Front bench seats are going the way of the drive-in
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Chevrolet has done away with front bench seats in the redesigned 2014 Impala.
The century-long run for front bench seats in passenger cars ends with the 2013 Impala -- the last car in North America to offer them.
Chevrolet's first vehicle, the Series C Classic Six of 1911, had a front bench seat. Pickup truck and SUV buyers will still have the option.
Front bucket seats have become the norm, so GM said it doesn't expect consumers to notice that the option is no longer available. Only one in 10 Impala customers wanted the $195 bench option last year in the LS and LT models, according to General Motors.
"There is certain nostalgia for bench seats, like being able to snuggle up with your date at a drive-in movie, and some customers still like them," said Clay Dean, GM director of design. "You never know, we might see bench seats re-emerge someday."
