When is the Impala getting a redesign - Page 3

stovt001 · 06-23-2009, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

That rendering makes me sick...not a single fluent design cue. Looks like the second coming of the Aztec.....

As for the Impala's blandness....I've heard it said more than once that the plain-ness about the car is one of its best traits. Those same people considered the Malibu flashy, and the Camry bulbous and weird.

Not that I agree...the car could definitely use a facelift right about now...

I agree completely, especially with the first section. No cohesiveness at all. As one person already said, it looks like the love-child of a really weird domestic 3-way.

And I agree what you call "blandness" is a desirable design trait, at least in a sedan. To clarify, what I value is clean, elegant, simple styling. The current Impala has that to some extent, and I like that, but it does fall a little bit on the bland side. However, the G8 nails it perfectly. It looks like what a modern BMW would look like if Bangle never happened, as long as you ignore the nose and hood. In a sedan, I want understated, clean good looks. Of course, in a performance coupe like the Camaro lean, mean, sharp, and aggressive rules the day.

manimsoblack · 06-23-2009, 06:46 AM

That rendering looked like a mishmash of the Camaro, 300c, Current Impala and Garbage... yes Garbage. Why not just bring over the base Commodore with some Chevy design cues?

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Throw some fogs on there, rework the grill, get rid of that little silver bit on the side and rework the interior. Tada.

FenwickHockey65 · 06-23-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manimsoblack

That rendering looked like a mishmash of the Camaro, 300c, Current Impala and Garbage... yes Garbage. Why not just bring over the base Commodore with some Chevy design cues?

Attachment 33908

Throw some fogs on there, rework the grill, get rid of that little silver bit on the side and rework the interior. Tada.

Eh?

Mr_Draco · 06-23-2009, 09:19 AM

I don't know if anyone read this or not.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...latform-77264/

As promised over the weekend, GMInsidenews is launching news of new developments around the future of the Chevrolet Impala. The Impala has been the source of much confusion with the public and GM internally. Several different avenues have been suggested for the future of the car, but nothing has yet been set in stone. The only constant that we have been hearing regarding the car is that the current W-Body Impala will stay in production through 2013; making it a staggering seven year life cycle. Now to the new stuff.

Last week GMI sources tipped us off of news that the future of the Impala was yet again being discussed internally within the GM ranks. The most recent news to that point was that the car would likely migrate to a long-wheel base Epsilon II platform; which is front-wheel drive and the eventual underpinnings of the next-generation Chevrolet Malibu. Our sources, however, had much more encouraging news for us regarding the Impala this time. Apparently there is still a chance we’re going to get our rear-wheel drive Impala yet!

According to our sources, GM’s product board is currently looking into merging the Holden Commodore and the next-generation Impala as one car that would be sold globally. Initially the Impala was going to be built upon the Zeta rear-wheel drive platform, which currently holds up the Holden Commodore. Zeta, sadly, has been killed almost entirely, so said plans for the Impala were axed. In 2011 Holden is going to get a new Commodore based on the Camaro’s variant of the Zeta architecture, this is dubbed the “VF” Commodore. All the while, those of us in North America will continue to be stuck with current Impala.

After the VF Commodore lives its life cycle, the replacement that is currently on the consideration list is a long-wheel base version of the upcoming Alpha rear-wheel drive platform. This is where the Impala comes in. If the plan is approved, the VG Commodore would spawn a new Impala for North America. Think of the relationship as similar to what we have with the Pontiac G8 and Holden Commodore today; they would mostly be the same car. We’re told GM’s plans include building the Impala in North America and selling it in several of the global markets that Chevrolet is now sold in.

The downside to this plan: it would cause a 2-3 year hiatus for the Impala after the current model’s product run is finished. That would mean a new Impala would not come out until 2015 or so, which would be the Commodore-based one. We’re told this plan has not been given the green-light, but is under a serious consideration by the ranks within GM. Stay tuned, we’ll keep you posted on the Impala’s future.

FenwickHockey65 · 06-23-2009, 09:27 AM

^^ That's an old article...no idea if things have changed since then.

arozar · 06-23-2009, 10:40 AM

fugly!!!

Dan · 06-23-2009, 11:11 AM

I thought the Impala was dead. They killed the rear wheel drive version and they don't need a fwd one since they have the much better selling (and more profitable) Malibu.....

FenwickHockey65 · 06-23-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan

I thought the Impala was dead. They killed the rear wheel drive version and they don't need a fwd one since they have the much better selling (and more profitable) Malibu.....

Not dead yet...

TheCaptain · 06-23-2009, 10:44 PM

The current Impala isn't a bad car... it's just slightly bland, and wrong wheel drive.

manimsoblack · 06-23-2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Eh?

exactly

stovt001 · 06-23-2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan

I thought the Impala was dead. They killed the rear wheel drive version and they don't need a fwd one since they have the much better selling (and more profitable) Malibu.....

