Chevrolet Launches 4-Cylinder Impala At Detroit-Hamtramck
On April 8, General Motors launched production of the 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder version of the redesigned Chevrolet Impala at its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant, coinciding with a fresh marketing campaign for the full-size sedan's new life.
The automaker will continue producing the previous version of the Impala for daily rental car customers, calling it the 2014 Impala Limited. But GM executives confirmed that their goal is to convert the Impala from 70 percent fleet sales and 30 percent retail sales to 70 percent retail and 30 percent fleet. Retail sales are usually more profitable because the cars sell at a higher average price than those sold to rental car agencies and corporate fleets.
The automaker won rave reviews from design critics for the 2014 Impala when it was revealed at the 2012 New York International Auto Show.
GM recently started shipping the 2014 Impala to dealers, so it should go on sale within days. The automaker started production of the 3.6-liter V6 version of the Impala in March at GM’s Oshawa, Ontario plant.
The car will be competing against full-size sedans, including the Ford Taurus and recently redesigned Toyota Avalon, which has been posting sales gains. "We expect with the Impala we are actually going to drive the segment to grow," said Don Johnson, GM’s Vice President of Chevrolet Sales and Service.