DailyTech: GM Previews "35 MPG" 2014 Impala Mild Hybrid

I'll take Acura's offering if what they're projecting comes to life..

2012 New York Auto Show: Acura RLX Concept Debuts With Sport-Hybrid All-Wheel Drive

 

Impala is EPA rated 18/30, so this will add a few more MPGs. Better than nothing, if it doesn't add to much to the sticker price.

 

I grew up a Chevy guy so I hate say it but GM had better get off their collective rears and get with the program. They should be able to get that kind of MPG from an Impala without Hybrid Tech. With few exceptions, they just keep re-branding the same old tired standards and products.

 

The Impala is in the same segment as the 300, Avalon, and Taurus. The Impala has the lowest combined mpg at 22. The others are just crushing it with 23.

To put the announced 35mpg highway in perspective, the Impala is rated 30 now.

Compare Side-by-Side

If the EPA ratings went to the tenths place, the 300 would have the highest numbers. The eight speed transmission is a recent addition. It might not get a refresh soon.
Numbers aren't released yet, but Taurus now has the 2.0L ecoboost. Based off what the Edge and Explorer get with it, the city will definitely go up. Highway should too.
Based on recent announcements, Toyota is only offering the V6 with Avalon. Beyond them being quiet about a new transmission or such, the Avalon will become the guzzler of the group.

 

The 2013 Altima was announced with 38 MPG highway.

 

These are exciting times! A BMW 528i now comes with a turbocharged gasoline direct injected 4 and gets 34 mpg highway (27 combinied).
GM's e-assist is one of several ways the manufacturers are boosting their ratings.
While 35 highway might not light your fire, they're accomplishing this at relatively low cost while retaining the styling aesthetics of their cars. Not everyone wants to drive something that looks like a Prius.

- Chris

 

I find this all mildly interesting. I am grateful that GM is making a pronounced effort to improve efficiency, and acknowledge the reports are favorable. But, personally,I would not consider purchasing a GM product as long as Consumer Reports (CR) continue to unfavorably show so many GM products in the various categories (worse of the worse, Reliability and etc.). Too many black or half black circles on GM products.

I know that CR is not the "end-all" car value authority, but I certainly have significantly more confidence in the CR's contacts with owners, rather than Motor Trend and others magazines that seem to have such a large political (or possibly profitable) incentive.

 

I see the Altima as a Camry competitor. The Impala and the others are the largest sedan the manufacturer offers. Maxima is Nissan's, though some generations were only a few inches larger than the Altima, and looked just like it. The full size sedan is a bit of a dying breed with crossovers and minivans. Honda doesn't have one.

 

problem is that in real life, Malibu mild hybrid consumption sucks... MotorTrend test of 6 cars, included Malibu and it had same consumption as every 4cly on the test, not better.

 

The 2011/12 Hyundai Sonata is already getting 35 mpgs w/out a hybrid system. Interior dimensions are similiar to an Impala. I would consider this Impala's direct competition. If GM is going to wait until '14 to "catch up", they've already lost the battle. It's a shame but, Government Motors has no new ideas and they're always playing catch up. Maybe they should team up with Heinz and start making ketchup (lol).

It does not impress me that GM will produce in '14 what is already on the market today.

 

There are those that are brand loyal no matter what, so it's a good thing that GM offered something that is more fuel efficient that what they're already driving.

 

Not a reasonable comparison.

Altima ~= Malibu
Maxima ~= Impala

(But, yes it will crush the Malibu in MPG too)

Altima and Malibu are probably the two smallest mid-size cars, which makes sense given both companies have separate full-size offering.

Until GM can reduce the weight of their cars, they're going to have worse mileage than their competitors, particularly in the city. The challenge is to do it without cheapening them too much.

 

As I drove past a Chevy dealer today, I noticed that their windows were painted with big, splashy signs advertising them as the "MPG headquarters" and bragging about the mileage of various models "35mpg Cruise" ect..

I had to laugh, because if I bought a car that only got 30-35mpg, I'd expect it to be something like a Corvette or a Cadillac. And fuel efficiency isn't one of the reasons people want those kinds of cars.

An economy car, IMHO, is one that gets closer to 40-50mpg. GM can claim to be the "MPG headquarters" when it offers a handful of models that get mileage like that.

 

It's the new Marketing buzz word. Although they are probably also shooting for the "We are the best American Motor Company in terms of Fuel Efficiency", as right now, besides the Volt, the Japanese and German cars tend to boast that.

 

The title is nonsensical. Pagani can also claim to be the "MPG capital", since, after all, they do produce the most fuel efficient Pagani at Pagani.

Jeep can claim to be the "MPG paradise" because it produces the most fuel efficient 4wd with a 7 bar grille.

 

Dinosaur says new egg laying method can stave off extinction.

50 mpg was the 2010 standard for a five passenger family sedan and GM will be get to 70% of that goal in two years.

Hopefully the 2015 Volt will be available with a solid 50 mpg range and 50 mpg when in hybrid mode. I should have my charging station issues fixed by then. That will cut my gas use to 60% of average by 2015. Well on my Kyoto path of 80% by 2050.