Earlier this year there was incorrect speculation regarding a curiously camouflaged 2014 Chevrolet Impala. Most outlets believed it to be the makings of some sort of Impala SS. And if they only said that to generate site traffic, shame on them. Because what it really was, in fact, was the upcoming Impala Eco model. Come on, we all saw this coming.
What separates the Impala Eco from the standard all-new Impala in terms of looks is its front fascia. With a more aerodynamic grille (a la Chevrolet Volt), the Impala Eco will allow air to flow easier around the vehicle, rather then getting caught in the engine bay, causing unwanted drag and turbulence. Rewind a few months to the 2012 New York International Auto Show, and recall that Chevrolet did officially announce a 2.4L eAssist powertrain for the 2014 Impala, which we can safely assume to be the Eco model. The unique face must be a part of that package, along with Eco badging, which spy photographers noticed on a non-pictured black model.
Comments
It kind of looks too special to be an eAssist car. The Malibu Eco and Regal and Lacrosse eAssist all look almost exactly like their base models. This, with the Volt style grille and front fascia, seems like it could be a full on hybrid or a plug-in.
It looks like a government fleet car.
Even though GM has said they won’t offer the new Impala w/AWD, I hope they change their minds about that. Offer it on the LT and LTZ as an option, and offer an SS w/the new 3.6L twin-Turbo and Haldex AWD. This 2014 Impala is a gorgeous car that’s just begging for a performance trim level.
I like these wheels WAY better than the ugly wheels that have been shown on the LTZ so far. I hope the final grille for the Eco will be blacked out (or silver like the Volt), and include a chrome crossbar where it’s slightly recessed.
WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO BUILD A CAR WORTH A DARN? WHERE ARE THE DRIVE SHAFT CARS ? i WILL NOT DRIVE ANYTHING WITHOUT ONE. THE TOTAL CAR RIDES AND HANDLES BETTER AS A REAR DRIVER.
PLEASE GIVE ME THE SHAFT! OH WAIT YOU ALL READY ARE. THATS WHY I DRIVE A TRUCK
So you drive a truck and also say a car handles better as a rear driver?
Good luck getting your mother in law to be the back seat driver in your crewcab while you take it to the road course. 😀
But seriously… Camaro, Corvette, upcoming SS, CTS, ATS are all rear-wheel driven and have ranked high on initial build quality surveys. That’s five cars that you can get shafted in.
You seem to have forgotten that the rear wheel drive “SS” is coming, and “they” (assuming you mean GM) already has the CTS family and upcoming ATS sedan, or Camaro coupe, not to mention the Corvette. A drive shaft wastes interior space, and front wheel drive just makes more sense to own as a daily driver for the masses… especially for those in the northern half of the country. I drove a Chrysler 300 to the beach and back last year, and didn’t notice it handling and “better” than my front wheel drive Impala. I appreciate your desire for a rear driver, but you’re in the [vocal] minority. Most people in the market for a large family sedan, are largely indifferent or would prefer front wheel drive if given an option.
The thinking behind much I what you say is sound, but if a drive shaft just waste interior space; why do ALL car manufacturers insist on running a drive shaft hump down the center of their fwd cars? Except for GM on their original FWD coupes and Chrysler on theirs LX cars, nobody takes advantage of this feature of cabin space. But then again, considering all of the dynamic disadvantages of FWD, there isn’t really any major space or overall design bennifits of FWD except being cheaper to manufacture…oh and slightly more fuel efficient.
Why bother with camo? It’s all be shown months before.
You guys forgot to mention the (hopefully) upcoming Chevy Code 130R. If they build that car, then that will make up for no hi-po Cruze or Sonic. And also, like Fire1 said, RWD is way better than FWD.
“RWD is way better than FWD.”
Only in performance applications.
In the real world; the world where you sit in traffic for an hour, miss red lights, get stuck behind a Freightliner slowly trudging up a hill, where you pass by a cop armed with radar, and when you fall into a cavernious pothole, RWD doesn’t have anything over FWD and vice versa.
Most people don’t care about the drivewheels because most people don’t own or have a desire for a performance car. Plain and simple.
@ G-daddy stuck behind a Freightshaker sorry I din’t know it was you.
You didn’t feel me trying to push you off onto the sholder?
The hoods messed up a bit….and by a bit I mean the A-pillar is dented.
IMHO no matter Eco or not, this car looks gorgeous.
How is it that every new pic of the Impala makes me want it even more?
I think it looks incredible in natural lighting, which is all that matters.
there will be an eco model but these cars you should look at the rear and see the exhaust outlets these are not eco models the facia grill support is what you see this is not the final itteration. caddy will get the twin turbo v6 with awd system and it drives fantastic with mrc control chevy performance will have 130 r camaro, vette, sonic, and cruze the impala is not initially getting performance setup other than the 3.6 which is a good engine for the size of the car. like the verano turbo others in the chevy line will get performance and suspension upgrades that will come out stagard to the market. alot to come