Does the Chevy Impala need 302 HP?

[Mermaidman]

Does it seem weird that GM is giving the ancient Impala a 302 HP engine for 2012? I can't imagine that Impala buyers (fleet and ??) want that kind of power. It would make a good 'sleeper' though!
http://www.leftlanenews.com/chevrolet-impala-2012.html

And in other Chevrolet news:
The Cruze is getting manual transmissions for all trim levels except the top o' the line LTZ.
http://www.leftlanenews.com/chevrol...manual-transmission-models-to-2012-cruze.html

Has the unthinkable happened--More Americans are buying manual transmissions?!

 

[MotF Bane]

The torque steer should be amusing.

 

[Zargon]

Does it seem weird that GM is giving the ancient Impala a 302 HP engine for 2012? I can't imagine that Impala buyers (fleet and ??) want that kind of power. It would make a good 'sleeper' though!
http://www.leftlanenews.com/chevrolet-impala-2012.html

And in other Chevrolet news:
The Cruze is getting manual transmissions for all trim levels except the top o' the line LTZ.
http://www.leftlanenews.com/chevrol...manual-transmission-models-to-2012-cruze.html

Has the unthinkable happened--More Americans are buying manual transmissions?!

they had the LS4 in it for a while didnt they in teh SS? that was 300 HP

 

[Throckmorton]

GM needs to wake up and sell a damn RWD Chevrolet sedan.

 

[Throckmorton]

they had the LS4 in it for a while didnt they in teh SS? that was 300 HP

That was a big RWD car

 

[Mermaidman]

they had the LS4 in it for a while didnt they in teh SS? that was 300 HP

That was back when the Impala name still had some cachet with retail buyers. Like I said, I don't think current Impala buyers are the kind who'd want 300+ HP, police excluded. I guess it's a nice stopgap measure to maintain some interest in the Impala until the new model comes out for 2014. At least it's no longer ridiculous to have "Impala" cars in NASCAR. :biggrin:

 

[vi edit]

That was a big RWD car

No the recent models...as in the last couple years have had a V8 in them. It was the 5.3L.

 

[hanoverphist]

GM needs to wake up and sell a damn RWD Chevrolet sedan.

this. the impala was the shit back in the day. it was an upgraded caprice, and the SS was the better one in the mid 90s. does the impala need 302 hp? hell yes. it also needs to get back to rear wheel drive and the roots it was born in. if they really need a sedan for fleet, bring back the caprice classic as an option. they still make them somewhere overseas dont they?

impala is my favorite car, if you cant tell by now.


edit:

this will be in my garage someday

 

[KentState]

Does it seem weird that GM is giving the ancient Impala a 302 HP engine for 2012? I can't imagine that Impala buyers (fleet and ??) want that kind of power. It would make a good 'sleeper' though!
http://www.leftlanenews.com/chevrolet-impala-2012.html

And in other Chevrolet news:
The Cruze is getting manual transmissions for all trim levels except the top o' the line LTZ.
http://www.leftlanenews.com/chevrol...manual-transmission-models-to-2012-cruze.html

Has the unthinkable happened--More Americans are buying manual transmissions?!

This makes a lot of sense. Higher volume use of the same V6 engine across many models. Both of the current engines are out dated and probably cost more overall to make. Add in the fact that the displacement stays the same as the base engine and offers 90 more HP while being more fuel efficient. Plus they are mating it to a 6 speed auto which should help fuel economy as well.

 

[Kadarin]

Does it seem weird that GM is giving the ancient Impala a 302 HP engine for 2012? I can't imagine that Impala buyers (fleet and ??) want that kind of power. It would make a good 'sleeper' though!

You say that like it's a lot. Particularly when Ford gives the *base* model Mustang a V6 with 305 horsepower, it's kind of embarrassing when you look pretty limp in comparison.

 

[satyajitmenon]

You say that like it's a lot. Particularly when Ford gives the *base* model Mustang a V6 with 305 horsepower, it's kind of embarrassing when you look pretty limp in comparison.

The impala isn't a sports car. It's a sedan. 300+ in a big comfortable sedan (one that isn't a boat) is plenty fun.

Of course, the Impala isn't exactly sporty and with FWD, the 300hp is not really worth it.

