Now that we know the next Chevrolet Impala (yes, there really IS a new one on the way!) will be produced in Canada as well as D-Ham what direction/features/platform do you think it should be?

While not much is known about the Impala, it's safe to say it will ride on a modified version of Epsilon II as it will be produced on the same line as the Volt and Malibu.

Will there be enough volume to support 2 plants? Will a FWD Impala matter in the market with the Malibu doing most of the Chevy volume?

Lots of unanswered questions but I'm curious to get the enthusiasts thoughts on the next Impala and what it should be.

 

It should be on Zeta, it will be on Super Epsilon II. AWD will be an option, so will eAssist and a 3.6L.

It is too bad they cancelled the Zeta car, it would have been out by now.

 

Agreed. GM would have had something to compete with this:

 

I don't see the point in having a fatter Malibu and calling it an Impala.

 

The Impala will probably be a decontented Cadillac XTS. It will probably be more expensive than the current model - probably about the same as the Taurus - with retail prices around $30,000 to $40,000. I expect it will use a 4 cylinder with E-assist, the 3.6L DI V6, and maybe a 3.0L twin turbo V6. I believe sales will drop to around 120,000 per year, with Malibu sales hopefully taking up the slack. I have read on another board that the Impala will basically be the Buick Lucerne replacement.

 

+1, would have really loved to have seen a RWD Impala.

Also not a big fan of AWD, its nice and I can see where it would be put to good use up above the Mason Dixon where it seems to be perpetually frozen , but man, a nice sexy 4DR RWD sedan with a great chassis and great powertrain would have been nice.

 

Yep, the rear drive Impala would have been out for about a year by now. As we know by now, GM had absolutely no money whatsoever (in debt for more than what the company was worth, in fact) to spend setting up the network in North America to support an all new vehicle chassis (here). All the other reasons were also contributing factors, but they were more "why not do it regardless" reasons than being key reasons.

As far as the actual new one, it's correct that it will move upmarket. Both the Cadillac XTS and Impala are being done together, but I wouldn't exactly call it a decontented Cadillac. More like a lower priced Lacrosse IMHO.

Pretty much everything available on the new Impala has already been said. The knockout styling that was supposed to cover the Zeta architecture is redone to drape over a larger Espilon.

It's going to be more a competitor to the Taurus. The irony is that Chevrolet would have swapped positions with Ford: one large FWD/AWD sedan for the public, and one large RWD sedan for police & fleet use.

Brings me to the Caprice.

Expect the Caprice to capitalize not just on law enforcement, but also with other fleet or specialty buyers left adrift when Ford discontinues the Crown Victoria. This includes city, state, and federal government vehicles, and even potentially car rental agencies. The Impala, like the Taurus, will be likely pretty scare at the Budget and National airport lots.

 

Seems to me it can't move too far up market... LaCrosse MSRP runs $28,000 (base CX FWD) to $38,000 (loaded CXS AWD), so they risk competing with one another.

 

Haha..Lacrosse is supposed to be decontented Cadillac XTS. With Buick, in my mind, Chevy has no room for a Toyota Avalon, Taurus like full size luxury car.

I also think the Imapla name has a lot of equity, and can move a lot off vehicles with a spot on remodel. It would be a shame to have it made more expensive and sentenced to a life of 40,000 per year sales. Keep in mind..at a point both Malibu and Impala sold 200,000 units a year each. I really would rather see the Impala updated, but it still be a value priced large sedan. Maybe have the high end stuff be optional?

 

More sales, It has worked since 2000

Caprice will probably steal away more sales from the Impala than anything.

 

As opposed to the fleet car it is now?

 

I'm not saying I totally disagree with your sentiment, but the LaCrosse is on LWB Epsilon II and the XTS and Impala are going on "Super Epsilon," which will be a larger architecture - so I think that's why he's referring to the Impala as a "deconted XTS" since they will be more similar than the XTS and the LaCrosse under the skin.

 

I'd really be interested in seeing what the "knock-out" styling really looked like for the Zeta Impala, it's too bad it will never see the light of day. As much as I like the Charger, I don't think it's a particularly great looking car; aggressive yes and I do like the new rear treatment, but there's still room to trounce it style-wise (IMHO). The GM foil to the Mopar LX cars could have been an interesting match-up.

I'm not sure that pic put out by Motor Trend (remember that one?) was really it. I don't know why I think that, I didn't really think that their rendering was all that exciting to look at - for a car that was supposedly "gorgeous".

 

So let's say the Caprice and Impala are sitting side by side on the lots and the Caprice takes off in sales and makes a bigger impact simply because of the cheaper investment... wouldn't this finally show upper management that this is what the public wants??? and that they should have stayed the coarse???

 

No need to look any further than this right here, make mine an RT or SRT.