RWD Impala coming in 2009
The General has been in desperate need of a rear-wheel drive sedan to compete with similarly equipped competitors. Thankfully, the great-granddaddy of them all, the Impala, will fill such a niche and finally return to its RWD roots in 2009.The new model will be based off the upcoming Camaro's platform, currently under development by the hoons at Holden in the land down under. The 2009 model will differentiate itself from the 2007 model in both length and width, providing more interior room and allowing the wheels to be pressed to the outer limits of the new sedan's body.
The primary question that needs to be answered before production begins is whether the Impala will remain amongst the Camry's and Accord's of the world, or will move upmarket to limit competition with the newly redesigned Malibu. Considering the Malibu's growth and upgraded interior, there may be room for another price-point in Chevy's lineup.
We're downright ecstatic that GM has seen fit to not only send the Impala's power to the rear wheels, but share a platform that will instill some desperately needed driving characteristics to its four-door sibling.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
merc56 12:44PM (6/27/2008)
It is about time that GM return to it RWD roots! Hopefully the new Impala will have the retro look of the '63.
HHH
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Avinash Machado 8:36AM (11/13/2006)
This is really good. Finally a Impala that is true to its name and heritage. Hope there will be a SS version too.
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Dr. Woo 8:56AM (11/13/2006)
Finally, an answer to the Charger.
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Ben Dover 10:00AM (11/13/2006)
This new car will be pretty cool I hope. Perhaps a hint of old school 60s Impala coupled with a thoroughly modern interior (yes, I want a cool touchscreen nav center console) - a 450 hp 6.0 L V8 SS version would be pretty sweet too.
I'm psyched.
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Dennis 10:00AM (11/13/2006)
Good to hear. I just rented an '06 Impala LT yesterday while I'm traveling on business and was just thinking how much better this car would drive with RWD. To me, FWD just doesn't feel right in a car this big.
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Quattrofan 10:29AM (11/13/2006)
YAWN!
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Greg 10:35AM (11/13/2006)
Excellent News!
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Brandon Gabbard 11:00AM (11/13/2006)
Mark my words. GM is on it's way to a comeback.
Fuel efficient RWD V8s is what the US market wants.
Of course, a FWD V6 & I4 Malibu with quality and styling to compete with the Camry and Accords isn't a bad idea either. BUT DO IT RIGHT! We're all growing weary of the "just good enough" quality and styling.
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BOB 10:43AM (11/13/2006)
GODSPEED ON PLAYING CATCH-UP, GM!!!!! AND OF COURSE THE CAR NEEDS TO BE CHRYSLER 300 SIZE, NOT IN THE ACCORD CATEGORY.
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Richard Warren 11:27AM (11/13/2006)
Good, back to basics.
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Tal D 10:50AM (11/13/2006)
Could this be a step towards a re-emergence of a classics period as last seen of GM in the 60s/70s era?
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MikeW 11:16AM (11/13/2006)
300hp 3.6 liter DOC V6-check
6L50 transmission-check
platform-check
style-keep finger crossed
2009 model year or calendar year?
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motorman 11:32AM (11/13/2006)
RWD is not helping D/C with their problems so how will it help GM?
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sfast 11:43AM (11/13/2006)
RWD isn't helping D/C? Well, they sell them. So it isn't hurting them. And what looks better? The torque steer joke that the current Impala SS is or a 425hp RWD SRT8?
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Bob 11:47AM (11/13/2006)
This is good news for the "car guys", but the mainstream won't care. The new Malibu will sell more.
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CJ 12:01PM (11/13/2006)
#9, Do you really thing fuel-efficient V8s is what the American public wants? Sounds like the tyranny of the enthusiasts to me.
You hit much closer when you said they should target the Camry and Accord -- that's plainly what the American public really wants, and the sales figures prove it.
Truth be told, re-selling Americans on rwd after it all but disappeared for the last 20 years will be a very hard sell to Mr. and Mrs. Camry, who are now completely accustomed to driving year-round on all-season tires and who no longer add weight to their trunks in the winter. They know how easy understeer is to control, but it's been ages since they felt oversteer.
What's the market for the Crown Vic? Fleets, cabs, cops and a few oldsters? Styling is going to sell this car (or kill it), not rwd and not a V8, regardless of whether or not a few people buy SS models.
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motorman 12:14PM (11/13/2006)
sfast torque steer can be taken out by a simple change to the use of equal length front axles. there was no torque steer in a the front wheel drive olds toranado or caddy eldo with 400+ cu inch engines.
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Stphane Dumas 12:26PM (11/13/2006)
-Sounds like the tyranny of the enthusiasts to me.
It could also work the other way, the tyranny of the non-enthusiasts or the appliance machine leaded by some Pixies of the cartoons the Fairly OddParents http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixie_%28F.O.P.%29 ;-) dicting you should drove a Camcord but in a more subtle way, LOL.
and I spotted on GMInsidenews, these rumors of a diesel Holden Commodore supplied by VM Motori, maybe we could have a diesel Impala http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40102 and having our cake and eating it too by having a good mileage with a big car
A good quote I spotted at http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40301 and who was posted by a person nicknamed kgratton
...The motor industry needs the automotive equivalent of 'bio-diversity' - more options, not fewer. Toyota's dominance is like that of McDonalds, if you want something different, you'll have to pay more for it in future, because Toyota will reduce economies of scale for their competitors as Toyota's sales rise and the others' dwindle. I don't say this with any joy, it's just my own pessimistic view....
after the "Mcdonaldization" could be possible then we face a "toyotalization" or "toyotazation"?
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Stphane Dumas 12:30PM (11/13/2006)
#16 motorman, if I remember correctly, the Olds Toronado (as well as the 1967-85 Cadillac Eldorado and 1979-85 Buick Riviera) their engines was a longitudinal engine like the 1993-97 Chrysler Concorde/LHS/New Yorker instead of tranverse engine who are currently in use for FWD.
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rocketpunch 12:57PM (11/13/2006)
no
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