When Chevrolet revealed the 2014 Chevrolet Impala at the 2012 New York International Auto Show, we were elated with its refreshing deign, and its appropriate powertrains upon launch, along with all-wheel-drive. Whoops, scratch that last bit out. Despite all of the promise, GM reps have shared that AWD is not in the short, or even the long term plans for the 2014 Impala. The reasoning is that all-wheel-drive is a “very slim piece of the full-size sedan market.” We wonder if residents of all-weather states like Michigan would be as accepting to the idea.
It looks like we can forget about a high-output model. Still, all-wheel-drive may not be totally necessary in order for a vehicle to be relevant in this segment. However, the good cars with a broad offering, such as the Ford Taurus, do. And with such a sporty and modern design inside and out, why would General Motors go and neuter the 2014 Impala of all-wheel-drive? Especially with the V6? The Buick LaCrosse offers all-wheel-drive with the V6. As will the XTS. But the Impala will not? Must be the unique selling point to separate it from the pack.
However, maybe we’ll all find what we’re looking for in the new Chevy performance sedan set to launch next year.
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Chalk it up to GM trying to keep other divisions alive. Chevrolet, for all it's volume, is kicked at every turn in favor of the lessor GM brands. Low volume players like Camaro and Corvette and upcoming Spark are the only exclusives. Every other platform is available at one or more of the other divisions in some form. GMC, "professional Grade" offers the same trucks with a different grille and some small but nice additonal features, all at about the the same price as Chevy. Chevy sucks hind tit when it comes to colors and interiors too. GM hamstrings them in so many ways, all in an attempt to keep the volume player from making Buick and GMC irrelevant. Just imagine how many Checy could sell if given all they should be.
From a business standpoint it makes a lot of sense the Buick lacrosse has AWD and the new Cadillac XTS has AWD sales are slowing down with the lacrosse so adding AWD in a vehicle like the impala would steal a chunk of sales from Buick since they are GM's premium brand the impala doesn't need much to sale because GM sales them like hot cakes so Chevy wouldn't suffer from the impala not having AWD because think about it the lacrosse is a nice vehicle but the times we are in the average consumer would purchase a Chevy impala LTZ loaded with AWD over a lacrosse any day especially from the price point which should be in the mid 20k range although the average consumer doesn't know that the two cars ride on the same platform doesn't separate the fact that there basically the same vehicle the only difference is your paying for the premium which in my case doesn't really separate the two vehicles on top of that it doesn't mean that GM will never add AWD because Buicks still doesn't have a full car lineup so there is a chance that down the future we will see AWD in the impala right now it wouldn't make sense to .....I don't want to get off topic but that's the same reason AWD and the 3.6 V6 wasn't added to the regal gs they could have easily bolted it on but came up with lame excuses with the weight and blah blah but come on guys the regal gs is priced at 38k if the GS was equipped with AWD and the V6 at that price point it would not only steal sales from the CTS because of the hardware being so similar and not to mention a near to fully loaded ats would be at the same price point it's just not good for business because of how long GM is taking to roll out there vehicles GM is basically hindering there other brands from flourishing due to there whole bankrupt process and government motor circus.
All wheel drive would more welcome in a rear drive platform like the 300
At least the Impala will have other high tech equipment out of the premium platformmates.
Chrysler had the sense to offer a sophisticated all-wheel drive option to BOTH the rear-drive 300 and Charger. I think it's a mistake to not offer AWD on the new Impala. I'm not sure that buyers will jump at a chance for the more expensive AWD Buick LaCrosse.
I understand why AWD isn't on the 'Bu. Its competitors - Accord, Camry, Sonata, Altima, Fusion - don't offer AWD either. However, in the bigger sedan category, both Taurus and Charger offer it. I'd also note that the Germans offer AWD on most of their sedans/coupes - Mercedes 4Matic, BMW xDrive, Audi Quattro and VW 4Motion. Even MINI offers All4 on the Countryman. So I think since AWD is part of GM's parts bin, it should be offered on the Impala. In much of the country, outside the sun belt/smile states, AWD is almost a "must have" on shopping lists.
The XTS went for AWD because GM has been much-criticized about not having a proper rear-drive flagship. The AWD on the XTS is supposed to mitigate some of those complaints until a real flagship makes it to market.