The New Chevrolet Impala is a Sleeper....In a Great Way

The Chevrolet Impala has been on the market in this body style for the past six years. The car has been loved by rental car agencies and people looking for an effective family car capable of good gas mileage and plenty of room. The car features small exterior changes such as the mesh grille and the painted molding on the trunk. Both of these features are reminiscent of the late SS Impala killed 2 model years ago.

On the inside nothing much has changed. The same interior that was used the last few years. Oddly enough the impala comes standard with the 5 passenger floor mounted shifter. If one wants to upgrade to a 6 passenger sedan with column mounted shifter it is an extra $200.00. Quite backward in my opinion being that it is probably cheaper to mount the shifter on the column then build a center console. Now for the best part the new 3.6 liter DOHC, VVT, direct injected engine V6. This engine makes 300 horsepower and 262 lbs of torque. The past V6's were a 3.5 V6 which made 211hp and the 3.9 which made 230 hp (which I believe is in the current Impala police interceptor cars). This new power plant also makes 1 less hp and 71 fewer pounds of torque then the dead V8 SS Impala. This engine is in GM vehicles across the lineup such as in the Traverse, CTS, Malibu and Camaro. The car also features a new transmission from a dated 4 speed to a new 6 speed.

Is this GM making cars cheaper only having to use one V6....probably. What a sleeper though....I think I'll take mine in a base model with the rental car wheels and shift on the column and surprise a few tuner guys from light to light.