The new ImpalaSS

Shaners · February 28, 2002

This is out of the new MotorTrend Magazine.

Appearantly prompted by the competition from Mercury with their new Mercury Marauder, GM has approved importation of a version of the Australian market Holden Commodore SS as the next Impala SS.

It is a rear-drive sedan with a Corvette spec (350HP) Gen III 5.7L alloy V-8 and a six-speed manual gearbox, limited slip and 17" wheels.

chevy4x4trucks · February 28, 2002

We need these Holden cars here, GM seems to be more ballsy down under. Is this due to the gas restrictions in the USA?

pacodiablo · February 28, 2002

whats the price?

sincityZ71 · February 28, 2002

Yeah the Aussies have some sweet rear-wheel drive cars down under. GM definately needs to get there act together and bring some here to North America.

antig24 · February 28, 2002

that looks nice

Shaners · February 28, 2002

Questions in order...

4x4, I don't know...

Paco, I don't know...

SinCity, Yes they do... I actually went to their website, and according to what I read, I was led to believe this car will have an independant rear suspension.

BTW, although I have never seen one, I believe this car is a 5 passenger sedan. "FULLSIZE".

Let's wait and see what happens... I think there is some speculation....

ekonk · February 28, 2002

chevy4x4trucks Posted on Feb. 27 2002,8:23
We need these Holden cars here, GM seems to be more ballsy down under. Is this due to the gas restrictions in the USA?

From what I understand, the main factors in Holden-type cars not being here are emissions and crash-related. I think the Holden Commodore has the fuel tank behind the rear axle, which is not suitable for import.

The part that gets me the most about these cars, is that they are already sold in left-hand drive as chevrolets--in the middle east. I just want one!

NewbieZ71 · February 28, 2002

bah humbug.... Dodge Avenger, Revisited.....

oh am I in trouble now.....

sincityZ71 · February 28, 2002

I dunno, would be kinda fun to have a right-hand side drive here in the States

Shaners · February 28, 2002

Holden makes/markets some neat stuff down-under. Here is a pic of the "Maloo" from HSV division. I don't know if this is in production or not...

CMNTMXR81 · February 28, 2002

Not only does it have to do with crash related restrictions, but also emissions, warranty and reliablility issues. Not that the Holden's can't do it, it's just making sure everything meets the much more stringent U.S. requirements.

If you guys go to www.gm.com and go to their middle east website, you'll see these Holden's rebadged as the Lumina, Caprice, and Impala.

And specifically they aren't the Vette's LS1 under the hood, they are actually the F-body LS1. There are a few minor differences in packaging that make it necessary for use of the F-body's version.

CMNTMXR81 · February 28, 2002

Oh and to add more frustration to our fire over here in the States, take a close look at the gold Holden, doesn't it look remarkedly similar to the previous generation Catera? That's cause they are virtually the same. It essentially was a Catera body with a Camaro drivetrain.

The Maloo is scheduled to be the next El Camino.

Rumor also has it that if these ARE brought here, the Malibu a.k.a. Chevelle will also be brought back.

ekonk · March 1, 2002

The Ute and Maloo (Maloo is the higher performance version of the Ute) apparently have a longer wheelbase than the other Commodores, with the gas tank in front of the rear axle. Emissions problems should be easy to resolve, considering the same basic engines are available here. I have no idea on warranty and reliability issues, but I would expect them to be similar to the US.

And now rumors are spreading about the Holden Monaro (coupe version of the Commodore) may be the next Pontiac GTO. Almost a suitable replacement for the firebird, IMO.

But there are still issues as I see it...

1st, Cars like these will not be imported if GM is serious about selling them here, they will be produced here. No moves yet by GM to set up a plant to produce these.

2nd, GM has not given us a Silverado SS for how long? :plainsmile: And they're going to give us this? Motortrend is guessing 2004 for the Pontiac GTO...I'll believe it when I see it...

CMNTMXR81 · March 1, 2002

Ok, last night my friend whom I worked with for 5 years and was a neighbor with for 15 years, he helped me build my car, I help him build his and we've nailed chicks together he was the service manager at a local Chevy dealer, then promoted to fleet sales and now is in the running to become the GM of the dealership, anyway he and I were talking lastnight. I brought this up to him, he said from all the internal paperwork he's seen, it'll be 2004. First will be the El Camino, then the Malibu a.k.a. the Chevelle and then the Impala. What was of most important note from him was the "optional" engine for the El Camino and the Chevelle as upgrades over the standard LS1/LS6.

Anyone want to take guesses? ? ?

Now, this is not set in stone nor can he or I verify the accuracy, but this is what he has had fed to him through internal GM channels.

Anybody want to guess what that "optional" engine is? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?