Next Chevy Impala might stay front wheel drive after all
For some time now General Motors has been planning to shift their big sedan models such as the Chevy Impala from their current front wheel drive configurations back to rear wheel drive. The Zeta platform that will form the basis of the new Camaro and Pontiac G8 was supposed to spawn a new Impala in 2010. However the shifting sands of oil prices and new fuel economy regulations may cause a shift in plans. While the current Impala sold almost 300,000 units last year some projections for a new rear drive model put sales as low as 100,000-130,000 per year. All of this is causing GM to reconsider their plans and put the new car on a stretched version of the new Epsilon II front wheel drive platform. The new platform is being engineered for use globally in a wide variety of lengths and widths. Regardless of which direction GM goes it will have to decide soon if it's going to make a 2010 production target.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
detroit9000 9:04PM (11/05/2007)
"green" is a lousy excuse for not going RWD. Totally dilutes GM's real green efforts. Such dilution is to be expected, though - it's GM.
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EnviroBob 8:08AM (11/06/2007)
When you have to plan your productline to meet a 35MPG CAFE requirement, you have to be as cautious as possible. Due to the additional weight, RWD has a disadvantage compared to comparably sized FWD vehicles. When every 1 - 2 MPG can make a big difference in your CAFE average, GM's thinking is absolutely logical. Besides, GM is already going to be offering a large RWD sedan in the G8, so it's not like they aren't going to be offering one at all.
If you think this type of thinking dillutes their "green-ness" just wait and see what happens if a moron who wants to raise the CAFE requirement to 55 MPG gets elected...
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