Where's The Chrome Badging?
For 2014, the Chevrolet Impala will get a price hike of $850, and the return of an iconic badge that had been absent for years.
The base 2.5L Impala will start at $27,535, while the V6 models start at $30,760 and $36,580 respectively. Pricing for the eAssist version was not announced.
But the big news for 2014 is the return of the Impala badge, the little leaping chrome creature that’s been absent for so many years. According to the Wall Street Journal
In a cost-saving move a few years ago, GM stopped equipping the car with the chrome, leaping antelope that had symbolized the Impala for decades.
A quick peek on the car’s C-Pillar shows that the antelope is back. The fact that hardly anyone noticed might be a bigger problem.
More by Derek Kreindler
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One of the things that everyone forgets is how hard it is to change anything in Detroit. All of these decisions were made years ago. Smaller, more fuel efficient engines seemed to work in the dark days of 2008/2009. So now, we have a ton of large sedans and CUVs that run on 4 & 6 cyl. engines. If the turbos start to fail prematurely or the marketplace doesn't want them then it'll change, but I don't see that happening.
The 4-cylinder LS version is a CAFE and rental queen. You could insert the same, "its doomed" argument on the Jetta and the base model coming with the two-oh-slow under the hood. 115 HP?!?! It will never sell. Of course it doesn't - only about 5% of Jettas today are sold with the two-oh-slow half-diesel (OK, so its appetite for lubricants has been addressed). The same will be for the Impala. A loaded LTZ with the excellent GM 3.6 mated to the smooth 6-speed auto goes for less than a loaded Kia Optima. Ponder that for a little bit...and I don't hear anyone accusing GM of lying on the MPG of the 3.6L V6 engine that is in a number of its products. If anything, for those who have driven the 2012 rental Impala with the 3.6 have consistently reported superior to sticker MPG. Kia can't claim that. A loaded Avalon? Now up to $40K, and the base Avalon starts at over $31K, the same price for a middle of the road 2014 Imp with a V6. The 'bu starts much lower than $28K. I don't think the new Impala will sell anywhere near the volume of the old one. But I also don't care - I would rather a $28K sticker Impala sell for $27.5K with no cash on the hood (or minimal cash) than the current $25K Impala selling for $19K with the dealer begging on their hands and knees - and ironically the buyer getting the Toyota Corolla of full sized cars in the process. Dated, ancient, behind the times, and as reliable as an anvil.
Does GM ever take into account their competition, or do they just sit around looking at CAFE and Saftey standardand try to fit a car into them? Do they always assume that their customers are dimwits who will buy whatever they sell if it has the right brand and model? "Oh look honey, they've put the chrome Impala back on the Impala, Chevrolet is BACK!"
I have no idea how they expect to get away with the suggested price range from 27-37k when that puts you firmly in competition with the top trim charger r/t with AWD not to mention a whole slew of near luxury cars.