Basic Specs

Base FromTBA
Unveiling 2012 NY Auto Show
Availability Mid/Late-2013
Status In Development
Engine 3.6L V6 / 2.5L 4-cyl /2.4L 4-cyl eAssist
Body Style Sedan
Segment Near-Luxury
Size Large
By Mark Kleis
Tuesday, Apr 17th, 2012 @ 1:47 am

Chevrolet’s all-new Impala might share a nameplate with its predecessor, but the bowtie brand sure hopes that buyers won’t confuse the two. To help build on its marketing strategy for its new range-topping four-door, Chevy has released a new video filmed primarily at the New York International Auto Show earlier this month.

The video features Impala marketing manager John Hahn, who takes us on a broad tour over the redesigned 2014 Impala, a model General Motors is hoping will resonate with upmarket premium sedan buyers rather than the fleet operators who typically bought the outgoing model.

The video doesn’t teach us anything new about the Impala, but it does show off its gigantic trunk and it gives us some of our first moving footage of Chevy’s new range-topping four-door.

(More after video)

Impala reborn
“The 2014 Impala re-establishes this iconic Chevrolet nameplate as a design leader, with bold styling that will turn heads for years to come,†said Mark Reuss, president, GM North America.

It doesn’t take more than a quick glance to see the sharp and angular lines used on much of the 2014 Impala, along with a pointed beak and rear quarter panels that draw considerable inspiration from the Camaro. Exterior design elements include more sculpted body sides, standard 18-inch wheels (available 19- and 20-inch wheels depending on trim level), and either projector-beam headlamps or HID headlamps and LED daytime running lamps on LTZ models.

The interior design is based around a dual cockpit layout which includes the extensive use of ambient lighting, shiny accent pieces and the latest technology Chevrolet has to offer. One such new technology for the Impala is Chevrolet MyLink, which includes Bluetooth audio streaming and available navigation, and is controlled via a touch screen on the eight-inch display. The instrument panel integrates a new instrument cluster with a standard 4.2-inch color display which has reconfigurable features for the driver information center.

There are of course plenty of new soft-touch materials to give the interior a more upscale and premium look and feel.

Three powertrain possibilities
Depending on your budget and desires, the Imapala can be had with one of three engines: 2.4-liter four-cylinder with eAssist, a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder or a 3.6-liter V6. The 2.4-liter Ecotec engine is good for 182 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque, followed by 195 horsepower and 187 lb-ft of torque for the 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which is then topped by the 303 horsepower, 264 lb-ft of torque 3.6-liter VVT engine with direction injection.

All three engines come mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and drives the front wheels. Fuel economy is expected to come in at 35 highway with eAssist, 31 highway with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder, and 18 city, 30 highway with the range-topping V6.

Safety matters
The 2014 Impala will also arrive packed with safety technology including Full-speed-range adaptive cruise control, which uses radar to sense forward traffic and automatically adjust cruise control. Collision mitigation braking, a Chevy first, which uses radar to alert the driver of a potential impact, applying brakes if no action is taken. Forward collision alert is similar to Collision mitigation breaking, but makes use of a camera instead of radar. Lane departure warning, side blind zone alert and rear cross traffic traffic alert round out the new electronic safety features.

Occupants can also rest assured that they are surrounded by no less than 10 standard air bags and OnStar.

The 2014 Impala will be offered in LS, LT and LTZ models, with assembly taking place at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck, Michigan, and Oshawa, Ontario, facilities. Pricing has not yet been announced – but expect pricing to start a bit over $30,000.

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