Introduced in 1958, Chevrolet revived the moniker not once but twice and now according to reports the ‘Impala’ is likely to be laid to a final rest. Chevrolet is likely to end production on the Chevy Impala by the end of February 2020.
The demise comes from the rising demand for SUVs and crossovers than sedans. The Impala’s base model LS was discontinued in the final Model Year which made the entry-level trim USD 3600 more expensive. Coupled with the low demand for sedans, the market shift to SUVs and the rising cost of the car, Impala lost 25% sales in 2018 and 20.5% in 2019. The company also decided to put the Detroit-Hamtramck and the Lordstown assembly complex on the closures list where the Impala, Cadillac CT6 and the Chevrolet Cruze are made which may also have been compounded in the loss of sales.
The Impala was launched in 1958 and in a year GM sold more than 4,40,000 cars and by 1965 the company had sold more than a million cars. The 1958 Chevy Impala had the spirit of America with its double rounded headlights, chrome bumpers, chrome belt-line and a large tail section. The car was discontinued in 1985 and almost ten years later came the Impala SS (Super Sport) which was the performance-oriented model of the mid-90s that came with a V8 engine and rear-wheel-drive.
The current generation Impala for sale comes with a 3.6-litre V6 engine that produces 305 hp of power and 358 Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Chevy Impala features HID headlamps, LED daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels upgradable to up to 20-inch aluminium wheels, chrome door handles, dual-pane powered sunroof, heated ORVMs with integrated turn indicators etc., on the outside.
On the inside, the Impala features analogue instruments with a 4.2-inch colour multi-information display with average vehicle speed and fuel economy, fuel range, trip odometer, tire pressure and oil life, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with 4G connectivity features, 8-way powered driver and front passenger seats, Bose surround sound system, dual-zone climate control, electronic parking brake, heated steering wheel etc.
Safety features include 10 airbags, front collision sensors, Brake Assist, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Departure Warning, OnStar and Chevrolet connected services etc.
Unconfirmed sources also believe that the Impala moniker will be revived in the future with the introduction of a fully electric car from the brand.