 

[joesmoke]

in a perfect world, the impala would be available with everything up to and including the cts-v engine

 

[Zargon]

That was a big RWD car

That was back when the Impala name still had some cachet with retail buyers. Like I said, I don't think current Impala buyers are the kind who'd want 300+ HP, police excluded. I guess it's a nice stopgap measure to maintain some interest in the Impala until the new model comes out for 2014. At least it's no longer ridiculous to have "Impala" cars in NASCAR. :biggrin:

this.

No the recent models...as in the last couple years have had a V8 in them. It was the 5.3L.

my brother almost bought one new off the lot like 2 years ago.

the same v8 they put in the grand prix gxp

 

[JulesMaximus]

they had the LS4 in it for a while didnt they in teh SS? that was 300 HP

They did, and it felt remarkably unpowerful, like the engine was connected to a large tub of thick goo and the front wheels were driven by the goo.

 

[IcePickFreak]

GM needs to wake up and sell a damn RWD Chevrolet sedan.

Every now and again they bring up importing Commodores under the Chevy badge again. I've seen at least 3 different rumors from GM about it since Pontiac got the axe. One even included a pic that I think I posted here awhile back that wasn't just the middle-east Chevy Lumina version either, or at least looks nothing like any Lumina sold over there currently as we had a discussion about it on a G8 forum with a few Lumina owners from Saudi Arabia.

Although I would find it a bit sad if they brought that over here with say the Lumina badge given their penchant for bringing back badges, and then left the Impala as a fwd fleet car. Last rumor I heard though was it would simply be named the Chevy "SS"

 

[LTC8K6]

Does it seem weird that GM is giving the ancient Impala a 302 HP engine for 2012? I can't imagine that Impala buyers (fleet and ??) want that kind of power. It would make a good 'sleeper' though!
http://www.leftlanenews.com/chevrolet-impala-2012.html

And in other Chevrolet news:
The Cruze is getting manual transmissions for all trim levels except the top o' the line LTZ.
http://www.leftlanenews.com/chevrol...manual-transmission-models-to-2012-cruze.html

Has the unthinkable happened--More Americans are buying manual transmissions?!

How would that V6 be an upgrade from the 5.3L V8 that you have been able to get 2006 - 2009?

 

[Zargon]

They did, and it felt remarkably unpowerful, like the engine was connected to a large tub of thick goo and the front wheels were driven by the goo.

that would be the POS 4 speed auto they had with it. GM's autos were such horrid garbage forever.

thank god the new autos are nicer. of course, a nice manual would be preferred

 

[ElFenix]

They did, and it felt remarkably unpowerful, like the engine was connected to a large tub of thick goo and the front wheels were driven by the goo.

it's a W body, so in fact does use large tubs of goo to connect the front sub frame to the rest of the car.

 

[exdeath]

No it doesn't need it. Only my car needs more than 300+ hp, everyone elses only needs 40 hp. :awe:

 

[SparkyJJO]

It needs a facelift too. Been too long.

 

[Blintok]

[QUOTE
impala is my favorite car, if you cant tell by now.
edit:

this will be in my garage someday
[/QUOTE]


wow. i remember that car. I remember going with my father to pick up our new 1965 red Impala. 2 years later he was in his Oldsmobile Cutlass faze ('67, '69 '71)

 

[JimW1949]

It is rather fun to have a vehicle with a lot of horsepower. But with the price of gas at $4 per gallon and will no doubt be going even higher, I suspect vehicles with larger engines will not be driven as much, if at all. Manual transmissions get better mileage and I suspect that is probably why they are becoming more common these days. Speaking about older cars, I really liked the Chevelle when it came out.

 

[CraigRT]

this. the impala was the shit back in the day. it was an upgraded caprice, and the SS was the better one in the mid 90s. does the impala need 302 hp? hell yes. it also needs to get back to rear wheel drive and the roots it was born in. if they really need a sedan for fleet, bring back the caprice classic as an option. they still make them somewhere overseas dont they?

impala is my favorite car, if you cant tell by now.


edit:

this will be in my garage someday

No way man, '62 all the way!

 

[angry hampster]

Competition for the Taurus.

 

[KentState]

It is rather fun to have a vehicle with a lot of horsepower. But with the price of gas at $4 per gallon and will no doubt be going even higher, I suspect vehicles with larger engines will not be driven as much, if at all. Manual transmissions get better mileage and I suspect that is probably why they are becoming more common these days. Speaking about older cars, I really liked the Chevelle when it came out.

The 3.6L DI gets better fuel mileage while making 90 more HP, plus they are going to a 6 speed auto from the current 4 speed. Don't see how any of this is a negative.