DETROIT- Production of one ofGeneral Motors Co.’s flagship sedans is underway at its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant.
The Detroit-based automaker Monday announced the start of production at the 3.6 million-square-foot plant for the 2014 Chevrolet Impala.
The sedan will be offered in LS, LT and LTZ models, and three direct-injected engines: a 3.6-liter V6, new 2.5-iter four-cylinder and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with eAssist,
The Detroit-Hamtramck facility is building the 2.5-liter four-cylinder model and the V6 model. The facility will not build the vehicles with GM’s light electrification eAssist technology.
Don Johnson, vice president of Chevrolet sales and service, said GM expects the new full-size sedan to “drive the segment to grow” and outperform many competitors in the near-luxury segment.
“The Impala, although not categorized as a near-luxury vehicle, will absolutely compete with many of those competitors and attract their attention,” he said during a media event Monday morning at the Detroit-Hamtramck facility.
GM also expects the retail-focused vehicle to bring new, younger customers to the brand.
Production of the vehicle at the Detroit-Hamtramck facility comes about a week after GM announced production of the 2014 Impala beginning at its Oshawa Assembly plant in Canada.
The 2014 Impala will be offered in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels. The 3.6-liter, 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 2.5-liter engine is priced as follows: $27,535 for the LS; $29,785 for the LT; $34,555 for the LTZ.
When introduced last year, the full-size sedan, which GM introduced in 1958, was the only Chevrolet vehicle that GM had not redesigned in the past two years or so.
The 10th generation vehicle, which is expected to go on sale in early next year, features an aggressive exterior redesign that takes distinctive cues from vehicles such as the Chevy Camaro and Malibu.
The interior of the new vehicle also has been completely redesigned with Chevy’s dual-cockpit that features a new instrument panel with a standard 4.2-inch color display with reconfigurable features for the driver. An eight-inch touch screen with concealed storage, which resembles the automaker’s Cadillac CUE infotainment system, is available with the Chevrolet MyLink system.
GM has built about 16 million Impalas since introducing the nameplate in 1958, according to GM spokesman Otie McKinley. The vehicle was previously redesigned in ’06, ’00, ’94, ’77, ’71, ’65, ’62 and ’59.
Michael Wayland, MLive.
