Next Gen Chevy Impala Spied

[NFS4]

http://news.windingroad.com/?p=814

Feast your eyes on what could be the world?s first glimpse at the next Chevrolet Impala.

Sighted undergoing hot weather testing in the Southwest, the full-size sedan mule looks quite far along in its gestation, with a bold new front graphic that matches nicely with the noses on Chevrolet?s GMT900 SUVs. Our shooter indicates that it is definitely a Chevy, having gotten up close and personal with it at a gas station, and seeing the outline of the brand?s fabled Bowtie underneath the camouflage tape. It could also be argued that the front-end has been influenced by 2003?s Chevrolet SS Concept that debuted in Detroit, though the vehicle seen here lacks the showcar?s racy roofline, short rear deck and pronounced fenders.

In fact, Hans Lehmann?s people over at Hidden Image even managed to sneak a look under the mystery machine, confirming that it is indeed front-wheel drive. The photog also was able to discern that it was both wider and longer and the current model, a fact that appears readily evident from the photos. Strangely, however, we don?t have any interior shots at this time.

(Click through to the jump for a ton of addition photographs and details!)

The unidentified tester does beg a few questions, however. The roofline and rump of the car bear a striking resemblance to the Pontiac Lucerne (based on General Motors? aging G-body platform), which is odd, considering this model is likely at least a model year away from production (the current Impala just received a substantial nip/tuck for 2006). One might be tempted to label the car as a foreign-market offering, what with the side repeating turn signal indicators on the front fenders, but the rear license plate cutout wouldn?t accommodate most foreign plates. The head and tail lamps are reportedly ?cobbled up? parts that appear to have no production properties, so they offer little help. The final mystery? The vehicle seen here was shod with Hankook Optima shoes? a tire choice common on Korean marques, but not often seen on OEM Chevrolets.

Despite the question marks, on balance the prototype indeed appears to be the next Impala. Its larger size and bolder styling could be just the thing to combat the Ford Five Hundred, and Daimler-Chrysler?s LX-platform cars.

Given how advanced the tester appears to be in development, we?re betting on a 2008 model year designation. As it is, that will give the current revamped Imp a short shelf life, but with the turnaround efforts at GM in full swing, the company may be pushing their big sedan to the head of the priority queue.

 

[MikeMike]

so the new Impala gets afresh sheet of metal, in 2008

and then in 2010 it gets RWD, and an entirely new platform?

interesting, this current gen has likethe shortest lifespan. it was a substantial change for this MY.

 

[PurdueRy]

are all the car fanatics going black and bald now?

 

[MikeMike]

this may actually be the new upcoming Malibu LWB.

which makes sense. more sense than this being the next Impala

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
this may actually be the new upcoming Malibu LWB.

which makes sense. more sense than this being the next Impala

The taillights are more "impala-ish"

 

[Red Dawn]

It looks too Japanese to me.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
are all the car fanatics going black and bald now?

That's as close to Erkel as they can get an Avatar.

 

[PurdueRy]

HAHA I just noticed the guy has dice in his car!

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
this may actually be the new upcoming Malibu LWB.

which makes sense. more sense than this being the next Impala

The taillights are more "impala-ish"

From the article:

The head and tail lamps are reportedly ?cobbled up? parts that appear to have no production properties, so they offer little help.

So who knows. Looks kind of bland to me, but I've never liked big sedans.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Black88GTA

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
this may actually be the new upcoming Malibu LWB.

which makes sense. more sense than this being the next Impala

The taillights are more "impala-ish"

From the article:

The head and tail lamps are reportedly ?cobbled up? parts that appear to have no production properties, so they offer little help.

So who knows. Looks kind of bland to me, but I've never liked big sedans.

ah cool, didn't catch that. I don't like big sedan's either so seeing pictures of one doesn't really excite me.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

looks like the bubblish lexus designs of like 2000... Definately has a japanese look to it.

at least they didnt massacre it too bad by doing the "retro" look.

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

I hate those optical illusion sheets they put on cars.

 

[aswedc]

Decent.

 

[clickynext]

Looks like long faces and big butts are in.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Why the fat snout? This isn't Europe. There's no pedestrian safety rules dictating no sloping hood.

 

[Paddington]

The current (refreshed) Impala looks pretty decent inside and out, and is selling quite well. But :thumbsup: to GM for refreshing one of their big sellers quickly, rather than letting it languish. Toyota and Honda refresh their midsize cars every 2-3 years.

 

[MBrown]

Looks pretty good imo.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

The article states that the guys taking the spyshots looked underneath the car and noticed it was FWD. There have been numerous reports saying the next-gen Impala is based off the RWD zeta platform. These spy shots are likely of the Malibu - despite what the article says.

Here are spy pics from a couple months ago. Link

 

[Fenixgoon]

looks like it has a new VW passat a$$. that said, i like the front grille, kinda cadillac CTS style. looks like it could be a pretty good car (at least on the outside)!

 

[xanis]

Does it come with the fuzzy dice?