<P> The Impala was Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965, and had become the best - selling automobile in the United States . </P> <P> For its debut in 1958, the Impala was distinguished from other models by its symmetrical triple taillights, which returned from 1960 - 96 . The Caprice was introduced as a top - line Impala Sport Sedan for model year 1965, later becoming a separate series positioned above the Impala in 1966, which, in turn, remained above the Bel Air and the Biscayne . The Impala continued as Chevrolet's most popular full - size model through the mid-1980s . Between 1994 - 96, the Impala was revised as a 5.7 - liter V8--powered version of the Caprice Classic sedan . </P> <P> In 2000, the Impala was reintroduced again as a mainstream front - wheel drive Hi - Mid sedan . As of February 2014, the 2014 Impala ranked #1 among Affordable Large Cars in U.S. News & World Report's rankings . When the current tenth generation of the Impala was introduced for the 2014 model year, the ninth generation was rebadged as the Impala Limited and sold only to fleet customers through 2016 . As of the 2015 model year, both versions are sold in the United States and Canada, with the current - generation Impala also sold in the Middle East, the People's Republic of China, and South Korea . </P> <P> The Impala name was first used for the full - sized 1956 General Motors Motorama show car that bore Corvette - like design cues, especially the grille . Painted emerald green metallic, with a white interior, the Impala featured hardtop styling . Clare MacKichan's design team, along with designers from Pontiac, started to establish basic packaging and dimensions for their shared 1958 General Motors "A" body in June . The first styling sketch that would directly influence the finished Chevrolet automobile was seen by General Motors Styling vice president Harley Earl in October . Seven months later, the basic design was developed . </P>

2000 chevy impala front or rear wheel drive