According to GM Authority sources, General Motors will continue producing the last (ninth) generation Chevy Impala, but only for sale to fleets. The move mirrors the company’s decision to continue selling the fifth- and sixth-generation Chevy Malibu under the Malibu Classic nameplate after the debut and subsequent launch of the sixth- and seventh- generation Malibus, respectively.
The GM Authority Take
It’s no secret that the ninth-generation Impala was a fleet queen to begin with. Heck, the car won the (coveted?) Fleet Car of the Year award from Automotive Fleet magazine and Business Fleet magazine in 2006, 2007, and 2008!
As such, it would only make sense to continue meeting the insatiable hunger for the ninth-gen model while keeping the all-new model restricted to end-user consumption. It’s been said that doing so can improve a model’s public image while boosting resale value, due to a lower supply of the new model in the marketplace. Couple that with what is sure to be higher demand for the all-new Impala, and a high resale value seems to be a given.
But the advantages of keeping the old model around don’t end there: consider the fact that the ninth-gen Impala is nothing short of a cash cow for GM at this point, and this seems to be a win-win all around. The only question is, how much longer will the ninth-gen remain in production at Oshawa?
Comments
This is great amazing news.
Im so happy! 🙂
Probably about 5 years.
People love it
Maybe while GM is continuing in carrying over older designs for Rental Car Fleets, have they also done the same practices with the Chevrolet Aveo (not the Sonic version) and Chevrolet Cobalt as well for 2011-12? In addition and once and for ALL, can they just make the Holden based Chevrolet Caprice available to everybody since its a rear wheel drive V8 only slightly larger and heavier than the current and 2014 Impala. Today’s Holden based Caprice is what a typical American Sedan used to be. I am quite sure that not a lot of people would be sold to the 2014 Impala because it is still a front wheel drive and for a car whose measurements is 201.3″ and weighing around 3,800 pounds, a four cylinder would not be appropriate for a large car this size and heavy which in fact is about 150-200 pounds heavier than the 2012 version.
I think you’ll find that the market for “traditional” full-size RWD sedans is minuscule, at best.
And I wouldn’t discount the 2.4 eAssist/ECO. It’s a very capable setup.
Alex, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the 4-cyl in the 2014 Impala the normal (i.e. non-eAssist) 2.5 L, putting out 195 hp? I think that’s what Pedro is referring to.
Wait, but what if I wanna rent a car? I don’t wanna rent the old Impala, I wanna rent the new one.lol
Does anyone know if Oshawa Ont plant will continue to bulid the 9th Generation Impala, as I know that they were awarded the new generation Impala and currently build the 9th generation and have for sometime with great quality and productivity!