Introduced on Wednesday, April 4: 2014 Chevrolet Impala.
What is it? The 10th generation of the Impala is the new flagship of the Chevrolet sedan lineup, built on a stretched Epsilon platform.
Is it real? Yes, if still just over the horizon. Like Ford with its 2013 Taurus,shown here last year, General Motors cited the timing of international auto shows as its rationale for introducing a ’14 model in 2012.
“The next show we could have introduced it at was not until Los Angeles next November,” Mike Albano, a Chevrolet spokesman, said in an interview. “That was too much of a gap, too long to wait and too close to the start of production. The car was ready to be seen here, so here it is.”
What they said: “This car looks a lot more expensive than it is,” Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America, said when introducing the car. “We didn’t need to borrow someone else’s design to make our own statement. We had 50 years of Impala heritage to build on. But this Impala will separate itself from any Impala of any era.”
What they didn’t say: This Impala has been delayed many times: by a rocky economy, by the bankruptcy of G.M. and by the pressing need to bring a generation of small, fuel-efficient cars to Chevrolet’s lineup. In the interim, the Impala grew stale and subsequently morphed into a rental fleet queen. Up to 75 percent of 2011 models were sold for fleet duty, rather than to retail customers, Chevrolet confirmed. The new Impala is aimed squarely at the more profitable retail customer.
What makes it tick? “A range of three direct-injected engines, including a 3.6-liter V-6, new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with eAssist, that deliver enhanced performance and efficiency,” Chris Perry, Chevrolet’s global marketing chief, said. “The 2.5-liter engine will deliver 30 mile-per-gallon highway fuel economy, and the 2.4 will deliver 35 m.p.g., or more,” he added.
How much, how soon? Not scheduled to arrive until spring 2013, the redesigned Impala will be priced “somewhat higher, considering its upgraded content, but not significantly higher,” Mr. Albano said. “But it will be a premium product.” For reference, a well-equipped 2012 Impala LTZ can eclipse $30,000.
How’s it look? The top of three trim lines, the LTZ, will be a well-proportioned sedan, with 20-inch wheels and tires, a hefty dose of exterior brightwork and a handsome dual-cockpit interior with a full range of upscale electronic gizmos. But if another decade passes before this one gets redesigned, then it, too, may find its way into the rental-car lots.
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