It looks like the Chevy Impala and Buick Lucerne will stay FWD
It looks like the combination of $4/gallon gas and CAFE rules may have finally administered the coup de grace to GM's plans for new rear wheel drive replacements for its big sedans. GM had been planning to replace the Chevrolet Impala and Buick Lucerne with models based on the same Zeta rear wheel drive platform as the Pontiac G8 around 2010. However, it now appears that the front wheel drive Impala will remain in production at GM's Oshawa Ontario plant until at least 2012. The new contract between GM and the Canadian Autoworkers union specifies that the popular Impala will live on. Most likely it will now get a visual refresh around 2010 and probably some powertrain upgrades to improve efficiency. The fate of the Buick remains uncertain. The Hamtramck assembly plant that currently produces the Lucerne and Cadillac DTS is scheduled to shift over to building a Delta platform MPV and some car called the Volt in 2010. Based on the current draft of CAFE rules, it seems GM could have likely met the requirements with a Zeta platform vehicle with smaller, more efficient engines and perhaps a hybrid powertrain. The seemingly inexorable shift to even more efficient vehicles driven by higher gas prices is likely to continue outstripping regulatory requirements for the foreseeable future and all the automakers are having to adjust quickly.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Unlucky_O 12:14PM (5/27/2008)
"and some car called the Volt in 2010"
You know what the volt is Samiam. why don't you tell us more about the Electric vehicles Gm is coming out with, isn't this auto blog GREEN?!
Or would talking about electric cars anger your sponsors and benefactors?
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armmat 1:17PM (5/27/2008)
Yes we really needed these out of day pieces of sh8t to be RWD...I'm sure it would have added greatly the performance of a Lucerne or Impala. It's 2008 and these clowns can't even design a car that looks within 10 years of the current date.
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Noah 11:51AM (5/28/2008)
Hyundai Azera (FWD): 3.8 V6 17/26
Hyundai Genesis (RWD): 3.8 V6 18/27
Wait, the bigger vehicle with RWD gets better fuel mileage? Ok, it probably has the advantage of 1 more gear in the autobox, but still, if the Azera had the same one, it would get near identical fuel mileage.
If Hyundai can do it, GM can make the Impala RWD and just as fuel efficient. Base it off the G8 platform, gear it taller for better efficiency, and to other minor tweaks. You could get a V6 RWD Impala doing 18/28 with the DI V6 (from the Traverse). A sport package will change the gearing and it would get 17/26, like the G8...if they so chose to. The current 3.9 OHV V6 gets 18/28, so whats the issue here, GM?
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bob 11:10AM (7/11/2008)
The Lucerne is a very good car and decent looking as well. Much better looking than a Prius, Avalon, Sonata, and I could go on and on if needed. For a large car it also gets good fuel economy.
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Mike Novak 12:49PM (4/04/2009)
Mallardman, Commenting to "Unlucky O". I could not agree more about your comments on Samian's "some car called the Volt". Some people don't want to be confused by the facts. Chevy's new Volt is light years ahead of Toyota's prius. It is completly new technology, using lithium-ion battery power, rechargable by an on-board generator powered by a small 3 or 4 cylinder gas engine. Preliminary test reports that I have followed, say that GM will use a very conservative 100 MPG for EPA gas milage estimates when the Volt hits the market next year. Engineers say that this figure could be as high as 150 MPG!!! Mr. Samian are you listening?
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