So does Chevy really need a full-size sedan over the Malibu? Ford's Taurus might be an indication to GM whether this segment is worth pursuing.

Mr_Draco · 06-24-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

^^ That's an old article...no idea if things have changed since then.

It's only 2 months old and since nothing else has been released about the future of the Impala, it's the most to update and accurate info we have.

FenwickHockey65 · 06-24-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Draco

It's only 2 months old and since nothing else has been released about the future of the Impala, it's the most to update and accurate info we have.

Yes, but 2 months ago, GM wasn't in bankruptcy protection.

It's the most reliable information for now, but some other insiders are saying that there could be changes even sooner than what that article says.

JHart · 06-25-2009, 02:43 AM

i actually like the newer impala ss's, but the 94-96 will always have a place in my heart. love them damn cars. love em.

06-23-2009, 09:27 AM	#33
FenwickHockey65 General Motors Aficionado Drives: 2023 GMC Canyon, 2023 Expedition Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 37,375 View My Garage	^^ That's an old article...no idea if things have changed since then. __________________ 2023 GMC Canyon Elevation 2023 Ford Expedition SSV (State-Issued)

06-23-2009, 10:40 AM	#34
arozar Drives: 2007 Tahoe Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Havana, Fl Posts: 100	fugly!!! __________________ Past f-bods 1989 IROC (350/L89) 1995 Trans-AM M6 2001 Trans-Am WS6 M6 http://site.despair.com/governmentmotors/

06-23-2009, 10:44 PM	#37
TheCaptain N7 Spectre Drives: 14 ATS Performance 3.6L AWD Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Moosomin, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 2,732 View My Garage	The current Impala isn't a bad car... it's just slightly bland, and wrong wheel drive. __________________

06-25-2009, 02:43 AM	#42
JHart I haz camaro again :) Drives: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Union, South Carolina Posts: 660	i actually like the newer impala ss's, but the 94-96 will always have a place in my heart. love them damn cars. love em. __________________ 2010 Camaro 1SS(back in a camaro again, yessssss!) 2010 silverado z71 ccsb(sold, old dd) 2010 camaro1ss(sold, missed, will have another someday)

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06-23-2009, 09:19 AM	#32
Mr_Draco Drives: 2SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 7,346	I don't know if anyone read this or not. http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...latform-77264/ As promised over the weekend, GMInsidenews is launching news of new developments around the future of the Chevrolet Impala. The Impala has been the source of much confusion with the public and GM internally. Several different avenues have been suggested for the future of the car, but nothing has yet been set in stone. The only constant that we have been hearing regarding the car is that the current W-Body Impala will stay in production through 2013; making it a staggering seven year life cycle. Now to the new stuff. Last week GMI sources tipped us off of news that the future of the Impala was yet again being discussed internally within the GM ranks. The most recent news to that point was that the car would likely migrate to a long-wheel base Epsilon II platform; which is front-wheel drive and the eventual underpinnings of the next-generation Chevrolet Malibu. Our sources, however, had much more encouraging news for us regarding the Impala this time. Apparently there is still a chance we’re going to get our rear-wheel drive Impala yet! According to our sources, GM’s product board is currently looking into merging the Holden Commodore and the next-generation Impala as one car that would be sold globally. Initially the Impala was going to be built upon the Zeta rear-wheel drive platform, which currently holds up the Holden Commodore. Zeta, sadly, has been killed almost entirely, so said plans for the Impala were axed. In 2011 Holden is going to get a new Commodore based on the Camaro’s variant of the Zeta architecture, this is dubbed the “VF” Commodore. All the while, those of us in North America will continue to be stuck with current Impala. After the VF Commodore lives its life cycle, the replacement that is currently on the consideration list is a long-wheel base version of the upcoming Alpha rear-wheel drive platform. This is where the Impala comes in. If the plan is approved, the VG Commodore would spawn a new Impala for North America. Think of the relationship as similar to what we have with the Pontiac G8 and Holden Commodore today; they would mostly be the same car. We’re told GM’s plans include building the Impala in North America and selling it in several of the global markets that Chevrolet is now sold in. The downside to this plan: it would cause a 2-3 year hiatus for the Impala after the current model’s product run is finished. That would mean a new Impala would not come out until 2015 or so, which would be the Commodore-based one. We’re told this plan has not been given the green-light, but is under a serious consideration by the ranks within GM. Stay tuned, we’ll keep you posted on the Impala’s future.

06-23-2009, 11:11 AM	#35
Dan Drives: 2004 GTO Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montgomery, AL Posts: 448	I thought the Impala was dead. They killed the rear wheel drive version and they don't need a fwd one since they have the much better selling (and more profitable) Malibu.....