It’s safe to say that the current Chevrolet Impala is an old, yet reliable dog that serves its current place as a very mild mannered full-sized snooze cruiser to the masses and rental car companies. The W-body platform it’s been riding on has been around since 1990 in some form or another, while the current body style has been around since 2006. Needless to say, it’s old. But we know a big change up is coming for the Chevy full-sized sedan, and insiders tell us that we can expect an all-new Impala to make its way to market by 2013 as a 2014 model year.
For those hoping for a rear-wheel-drive Zeta-based Holden Statesman-esque next generation Impala may be disappointed to hear that the next generation model will assume the form of an Epsilon II, front-wheel-drive-based sedan. But that’s not to say that the new Impala will just be a numb reincarnation of the current model, oh no.
Insiders tell us that the new Impala will share the Camaro-inspired design language similar to the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, but with more aggressive and pronounced features. What’s more, the next generation Impala will appeal to both mainstream and enthusiast buyers, hinting at a base model as well as a performance variant (Z-Spec?). Â Chances are we could see a next generation ECOTEC engine in the base model, with perhaps either a 300+ horsepower 3.6L LFX or twin-turboed 3.0L LF3 V6 engine for the range topper equipped with all-wheel-drive. This would set it up to rival the Ford Taurus SHO in performance, while still appealing to those who couldn’t care less about output.
Whatever other details emerge in the coming months, you can count on GM Authority to be on top of it.
Comments
The car will be based on the gm 352 platform the same as the new XTS and is currently running around the proving grounds. the car will have a high level of electronics and will have a more agressive stance a sporty version of the XTS. This car will surprise many and be out soon the car is being fast tracked for production in Detroit.
I heard that Taurus will get the 3.5 ecoboost. For a cop car that sounds really good since when under normal driving it’ll get v6 economy, and power when you need it. I also heard that GM will have similar engine, any Idea when?
The Taurus already has the 3.5 EcoBoost; it’s called the SHO.
Interesting that GM is worried about building a Taurus-fighter when the Taurus itself isn’t setting the world on fire, sales-wise. It’s done alright but I am not sure it’s up to the projections Ford gave it.
Kyle – you are a gorgeous looking young man, you single?
Well thanks Jase – but no, I’m 2 years and 5 months into a relationship that’s wonderful 🙂
Glad to hear any real news about the next Impala. I’ll be saving all my pennies to swing the performance model!
The devolopment engineers had better be carefull or this may by a more fit vehical in Z-spec trim than the Holden based Strobe or whatever. I hear ya Kyle, I was thinking the same thing mysef, the Taurus may pay it’s own keep but it’s no Fusion, saleswise, The Taurus’s problem in my opinion is that it’s too much like a 1977 LTD2 or a Audi A8 for that matter in that it weighs over two tons and has the interior room of a Cruse, but is as hard to park as the old Crown Victoria, I think the Fusion is just as roomy inside but like six inches norrower on the outside and easyer to see out of to boot. I hope the new Impala is a true famaly car, in that it is usefully roomier than the Malibu while not being too large to park in the standard Wallmart space: I assume desighned off of the dimensions of a 1996 Camry.
Fully agree, i sat in a Fusion and the Taurus and the Fusion seemed almost identical in terms of space except a tad more head room going to the Taurus and a tad wider.. Ford has no reason for the car to be 202 inches long and have the same rear seat room as their smaller 190 in long car. The current Taurus will not be successfully unltil they redo the interior and take away the coffin feeling and give the rear set 3 more inches of room.
Until then im waiting for the new impala.
Yep, I had a Taurus for a weekend when they first came out (courtesy of Ford and http://www.thefordstory.com). Liked the car a lot but the gigantic center console is like a cockpit and really makes the car feel smaller than it is. I had my early-60’s age parents excited to test drive one but after the drive, it was immediately off the consideration list because of that massive console. The trunk is plenty big; it’s just the cabin that needs reconfiguring.
Wait, what’s wrong with the cockpit-like center console? I love that thing!
The cockpit looks nice, but it just feels cramped when your leg literally sits against it. Considering how wide the car is it should have much more space, the prev version of it in 500 and 08-09 taurus is how a car this big should be, very spacious. If 2 inches were shaved off on both sides of the console and 3 inches of rear leg room lost from the 09 models were added back, this car would be perfect, but the fusion sport just seems to be the better buy over a taurus.
I hope they do offer the AWD with the twin-turbo 3.0L or the 3.6L. Quite frankly, I have a Malibu LTZ with the 2.4L 6A right now and I would not make that mistake again. Also, I think FWD is highly over-rated. I would prefer RWD or AWD. So that means either Chevy comes up with something a little bigger, a little faster and a little sportier or I bail to another brand. I hate to say it, but the 300 and the Genesis are both on my radar. And I’m a guy with 3 bow ties in my garage right now. I guess I could look at the CTS 3.6L AWD, but that’s a bit more money than I want to spend.