CleanMPG Forums - 2014 Impala Preview

It has a huge trunk and looks ok but not much else stands out.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2014_Chevrolet_Impala.jpg

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - April 5, 2012

2014 Chevrolet Impala – Pricing TBA and fuel economy with the 2.4L and eAssist is expected to reach 35 mpgUS highway.

From our 2012 NYIAS coverage, the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Impala.

The redesigned Chevrolet flagship builds on a lengthy heritage yet provides a new more modern style, more-refined interior and easy-to-use infotainment technology.

The all-new Impala goes on sale in early 2013 as the 10th generation of one of the industry’s most long lasting nameplates. Impala was America’s best-selling full-size sedan in 2011, with sales of more than 171,000, which also made it one of the 10 best-selling cars overall in the United States, along with Chevrolet Malibu and Cruze.

Designed off a global platform, the 2014 Impala introduces new levels of comfort, refinement and technology. Highlights include:

All-new exterior design featuring new proportions, sculpted body sides, standard 18-inch wheels and projector-beam headlamps, with HID headlamps and LED daytime running lamps standard on LTZ models.
A range of three direct-injected engines, including the 3.6L V-6, 2.5L I4 and a 2.4L I4 with eAssist.
All-new interior with integrated center stack that incorporates an available eight-inch touch screen display with available Chevrolet MyLink.
Chevrolet MyLink, which includes Bluetooth audio streaming and available navigation among many other features, is controlled via a touch screen on the eight-inch display.
Quieter environment with a greater emphasis on comfort – including active noise cancellation with four-cylinder powertrains. <-- The Ace in the hole because it should be as quiet as the LaCrosse on which it is based and if so, you will like it.
360 degrees of active safety features with 10 standard air bags and OnStar, along with available features including full-speed-range adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, side blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, rear camera and rear-park assist. <-- Until the rest of the industry follows GM’s lead with 10 airbags including the outward rear seat passenger sides, nobody can touch what GM provides.

Design

The 2014 Impala brings a new aesthetic punch to Impala.

The Impala’s long, low proportion has a wind-swept profile while the range of 18-, 19- and 20-inch wheels is tailored to the body to provide that “just right” stance. At the front, low-profile headlamps sweep around the corners while a power dome hood conveys performance.

The 2014 Impala incorporates elements of Chevrolet’s dual-cockpit interior signature with greater attention to upscale features.

The instrument panel integrates a new instrument cluster with a standard 4.2-inch color display with reconfigurable features for the driver information center. The eight-inch touch screen with concealed storage behind it is matched with the available Chevrolet MyLink system.

Refinement

The 2014 Impala’s comfort and refinement are rooted in a more rigid body structure, designed for a quieter ride and a greater feeling of quality. The stiffer architecture also enabled engineers to tune the ride and handling for a greater feeling of control and comfort. A comprehensive package of sound-absorbing, sound-suppressing and even active noise cancellation (on four-cylinder models) contributes to the 2014 Impala being Chevrolet’s quietest full-size sedan ever.

Premium materials throughout the interior and details such as high-quality fabric, Ultrasuede and perforated leather appointments, complement the quiet environment and give the Impala a substantive look and feel. The seats are bolstered for greater support, and the seat cushions are designed to deliver a firm, premium feel that is just as comfortable on a 500-mile drive as on a five-minute excursion. We hope so because the 2013 Malibu ECO was lacking in this much needed area of comfort. The rear-seat head restraints fold to improve rear visibility when driving without rear passengers.

2014 Chevrolet Impala Interior

Safety

The 2014 Impala offers a comprehensive suite of standard and available safety features. It employs advanced technologies – including radar – to help avoid crashes. Visual and audible alerts help drivers identify potential crash situations and even intervene when a crash threat appears more imminent.

The available safety features include:

Full-speed-range adaptive cruise control – Using radar technology, this feature senses traffic in front of the Impala to adjust the vehicle speed, including stopping the vehicle in heavy traffic and accelerating again.
Collision mitigation braking – Radar technology detects a possible crash threat and alerts the driver. If the driver does not appear to react quickly enough or doesn’t react at all, this feature intervenes and applies the brakes in an effort to avoid the crash.
Forward collision alert – Camera technology detects a possible crash threat and alerts the driver, giving him or her time to stop and/or change course.
Lane departure warning – A camera-based lane detection system that warns the driver of impending lane changes. The camera, mounted near the inside rearview mirror, identifies traffic lane markings and provides audible alerts.
Side blind zone alert – Using radar sensors on both sides of the vehicle, the system “looks” for other vehicles in the blind zone areas of the Impala and indicates their presence with LED-lit symbols in the outside mirrors.
Rear cross traffic alert – Based on the radar sensors of side blind zone alert, it warns the driver of vehicles in traffic when backing out of a parking spot – including angled parking. Visual and audible alerts are triggered if moving vehicles are detected.

These optional advanced crash-avoidance technologies are in addition to the standard active and passive safety features including 10 standard air bags and OnStar.

Drivetrains

Impala’s three powertrains all feature fuel-saving direct injection and lightweight components.

Impala’s Ecotec 2.4L engine works with the eAssist system to provide electrical assist in certain conditions to help save fuel. It is estimated at 182 horsepower and is expected to achieve 35 mpg on the highway.
The Ecotec 2.5L I4 is part of a new family of four-cylinder engines developed with increased efficiency and greater refinement. It is estimated at195 horsepower.
Output for the 3.6L V-6 is estimated at 303 HP and is a throwback to days when gasoline was < $2.00 per gallon.

All of Impala’s engines are matched with six-speed automatic transmissions.

The powertrains are tuned for comfortable performance. A MacPherson-strut front suspension and four-link rear suspension underpin the Impala, with an isolated front cradle and hydraulic ride bushing that help deliver a smoother, quieter ride. All models feature an electric variable-assist steering system that helps save fuel by drawing energy only when the steering wheel is turned.

The 2014 Impala will be offered in LS, LT and LTZ models, with assembly at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck, Mich., and Oshawa, Ontario facilities. Pricing will be announced later.

And where the 2014 Impala hits pay dirt? It has a trunk with a cargo cap of 18.8 cu. ft.! The interior at 105 cu.ft. is about the size of a Sonata.