GM cancels rear-wheel-drive Chevy Impala and Buick

Posted: May 26, 2008
Filed under: Buick, Chevrolet, GM, Industry News

Due to fuel-economy issues GM has killed plans to produce a rear-wheel-drive Chevrolet Impala and a Buick based on its Zeta platform. Both cars were expected to make their debut around 2011. You can blame the Bush administration and the new federal fuel-economy rules for this one.

The rear-wheel-drive Impala was expected to be 3 inches longer than the current Impala style with a long nose. The high-performing Impala SS version was expected to carry a V8 producing 350+ horsepower and would have gone head-to-head with Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger.

Federal regulations call for a n dustry average of 35mpg by 2020. 

Current U.S. models that share the rear-wheel-drive platform are the 2008 Pontiac G8 sedan and the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro. The 2010 Pontiac G8 is also expected to use the platform. 

 

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

[tags]Cars, Car, Auto, Automobile, Vehicles, Technology, Auto News, News, Automotive, GM[/tags]

Related Posts:

  1. Rear-wheel-drive Buick Lucerne not dead, but will be smaller
  2. Ford to bring back rear-wheel-drive in the U.S.
  3. Pontiac: No Trans Am, no rear-wheel-drive
  4. GM may offer a Camaro hybrid, no more rear-wheel-drive projects
  5. GM puts a hold on rear-wheel-drive cars

  • Matt
    Not a surprise, but it is not the RWD cars as much as the SUV's and trucks that cause CAFE issues. Better to worry about a bigger car that will sell at all instead of whether it is RWD or FWD.
  • Dr. Hemlock
    Better start selling your GM stock now!
blog comments powered by Disqus