GM says No to More Large RWD Sedans

If you're one of the many bowtie fans with hopes that Chevrolet is bringing the

Due to CAFE standards, there won't be a large Chevy RWD sedan any time soon. (Photo: Chevrolet)

next-generation Impala to market as a rear wheel drive sedan, you might just be out of luck. General Motors has debated whether or not to replace the W-Body cars with ones based off the Zeta platform for a while, but hesitated based on the pending Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations, which would have serious negative repercussions in fines - fines that GM can't really afford to dole out.

The plan, for the time being, will be for GM to continue building the Impala and the LaCrosse at the Oshawa car assembly plant until 2012 (as per the recent CAW union agreements). This means that the Impala, and quite possibly its Buick equal, will be amongst the oldest products in GM's range. The W-Body will finally go to rest at that point, however instead of switching over to the Zeta platform, GM would keep its large sedans as front

Only the G8 and Camaro will ride on the Zeta platform for the time being. (Photo: Pontiac)

wheel drive vehicles, but on the international Epsilon II platform.

Looking across the Pacific at the Beijing auto show, Buick showed off its Invicta Concept, which featured a turbocharged gasoline direct injection inline-four and a six-speed automatic that drives the front wheels (with the potential for all wheel drive). Expect this to be the direction of the next-gen Impala, rather than a Zeta-platform tire-smoking V8-powered muscle machine.

Although rear wheel drive has been ruled out for large cars, smaller RWD sedans and coupes are still in the works, coupled with efficient powertrains and new fuel saving devices.

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