Kind of reminds me of the time when Oldsmobile stuck the name "Cutlass" on at least 3 carlines simply because the name was once on the most popular car in the US.

They bizzarely felt it was the name selling the car instead of the car selling on it's merits. Not a good idea then or now.

Call the FWD Impala, and the RWD car somthing else.

 

My point in starting this topic is that it seems to me that gm is putting all of their rwd dollars into luxury or performance cars.

It seems to me that the big thing being discussed is the new VE chassis? Why not use it for an affordable rwd sedan? Holden makes affordable rwd cars off the same chassis's that gm been using for years. Take for example the commodore. You can get it with a v6 and irs all the way to v8.

 

Ever driven a Northstar powered Cadillac? That's a strong motor in a FWD chassis that handles very well.

Anyway, when I first read the title to this thread I was like, "DUH! RWD is the best!" But after reading some responces and ideas, I'm starting to think that FWD does have a place in this car..

How about this... Who here remembers the G8? Grand Prix body with ALL wheel drive (using drivetrain parts from the Aztec) and a V8 up front. THAT is what the impala SS NEEDS!!!
It's not like GM doesn't know how to do AWD. They've got Subaru which only offers AWD vehicles. AWD and FWD drivetrains are similar enough that they can both be used on the same chassis at the same plant. Plus, it would go along perfectly with the current Silverado SS

 

I'm just happy with the fact that a v8 is at last in the lineup once again. I could look the other way when it comes to it driving the front wheels. Chevy will most likely use a small v8 (4.XL), and the numbers will probably be no more than 275hp. The Fwd Nissan Maxima's are putting out near that much, and the Impala would be its direct competitor. The maxima's have serious tq steer problems though, and that will be the case with the v8 impala's.

Going with jackass's idea, Brandon aka formula posted about how Chevy has 2 entries in the mid-sized sedan market (impala and Malibu) and how both compete for sales against one another. If that's the case, why not differentiate the 2 models so there wouldn't be as much internal competition? One way is to give the Impala rwd with the v8 and have it move upscale.

 

How bout we make the Impala Chevy's affordable rwd sedan that has a performance package available.

Then...Chevy also has an even more affordable fwd sedan called (insert new name here)

Impala stays true to its roots, and Chevy has a fwd sedan for those that like fwd. Kind of like if Cadillac keeps Deville fwd.

 

Yes I have, but until recently FWD Cadillacs haven't meant performance.
I'm not sold on FWD. It was touted by everyone as the end-all for traction, economy, world peace, etc. Quite frankly from an engineering and performance standpoint its overrated imo. Its just easier manufacturing-wise, otherwise why do it at all?
Back in the days of yore, wasn't the Impala the 2-door version of the full size Chevy and the Caprice/Biscanyne the 4-door version? Fastforward to the 21st Century and its now a 4-door FWD sedan. I never could figure that one out.

 

Impala began as Chevy's top Full size car in '58, displacing the Belair. Impala was more stylish and it could be said that the car started as a stylish budget luxury car. Belair, meanwhile continued at pretty much the same level it was.

Impala itself moved down to a mid grade full size car once the Caprice came out in 1966. Belair and Biscayne were the budget & fleet cars.

When Chevy downsized their full size cars in 1977, Impala became the budget or fleet car (displacing Belair & Biscayne), and the Impala name was discontinued completely when the 1991 full sized Chevys were redesigned.

Caprice & Impala were offered in coupes, sedans and convertibles (till GM stopped making convertibles, then full sized coupes), while Belair and Biscayne at one time were also both coupes (the infamous '57 Chevy is really a Chevrolet Belair!), they both eventially were sold only as sedans.

The idea of Impala being a "performance" name began when Chevrolet brought out the Impala SS in 1994. Of the 40 years of Impala's history, it's only those 3 years that changed the Impala name in some people's mind.

Historically, the current Impala is exactly what the "Impala" has ALWAYS been, nice stylish family car. Just like the "Malibu" has ALWAYS been a good budget mid-sized car.

When people start rewriting history, that's when things get messed up.

 

Before 1964, there was no midsize Chevrolet. The B body had performance engine options in late 61, 62, and 63. The 61/62 cars with the 09s are considered by many to be Chevys first muscle car. I agree though, Impalas are stylish family cars...with performance engines (and manual transmissions in early ones) as options. Chevrolet needs an affordable, tough rwd sedan for law enforcement too. Impala should be just that.

 

No arguement from me there. Chevrolet desparately needs an LE vehicle. With some police departments now refusing to buy any more Crown Victorias, Chevrolet could clean up. Holden is great at producing low volume cars at a profit, and this would be a great opportunity to sell some of those RHD Luminas or Caprices they sell to the middle east here for this market.

 

in regards to the LE vehicle, a town around here uses them, not exactly sure how many they have but, yea theyre already using them

 

Holdens?

 

no, theyre using chevy impalas as law enforcement vehicles
not too big of a town, its just outside of cincy, so im guessing they dont have too many, but, its interesting considering my city still uses crown victorias and we're right next to each other

 

Where I do most of my driving, Impalas have a fairly large chunk of the police market. I'd say almost half of the cops I see are in Chevys. My guess is they do it for cost and because we get plenty of snow (yes, I believe FWD still is better is the snow).

Back to the original topic, some of Chrysler's next generation family cars are going RWD, which would eliminate the argument that a RWD Impy would be unique and maybe pick up sales. The market in family cars demands FWD, and I think the Impala should stay that way too.

 

I would say about 75% of cop cars I see are Impalas now. Since I live in Georgia, there really is no need to have a vehicle that is better in snow since we never get any. Also, I saw my first Intrepid cop car. Does anyone know how the Police Impala is doing compared to the Crown Vic and Intrepid?

 

i would own a 4dr mid sized sedan if they could make it meet some requirements like a v8 manual transmission option and rwd. i can make it performance and compete with a 3 series,lexus 300