If you want a new 2015 Chevrolet Impala with a V6 engine and the ability to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) it’s going to cost you, as GM announced today that the base LS trim model will start from $38,210, including an $825 destination charge. That’s around $8,000 more than the better equipped 2LT with the regular V6, which isn’t offered in base LS grade.
There will also be a higher-equipped LT trim version of the CNG model when it arrives in dealerships in the fourth quarter of the year, but GM did not disclose pricing for this model.
According to GM, the bi-fuel Impala comes with a 3.6-liter V6 engine featuring hardened valves and valve seats for improved wear resistance and durability with the CNG fuel system that includes a trunk-mounted tank that holds the equivalent capacity of 7.8 gallons of gasoline offering around 150 city miles of range on compressed natural gas.
“EPA estimates are not yet finalized, but with gasoline and compressed natural gas combined, expected range is 500 city miles,” GM said in a statement.
Given the current gasoline and CNG prices, GM says that customers can expect average fuel savings of approximately “$1.25 per gasoline-gallon-equivalent” when running on gas.
The car will primarily run on cleaner CNG and once the fuel tank is depleted, the system wil automatically switch to gasoline-fuel, though, there’s also a button on the dashboard that allows the driver to select the type of fuel manually.
By John Halas
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