Impala's Total Performance System

Impala Provides a
Total Performance System^TM

Performance and Chevrolet go hand in hand. Today's customers have certain expectations of performance that go beyond off-the-line acceleration. The new Impala offers a Total Performance System that's sportier than some and more refined than others.

"Impala's performance will immediately re-ignite your love of driving," said Impala Brand Manager Don Parkinson.

Proven, Efficient Power

Today's sedan buyers want more than just power; they need efficiency, and they demand reliability.

Impala's base engine is the 3400 V6 with sequential fuel injection. With 180 horsepower and 205 pound-feet of torque, the 3400 offers an impressive balance of performance and fuel economy,¹ with a preliminary composite mileage estimate of 27 mpg based on internal tests.

Impala buyers can also opt for the award-winning 3800 Series II V6 engine. With 200 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, the 3800 V6 is standard equipment on the uplevel Impala LS and is optional on the base Impala.

Equipped with the 3800 V6, Impala offers all of the horsepower of the standard V8 engine in Ford's Crown Victoria. Yet Impala weighs some 500 pounds less than the Crown Victoria and (based on preliminary internal estimates) gets better gas mileage than both the Crown Victoria V8 and the uplevel Taurus V6.

"The 3800 V6 will be among the most fuel-efficient 200-horsepower engines¹ available among Impala's primary competitors,²" Parkinson added.

Both Impala engines feature a number of extended-life fluids and components, to limit required maintenance and enhance durability and reliability.

These features include the following:

DEX-COOL engine coolant extends the service interval to 5 years/150,000, miles whichever comes first³
DEXRON-III transmission fluid provides up to 100,000 miles before the first scheduled change³
Platinum-tipped spark plugs allow Impala to travel up to 100,000 miles before the first scheduled tune-up³

Comparison based on composite fuel economy estimate of 27.3 miles per gallon for the 3400 engine . Composite fuel economy estimate for the 3800 engine is 26.3 miles per gallon. These are preliminary figures based on internal GM tests. Final figures not available at the time of printing. Crown Victoria and Ford Taurus composite fuel economy figures of 20.5 and 22.0, respectively, are from the 1999 EPA Fuel Economy Guide.
Comparison based on Taurus SE, Avalon XL and Intrepid.
Maintenance needs vary with different uses and driving conditions. Vehicles with DEX-COOL brand coolant must be refilled only with DEX-COOL. See the owner's manual for more information.

Ride and Handling

Impalas of the '60s are remembered, in part, for their comfortable, "jet smooth" ride. In the case of the 2000 Impala, that smooth ride is part of a deeper equation that also includes precise handling, superb steering feel and smooth idle.

"We feel we've provided the right combination of suspension components to create an inspiring driving experience," said Vehicle Chief Engineer Greg Bellopatrick.

"Impala is tied together structurally the way a great driver's car should be," said Bellopatrick. "We've been able to leverage Impala's structural improvements (see p. 10) into a quiet ride, agile handling and enhanced vehicle quality for the customer," he added.

One of the most significant contri-butors to Impala's agile handling is an all-new engine cradle made of extruded aluminum.

"The benefits of this design are numerous," said Bellopatrick. "It's very stiff, which allows us to tune the suspension very precisely. This way we're not compromising on ride for handling or vice versa."

"It also offers the benefits inherent in aluminum," Bellopatrick continued. "It's 37 percent lighter than a steel component would have been, and it's more resistant to corrosion than steel."

The chassis team incorporated a number of additional structural enhancements that are characteristic of a well-executed driver's car, including a racing-inspired front strut tower brace. This lends support to the vehicle during cornering. "Impala's MagBeam^TM instrument panel support helps to reduce idle shake for enhanced steering feel," Bellopatrick explained.

Impala's four-wheel independent suspension has been designed to leverage the vehicle's stiff structure to provide the customer with a pleasing ride with precise handling, and to reduce the intrusion of road inputs into the cabin.

Impala is the only vehicle among its primary competitors to include 16-inch wheels and tires as standard equipment on every model.¹

Impala also offers four-wheel disc brakes as standard equipment.

Vehicle Line Executive Gary White cited two specific reasons for Impala's braking prowess.

First, the rotors, pads and calipers are all maximized to fit the Impala's larger 16-inch wheels. In fact, they're larger than those used on vehicles costing more than twice as much as Impala.

Second, engineers were able to reduce heat buildup in the front brakes by 12 percent by incorporating a unique brake cooling groove into the front wheel wells.

"Impala's brakes are going to provide outstanding performance," concluded White. "In fact, Impala's production brake system has been certified for the heavier wear cycles of the Impala police package."

Impalas equipped with the 3800 V6 engine also include an anti-lock brake system.

Impala integrates ABS with full-function traction control and a segment-exclusive tire inflation monitoring system.

Full-function traction control helps the driver maintain traction by reducing wheel spin on slippery surfaces by reducing engine power and automatically modulating the brakes. Impala's tire inflation monitoring system (TIMS) works in conjunction with ABS to detect when a tire is not revolving at the same speed as the others. A telltale light on the instrument panel notifies the driver of this condition, which may be attributable to a low-air situation, so that corrective action may be taken.

1 Comparison based on Taurus, Avalon and Intrepid.