Performance and Refinement Upgrades Define 2006 Chevy Impala and Monte Carlo

Like the Japanese, GM has made sure its new entries deliver extremely tight panel gap tolerances of 3.5 mm or less, adding to the

GM has made sure its new entries deliver extremely tight panel gap tolerances of 3.5 mm or less. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

feeling of quality. Its grab-style door handles are said to offer a substantial feel, an important human-machine interface that many automakers, such as Jaguar with its loose, cheap feeling door handles, forget about.

What the new Monte Carlo and Impala will have over their Japanese rivals is engine power. While base cars will feature a new standard 3.5L V6, more powerful than the base engines from most competitors at 210-horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque, top-line SS models will feature a V8.

The new LS4 5.3L V8, developing 303-horsepower and 323 lb-ft of torque, features GM's Displacement On Demand (DOD) technology to save on fuel. When the vehicle is under light loads, meaning it isn't coaxing a trailer or fully loaded cabin and trunk up a steep hill or isn't at full throttle, four of the engine's eight

The new LS4 5.3L V8, developing 303-horsepower and 323 lb-ft of torque, features GM's Displacement On Demand (DOD) technology to save on fuel. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

cylinders go into hibernation. The system allows up to 12 percent savings in fuel, which should make a difference in the pocketbook considering today's exorbitant gasoline prices. The transition from eight to four and then four to eight cylinders is virtually seamless, and full power is available at the touch of the throttle, so its one of those rare "have your cake and eat it too" benefits.

Splitting the base and top engine choices is a 240-horsepower 3.9-liter V6 with 245 lb-ft of torque, based on the same architecture as the 3.5L V6.