NEW YORK – General Motors brought the next generation of its Chevrolet Impala, the 2014 model-year edition, to the New York International Auto Show. The automaker said this all-new model will go on sale in early 2013, and that it “completes the transformation of its North American passenger car lineup.” 

GM said it plans to offer three models of the 2014 Impala, the LS, LT and LTZ. The automaker is building the Impala at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck, Mich., and Oshawa, Ontario facilities and plans to announce pricing at a later date.

You can view a photo gallery with more images of the 2014-MY Impala here.

Before we get into the details, here’s an overview of the key features in the all-new Impala.

• An all-new exterior design

• Three engine options: a V-6, a new four-cylinder engine, and a four-cylinder engine paired with GM’s eAssist technology

• An all-new interior

• Chevrolet’s MyLink, which includes Bluetooth, audio streaming, and an available navigation system

• Many safety features, including 10 standard airbags, OnStar, and a range of new driver assistance-based safety technologies

Now, to the specifics:

Performance

The all-new Impala’s three powertrain choices feature direct injection and include an Ecotec 2.5L four-cylinder engine capable of producing 195 hp, an Ecotec 2.4L engine with eAssist capable of producing 182 hp (GM said it expects this engine to get 35 mpg), and a 3.6L V-6 that can produce 303 hp. Each engine is matched with a six-speed transmission. GM hasn’t yet announced fuel economy numbers for the 2.4L with eAssist or the V-6.

GM said the 2014 Impala uses a MacPherson-strut front suspension and four-link rear suspension, along with an isolated front cradle and hydraulic ride bushing. Also, all the new Impala models feature an electric variable-assist steering system, which the automaker said helps reduce fuel use by using energy only when the driver turns the steering wheel.

Exterior

GM’s Chevrolet brand said the Impala’s design features a “wind-swept profile that suggests motion,” and that it tailored the available wheels to the body to provide the right stance. Up front, low-profile projector-beam headlamps (or HID headlamps and LED daytime running lamps on the LTZ model) “sweep around the corners.” A power dome hood is designed to emphasize performance, and the rear fenders acknowledge previous Impala designs, according to the automaker.

Interior

Inside, the 2014-MY Impala features Chevrolet’s dual-cockpit interior design. The instrument panel comes with an instrument cluster that features a 4.2-inch color display. The display lets users reconfigure the information displayed in the driver information center area. The 8-inch touchscreen, with concealed storage behind it, is paired with the available Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system. MyLink provides Bluetooth hands-free phone operation, audio streaming, and available navigation.

Chevrolet focused on creating a quiet cabin environment. The seats feature high-quality fabric, Ultrasuede and perforated leather and are bolstered for added comfort, according to GM. Occupants can fold the rear-seat head restraints to improve visibility when driving without passengers in the back seat.

Safety

The 2014-MY Impala features 10 airbags as standard. One new feature, a first in a Chevrolet vehicle, is full-speed-range adaptive cruise control, which uses radar to sense traffic in front of the vehicle and adjust its speed, including stopping and accelerating again. Another new first for a Chevrolet vehicle is collision mitigation braking, which uses radar to detect a potential crash, alerts the driver if one is about to occur, and brakes if the driver can’t react in time or doesn’t react. Other features include camera-based forward collision alert and lane-departure warning systems; a sensor-based side blind zone alert system; and rear cross traffic alert (which uses the radar sensors of the blind zone alert). The 2014-MY Impala also offers OnStar.