Well, it happens on the Caddy DTS and Buick Lucerne.

 

Ever hear of the term: "tunnelvision"???

Lateral support???
Kids don't ride in the front seat anymore???
The idea would send GM backwards???
Bench seats still have a place in large cars, even if it's only the 40/20/40 variety.

90% of the car buying public don't buy cars to whip around racetracks, and don't care about lateral support. They care about ride & practicality. Explaining lateral support to the real car buying public is like explaining the caloric value of Kool-Aid to a 3 year old. If they like it, they want it.

As mentioned, Impala isn't a Camaro, Corvette, or Mustang, or even a BMW. Impala is going to be a competitor to a Crown Victoria. It's going to be a relatively big car. Being from Chevrolet, it's going to part of GM's primary fleet sales, including sales to police, taxis, government agencies, and car rental agencies. It's likely to be the highest volume large car in the US (if it matches the 250K GM is restricting the current Impala to.

A bench seat would be a great idea, if not a necessity. And it has nothing to do with old people, kids, or moving a car company backwards. Pickup trucks have bench seats. It's no big deal. Would even be a huge selling point I think.

My '75 Malibu Classic had a bench with a rather large folddown armrest. Very comfortable car. And it still was plenty fast (for the day).

 

I'm not really sure if the people who like having a bench seat in their car even really use it anywhere near regularly, but want that "utility" there if needed. It's easier to seat six in a car with 3-across seating front and rear - not more comfortable (well, maybe in back - 3 bodies as opposed to 4 - but that isn't exactly legal, now is it?) just easier.

BTW, even with a tilt wheel, the back seat is a whole lot better for making out.... or so I'm told.

 

Yeah, after some digging I see that it's offered on some Buicks and the DTS. I still fail to see much of a point to it. I'd be interested in what the take rate is on that option (costs ~$300). Less comfortable seats and a folding armrest the height of your butt all so you can monitor your groceries on the way home or occasionally sit your grandson up front, perhaps ill-advisedly. If there's a market for it and it doesn't drive up other costs, why not? I guess it's just not for me (and I grew up with 'em).

 

My father was a Buick salesman for 30 years. When the 1997 Century/Regal came out they lost a lot of sales becase you couldn't get the 3800 with a bench seat and column shift. Customers wanted a Regal with a 3800 and bench with column shift - but you couldn't get a bench in a Regal and you couldn't get a 3800 in a Century - so they weren't offering the option people really wanted. Yes, those are older customers who "don't matter" but they were lost Buick sales nonetheless.

 

I'm not sure why a candidate for fleet sales that's a large car needs a bench seat. Same for police, etc. (see Charger photo, fleet info). Sure, bench seats come in trucks and a handful of other cars. Typically they are the base seating option and undesirable. I've not seen a car ad proclaiming "bench seats" as selling feature lately. I don't think it's a step backwards image wise, just unnecessary. A car doesn't have to be a Corvette to benefit from bucket seats, either. I'd imagine it's what most people expect. And I certainly hope GM isn't benchmarking a car that will be 30 years old when the Impala debuts. Yeah, CV has survived (everyone stopped making lg rwd competing models).

At the end of the day, the question seems like it's being posed because, "Say, wouldn't it be neat if the new retro Impala had a cool way-back option like bench seating?" Novelty aside, I don't see it selling cars. If it is that important, sure, include it.

 

I'd love a 60/40 bench w/ column shift option. (With optional paddle shifters on the steering wheel as well )

My first car, a 1967 Chevelle Malibu, had a front bench. It was great for drive-ins for sure.

However I just like the idea of a bench. The 60/40 in the new Silverado (with the hidden seat compartment) is on the top of my wishlist if I buy a new truck before the Camaro returns.

My lab loves riding up front with me in my Tahoe. I fold the bench up and he lies with his head on my lap. Without a split bench either he or my wife is riding in the back.

 

Since the top three passenger cars don't have them; Camry, Accord, and I believe the Alitma is #3, I can't believe there's THAT big a demand to warrrent the development cost.

And for G*d's sake, it's not 1968 anymore..........

 

+1 for a bench! I own a 95 Impala SS and it does have bucket seats and I wouldnt have it any other way.....but if GM is going to push the new Impala as a fleet car like the 91-96 models then a bench is a must! I would make the bench std in the base with the option to upgrade to buckets and the SS model with buckets standard. If they follow suit from the 90's there may be a Caprice/Impala with one serving the fleet and base to compete with camerys and accords and the other model with all the goodies to hang out with some of the more upscale sedans.

Jason

 

What about Camary, ACcord, and Altima fleet and police sales and 55+ y/o customers?

 

I seriously hope they're aiming a little higher than the Crown Vic. Even with four brands stopped on top of Chevy the way the new lineup is sounding there won't be much similiar in GM at the time. Plenty of room to attack the altima and accord crowd, whom would probably be sent running by a bench seat.

 

I seriously doubt that the target demographic of the Impala SS will that young. I'd probably add 15 or 20 years to that.

And FWIW, I happen to know alot of people who would consider the availability of a front bench seat (even at additional cost) in a full sized car, as a selling point. Yes, maybe even on an SS.

BTW, anyone have any numbers on the take rate for DTS and Lucerne?

 

Bench seats hmm just seems so old fashioned and cheap. I didn't' realise cars still came out with bench seats, is this an American thing? Last bench seat I sat in was on old 80's Ford UTE.

Doubt Zeta could take a column shifter, its been designed to be LHD & RHD.

 

Haha and the problem with the wife in the back is?

 

If they can make a great looking dash that flows well with the bench seat then I have no problem with it. Maybe they should make two dashes like the Silverado has for bucket and bench seats.