As expected, Chevrolet has pulled the wraps off its brand-new 2014 Impala sedan just hours before it makes its world premiere at the New York Auto Show. The 10th generation of Chevy’s full-size sedan carries over no parts whatsoever from the car it replaces.
It is based on a enlarged version of GM’s Epsilon II platform that also underpins the Cadillac XTS and features a McPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension and electrically-powered steering with variable assistance.
The all-new Impala sedan measures 201.3 inches (5,115 mm) long, 73 inches (1,854 mm) wide and 58.9 inches (1,496 mm) tall, and has a wheelbase of 111.7 inches (2.837 mm).
Buyers will be able to choose between a pair of four-cylinder engines and a larger displacement V6, all of which feature direct injection and are combined with six-speed automatic transmissions that send power to the front wheels.
The fours are a new 2.5-liter with 195HP and 187 lb-ft (253 Nm) of torque and a 182HP 2.4-liter unit with the eAssist “mini hybrid” system that boosts fuel economy. Topping the engine line-up is a 3.6-liter V6 with 303HP and 264 lb-ft (358Nm) of torque.
On the outside, the 2014 Impala is a radical departure from its predecessor, featuring what Chevrolet describes as “the next evolution in the company’s design vocabulary”.
It surely bears no resemblance to its predecessor thanks to its sculpted bodywork, square stance, low-profile front end and steeply raked rear end. Up front, there’s a new slim grille, which we first saw on the revised Traverse, surrounded by projector beam headlights along with LED daytime running lights on LTZ versions.
“Our design team was challenged to create a new classic, but that didn’t mean relying on nostalgia”, said director of GM North America passenger car exterior design John Cafaro. “This is very much a contemporary car, with design elements, craftsmanship and attention to detail that complement its advanced technology and performance.”
The interior continues the “twin-cockpit” theme already present in the Cruze and Malibu placing more emphasis on comfort, going as far as incorporating an active noise-cancellation system on the four cylinder versions.
Apart from the 4.2-inch info screen in the instrument panel, there’s an optional center console-integrated 8-inch touch screen for the MyLink infotainment system that lifts up to reveal a storage space behind.
It also features a full array of safety features, such as 10 airbags and OnStar, and can be equipped with adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, forward collision alert, lane departure, side blind zone and rear cross traffic alert systems, as well as a rear camera and rear-park assist.
“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 of GM North America. “The team has also delivered the comfort, safety, fuel efficiency and technology that will strengthen the Impala’s leadership in the highly competitive full-size sedan market.”
The new Impala, which will be manufactured at GM’s plants in Hamtramck, Michigan and Oshawa, Ontario, will go on sale in early 2013 and be available in three trim levels (LS, LT and LTZ).
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