THUNDER BAY – The era of the big car has not yet ended. The all-new 2014 Impala, Chevrolet’s flagship sedan, will go on sale this spring with a starting price of $27,535, including an $810 destination charge. Impala was America’s best-selling full-size sedan in 2011, with sales of more than 171,000, which made it one of the 10 best-selling cars in the United States
“We’ll build on the success the Impala nameplate has generated over its history,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet marketing. “We’ve added sophisticated design features, more technology and safety equipment, while conserving Impala’s current strengths like spaciousness and comfort.”
Personalization is common with many of today’s technologies. Downloadable “skins” or themes can enhance interaction.
“People are able to modify the look and feel of their smartphones and computers; now they can do that with their car, too,” said Matt Fuligni, design manager, Chevrolet User Experience.
Fuligni said designers drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including smartphone icons and even the television graphics that display the scores on football games.
Using consumer research, including interviews and online voting, MyLink designers developed four specific graphic appearances designed to appeal to the distinctive personalities of Chevrolet customer groups. They include:
- Contemporary – Clean, simple interface that’s not overly colorful or busy, geared to busy moms and families;
- Edge – Youth-oriented, dynamic feel with vibrant colors and pop culture-inspired icons;
- Velocity – Sleek, with carbon fiber background appearance and glowing neon, aimed at driving enthusiasts;
- Main Street – An all-around, crowd-pleasing design using primary colors; a typical customer may drive a truck and use it as a high-tech mobile office.
Customers simply use the Settings menu to personalize their Impala, which goes on sale next spring.
Chevrolet’s latest MyLink radio debuts in the 2014 Impala. The in-vehicle entertainment system adds an eight-inch color display screen that is customizable. The system also adopts natural voice recognition – a first for Chevy. The 2014 Impala has several new features, including Adaptive Cruise Control and crash-avoidance technologies like Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Side Blind Zone Alert. Ten standard airbags are included as well – among the most in the segment.
Three direct-injection engine choices will be available to customers: a 3.6L V-6, a newly designed 2.5L four-cylinder and a 2.4L four-cylinder with fuel-saving eAssist technology that is estimated to deliver 35 mpg. All engines are matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.
The 2014 Impala will be offered in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels.
The 3.6L, 305-horsepower-engine will come to market first, with a starting price of $30,760 for the LT and $36,580 for the LTZ, including destination charges. The 2.5L engine is priced as follows: $27,535 for the LS; $29,785 for the LT; $34,555 for the LTZ. Pricing for the 2.4L engine with eAssist will be announced later.
The new Impala will be built in the Oshawa, Ontario, and Detroit-Hamtramck, Mich., assembly plants.
In Thunder Bay, the 2014 Impala will be available at Badanai Motors located at 399 Memorial Avenue.