Driving up I-5 from San Diego a few hours ago, I came up on a black Impala SS with Michigan manufacturer's plates, and about 5 people in it. I'm guessing it was a press drive.

The thing that stands out most about the car is it seems to have very large mufflers hanging under the rear end, and a set of dual pipes that stick out the back. I hate to say it, but the car looks pretty serious!

Black paint & a different grill changed the B-body Caprice from a bloated joke to the ultimate sinister looking car, and a similar transformation takes place with the new Impala SS. It doesn't look sinister, but it does look like "probable cause". That awkward tall skinny look of the Impala changes to a "10 pounds of equptment in a 5 pound bag" look.

The tires are notably wider (though I still don't like the rims), and the big round tail lights work well with the look of the rear portion of the car (amazing what blacking out the rest of the tail lamp assembly does to the overall look!). From about 5 or 6 car lengths ahead, even the thin chrome Chevy spear on the grille looks pretty decent. If Chevy had designed a different grill, got a better set of rims, and reworked those 3rd rear side windows (like they did on the Caprice to Impala switch in the 90s) the transformation from "yuk" to "yea" would be complete.

As I said, I suspect it was a press "ride & drive", so if you open up a magazine in September on the SS, and see a black Impala with Michagan mfg plates that start 054M..., that's the one I saw.

 

You know I cant let this go without saying something like......Its still fwd.
It may outrun my 96, but it gets no credit from me until the engine drives the rear wheels.

 

Bookmark this thread.

Six months from now, someone will get an Impala SS in the high 12's.

 

Will there be any interior highlights on the SS model? Does anyone know if these larger mufflers have any hint of an audible exhaust note?

My last question is, these should run right with the last GTP's right? If so, cant wait to see one.

 

yes these will run with the previous GTP. I don;t know what the difference in weight is, but it is very close. and there is someone that has a street legal GTP running mid 10's, with no NOS. pretty intense.

 

For more on the 2004 supercharged engine see:

http://media.gm.com/division/powertr...004%20L67A.doc

· Powdered Metal Connecting Rods
· Ultra-Fast Oxygen Sensors
· PO4+ Powertrain Control Module
· Direct-Mount Air Conditioning Compressor
· Improved Sealing
· More Efficient Catalytic Converter
· Improved Accessory Belt
· Dual-Diaphragm Fuel Pressure Regulator
· Improved Starter
· 5W-30 Engine Oil
· Changes for Common Assembly with new series III V-6s


Ted

 

I wish they would put it out in more than black though. It seems whenever they do something right they hinder themselves by offering it up to a limited amount of people. I know down here, nobody is trying to get a black car unless they absolutely love the color. Its just too hot.

 

I agree.

I hate when color choices are limited.

Same thing with Z06... if I want a 2004 Magnetic Red Metallic or Spiral Gray Metallic Z06, I should be able to get one.

 

I didn't get a chance to see the interior (too many people in the car, we were all doing about 75-80mph, and I was riding in a lower car), but I'm guessing the exhaust note would be the same as a GTP. They looked the size of the flowmaster I have near the tailpipe of my SC, so it should sound decent.

Impala SS is marginally lighter than the GTP. Even though there's about a 20 horsepower difference between the 2, it's pretty insignificant. Torque is about the same, and that 20hp probally has pretty minimal effect of top speed.

Besides, I suspect that like all GM's supercharged W/Midlux cars, it will brobally have a govorner on it.

 

I hate the new impala's. I dont mind the front of the car but the rear is dumb. There was like no thought put into it. no styleing, no craftsmanship. I love the B-body impala SS 94-96. The nice grey leather interior SS graphics, Floor shifter on 96 only. And they are large enough to carry all your friends some groceries and hall ***. The new ones are just Sport Compacts. they have no trunk they have 4 doors but the seats are small and uncomfortable. Its like driveing a 4 door civic. I would get a marauder over a new Impala Anyday

 

Are you talking about the 2000+ chevy Impala ??

Do they sell different ones where you live??

 

The new Impala's have 18.6 cu/ft of trunk space, and the B body versions have 20. Civics have 12 and even Accords have only 14.

The only issue I have with the new Impala SS is that it's FWD (Imagine having that blown V6 in in that sized car in RWD form! ). As far as the rest of the ingredients, for being a 4 door sedan, I'm impressed.

 

Actually, a lot of thought was put into the rear of the 2000+ Impala... it was specifically made to "make people think of Corvette" with the 4 round taillights.

How did you feel about the high-craftman styling of the 92ish era Caprice before they built the Impala SS variant? Not exactly svelt or elegant....

Finally, if you can't fit your friends in a 2000+ Impala, then you are either trying to fit 7 people i nthe car, or everyone weighs in over 350 lbs!

 

Are you sure it wasn't 095M40 That's the one that was on the Hot Rod Power Tour. I had to go back and look at my video to be sure.

As an owner of a black 96 impala SS, I'm not impressed

 

Sales and money wise the FWD Impala has been everything GM hoped the late B-body would be...

It is funny how everyone hated the B-body because it was so ugly and now the old Impala SS hangs like a big halo over the whole old B-body lineup...

The New Impala SS I am willing to bet is as fast if not faster than the old one stock..