Thursday, January 6, 2005

General Motors Corp. General Motors' popular 2006 Chevrolet Impala has had a makeover that includes a fold-down rear seat and better fuel economy.

L.A. Auto Show

Chevy retools Impala to take on new rivals

With optional V-8 engine, the midsize is poised to compete with Dodge and Ford.

By Eric Mayne / The Detroit News

General Motors Corp. Although the base models include a V-6 engine, a V-8 is available for the 2006 Chevrolet Impala SS and Monte Carlo SS. Error processing SSI file Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

LOS ANGELES -- Chevrolet's workhorse in the competitive midsize car segment is getting some new muscle as part of a makeover to do battle with new rivals from Ford and Dodge.

The Impala -- GM's best-selling passenger car in North America -- has been overhauled for the 2006 model year with an optional V-8 engine, a rear seat that flips and folds down flat to create more trunk space, and better fuel economy.

The sedan, along with the redesigned Monte Carlo coupe, is among 29 new models General Motors Corp. plans for the 2006 model year.

"We said that we were going to refresh 90 percent of the portfolio over a four-year period of time," said Gary Cowger, president of GM North America. "And part of that is refreshing all the models we've got in the mid-sedan segment. It's very important to keep these fresh."

Impala sales rose 8 percent to 290,259 units last year, but it faces new competition this year with the new Dodge Charger and Ford Five Hundred.

To attract more attention, the new Impala and Monte Carlo will be available as high-performance models bearing Chevy's trademark SS badge. The division's legendary "small block" V-8, a 5.3-liter engine with 303 horsepower, will be available on the SS models.

The first Chevy small block, named because of its compact configuration, debuted in 1954. Chevrolet has never been the same since, said John Wolkonowicz, senior analyst with Global Insight Inc.

"Chevy immediately turned from your Aunt Harriet's car, into something for a teenage boy to get excited about," Wolkonowicz said.

The new V-8 engine features GM's displacement-on-demand technology that saves fuel by deactivating cylinders when power demands decrease.

The base engines include a 3.5-liter V-6 and a 3.9-liter V-6.

The flip-and-fold rear seats can transform the interior into several configurations, from a covered storage area to a pass-through from the trunk.

GM invested more than $350 million to upgrade a plant in Oshawa, Ontario, to build the new Impala and companion Monte Carlo coupe. The Impala will hit showrooms this summer, followed by the Monte Carlo in the fall.

You can reach Eric Mayne at (313) 222-2443 or emayne@detnews.com.