There's plenty of talk of how much better the 2014 Chevy Impala is over the outgoing model that's been a fleet-favorite for years now. While we all expected the old, rental special Impala to linger around for just 2014 until fleet buyers got used to the new, more expensive car, it appears the W-Body will last until 2016.
Automotive News reports that the old Impala, now called the Impala Limited, has been given another stay of execution through the 2016 model year. That has something to do with the fact the old workhorse is a favorite for its low cost of ownership and familiarity among fleets and the fact the new car is a lot glitzier and more expensive depending on trim level. GM is in no hurry to make the latest Impala a common sight at airport rental lots, so it's a win for both camps.
Used car shoppers just need to remember that of all the 2014 Impalas, one is definitely more "limited" than the other.
By 2016, it means the platform that underpins that car will be 29 years old if the Limited actually ceases production that year. It'll also be one of the oldest cars still in production, as the W-Body Impala – aside from a new powertrain and styling tweaks – hasn't changed much since it debuted in 1999.
And the W-Body itself, debuting on the 1988 Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Pontiac Grand Prix, has had a handful of significant upgrades since then. But look at it this way: it's sort of the newest Oldsmobile you can buy.
Photo: GM