The rumor keeps kicking around that because of the new 2020 CAFE regulations the RWD Impala is dead and Impala will stay FWD. I never really understood why CAFE will kill RWD. RWD doesn't make cars use more gas. I know weight does but is RWD that much heavier? And will it impact MPG that much??? Something doesn't add up.

Example:
2008 CTS 3.6L RWD A6 = 18/26
2008 Malibu 3.6L FWD A6 = 17/26

The DOHC 3.6L is the future, so I assume it will be in the next Impala. As you can see from the above example the heavier CTS even does better than the FWD Malibu. So how would a bigger EPII Impala beat a CTS if the lighter Malibu can't??? And if they need more mileage From a RWD Impala they can always change gearing or use a 2.8L or 3.2L DOHC V6

.. and finally GM keeps saying CAFE is the reason for canceling "insert project here", yet that CAFE requirement is 12 years away!!!! That is enough time to fit in two more generations of Impala before that CAFE requirement needs to be met

 

Not when you don't have the RWD Impala finished yet. And imagine if you're GM, you come out with this kick @$$ RWD Impala.....and then have to kill it because of CAFE a few years later. Suddenly GM becomes the goat for killing yet another performance-oriented car. It's pretty bad to think about, but not doing a RWD Impy now would save GM a lot of future headaches.

The other questions of FWD vs. RWD -- I'm not an engineer so I don't have a good answer. I know the big switch to FWD originally came in the 70's for the same concerns. Cars could be smaller and packaged better with a FWD layout. Smaller = lighter = more fuel efficient, that's the theory anyway.

 

If you read Lutz's quote that suggests the RWD Impala is dead in favor of a FWD version, he suggests that the difference is only ~ 1 mpg.

 

Begining in 2011, higher CAFE requirements must be met. They will go up every year about 4% until it caps at 35mpg in 2020. Since automakers are working on products 3 or 4 years in advance of their release, its easier to just say F it now and wiser to spend the money elsewhere. Its not that they know they will have to kill it off in the future, its more of a why bother with it at all attitude.

 

I've used those numbers and the numbers of the Impy SS with the LS4. It doesnt add up no matter how you cut the mustard. There is a political struggle in GM thats doing this.

Not to mention a "police only" Chevrolet Caprice would be a good way to get the cars out there without canning the resale value of "The Pontiac Zeta". Strip some of the toys out and sell it fleet. Its a possibility...

EDIT:
Making the Impala RWD is a bit of a stretch, as on such a high volume car 1mpg is important. But RWD in general getting axed so quickly and boldly seems a bit of a knee jerk reaction. Smaller FWD cars in volume could balance a Zeta lineup (and others) to improve the mpg some. While CAFE is important, selling good cars is more important.

 

There is no money in fleet vehicle sales. Police duty vehicles require a lot of heavy duty parts with little or no profitable luxury content that municipalities want to buy at a steep discount.

 

Plus they romp the hell out of them and GM still has to honor their 5 yr 100K warranty, right?

 

I don't understand this either, a RWD Impala would not upset Chevy's CAFE applecart enough to make a difference in the Chevy's CAFE rating.

The current Impala SS is rated at what 28-29 MPG Hwy, and thats with a lowly 4-speed auto. I am sure there would be much improvements if the Impala had a 6-speed auto and if the LS4 had DI, that should be enough to put it above 30 MPG Hwy. A RWD Impala should be able to get the same, with the right gearing and tech.

Plus a RWD Impala would not be selling at the numbers it is now, production would drop considerably and the Malibu is aimed at taking the FWD Impala's spot

How does CAFE look at cars that are E-85 capable? Gas mileage goes down with E-85. Is there an exemption in the CAFE rules for E-85 vehicles?

 

Plus Ford has an ancient police car that they can sell dirt cheap and still make high profits on. Plus Chrysler. GM would be taking a bath to get into the police cruiser market at this point.

I think that between Pontiac, Buick, and Cadillac, GM will have the big RWD market covered really well; and a Chevrolet would be largely duplicative.

 

I stand corrected then. I was put under the impression that the Charger was not a "cheap" police cruiser to sell to agencies, but it was better than the aging Crown Vic.

 

Yeah, but I have yet to see one on the road, so I have no idea how well they are selling versus the Ford PI.

 

CAFE is measured as combined city and highway fuel economy and must include SUVs and light duty trucks in the average. Basically, the domestic automakers will have to completely redesign their entire line of vehicles within about 10 years to make the average. BIG changes coming and GM dropping a new V8 design and RWD platform cars is just the begining. Nothing in GMs current lineup has a 35mpg combined mileage. Maybe GM can buy Kia or something to help out their average fuel economy.

EDIT: Auburn Hills MI uses Charger police vehicles since Chrysler is based there. All blacked out and VERY mean looking.

 

My little town has two already, no idea what they cost. They do look nice in police trim though.

Or they could just sell one plug in only car. It would get infinite mpg's and if you average anything with infinity you get, infinity.

 

They already own Daewoo, who makes a lot of decent "Chevys" that we don't get.

 

Impala SS in 2008 ratings gets 24 mpg Hwy. No 6 speed is going to raise the efficiency that much. But, what is interesting is why does the Malibu get such poor mileage for a car that size.

CTS
17/26 V6 263HP/304HP
3,874 lbs

Malibu
22/30 4cylinder 169HP
17/26 V6 252HP
3415 lbs

Impala
16/24 V8
18/29 V6 211 HP
18/28 V6 233 HP
3674-3790 lbs

Maybe the engines for the Malibu are cheaper???