which was to have ended in 2010, through 2012 at its Oshawa plant."

That implies to me continuation of the current car through 2012.

 

It says through 2012. It does not say that it will end in 2012. I would expect that Impala on Ep-II would be built there.

 

Wonder if they're planning on making the thing "fleet-only", like Ford did with the old Taurus.

 

And GM did with the past 2 Malibu.

 

All I am saying is the Impala that will be built there through 2012 is the current W body Impala. It's possible that an Epsilon line could be put in and the next Impala could be built there starting in 2013.

Oshawa is a flex plant, so "another vehicle on that line" doesn't necessarily have to be a RWD. However, it would seem to make sense to build the next G8 or a large Buick there and let Orion or Fairfax, which already have Epsilon lines, build an EpII Impala.

 

I my memory is correct, Impala and Oshawa do have a contract that the Impala can only be built at Oshawa, similar to what St. Therease and Camaro had. So it either means the next gen Impala will be built at Oshawa or the next gen Impala is delayed and remains on the W-body. I'd bet the later of the two unfortunately.

 

I really don't need to voice my opinion... but I will anyway...


This Fnckin Blows

I might just be in the market for a Camaro instead of another WIMPala.

 

Scenario #1 - GM doesn't have enough money to develop an Impala replacement.

Scenario #2 - GM sees fuel getting expensive enough to where the Volt starts to look like the most practical transportation alternative, and decides to put its eggs in that basket (any market that makes the Volt attractive also makes a full-size sedan look rather unattractive).

#1 is more likely; #2 is more interesting.

 

There's a #3 too: GM committed to products X, Y, and Z at the Oshawa plant and the union gave up their claim to "Impala". The new Impala will come out on Epsilon II in 2010 at a different plant, while Oshawa produces "Impala Classic" for fleets until the end of this contract.

GM has proven very willing to change product names, so I would guess the name commitment is not a huge bargaining chip anymore with the union.

On another board, people were speculating heavily about a locally-produced G8 and a Zeta-based CUV or pickup truck.