"Unlike the Grand Prix, which is being pitched as a mildly tweaked version of the all-new Australian-designed and engineered Holden Commodore slated to make its debut at the Chicago Auto Show in February, the new Impala will feature unique sheetmetal from bumper to bumper.
A rear-drive Impala is a logical move for Chevy. It allows GM to increase the Impala's size, making it a clear step up from the all-new Malibu due next year. It also allows Chevy to offer a mainstream car with powertrains of more than 300 horses, including a range of V-8s. Finally, it provides a foundation for a two-tier Chevy range, composed of front-drive small and medium-size cars and rear-drive larger cars.
Building a new Impala off the Zeta architecture also will enable GM to spread some of the investment required for the Camaro across two model lines, as the cars will share mechanicals and numerous sheetmetal components under the skin. That eases the pressure on the Camaro to return the same profit margins Ford needs to justify building the Mustang, which shares few parts with any other FoMoCo vehicle.
Final decision on the new Impala's styling isn't likely until next year. But the car will feature Chevy's bold new corporate grille and an interior that builds on the substantial improvements in quality and presentation shown by the new Tahoe and Suburban."
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