Now that we know where the next-generation Chevrolet Impala will be assembled, what has been discovered about the redesigned car?
For one thing, the Impala will be large, with dimensions similar to today's Impala. Second, it will share a front-wheel-drive platform with a new Cadillac.
General Motors announced Wednesday that the future Impala will be produced at the automaker's plant in Detroit-Hamtramck, Mich., alongside the Chevrolet Volt and the upcoming restyled and re-engineered 2013 Malibu. Today the Impala is assembled at GM's Oshawa, Ontario, plant.
The Hamtramck plant has been home to the Cadillac DTS and the Buick Lucerne. The last DTS was assembled this week and the Lucerne will be put to rest in a few weeks.
While GM did not provide a time frame, model year or any information about the new Impala, sources say production of the new sedan will begin in November or December 2012. Sales will begin in the first quarter of 2013, and the car will be a 2014 model.
The new Impala and the upcoming 2013 Cadillac XTS sedan will share the longer version of GM's re-engineered Epsilon platform, I'm told. The platform is engineered for all-wheel drive, although it is unknown if Impala will offer that feature. The XTS goes into production next year. The XTS, however, is expected to be assembled in Oshawa, the same plant that produces the Chevrolet Camaro and Buick Regal.
GM has not announced where the XTS will be assembled.