1964 Chevrolet Impala Reviews

Since the day the first Ram Truck arrived in Australia it feels like there has been a growing chorus of people looking to get US-style pickups (or utes, as we call them) banned.Some have argued they are simply too big for Australian roads, but the primary reason for this has been safety.ANCAP in particular has taken an interest in US utes, creating a specific testing program to assess the merits of the Active Driver Safety Assistance (ADAS) systems of the likes of the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra and Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series.The concern from ANCAP and other anti-American ute campaigners is that these bigger vehicles create a more dangerous environment for pedestrians and cyclists. But I find this argument a bit strange and, frankly, the entire movement against these types of vehicles potentially opens up the question of mandating what people can and can’t drive - which is very problematic in my personal opinion.Now, don’t get me wrong, I would not like a Tundra to crash into me crossing the street. But I also wouldn’t want a Toyota Yaris to run over me either. I’m sure the Tundra might do a bit more damage, but I feel like any impact between car and pedestrian is going to leave the pedestrian worse off.But the last time I checked our roads were filled with light trucks, like the Fuso Canter, Iveco Daily and Hino 300 Series as well as the odd heavy truck and the occasional bus (sarcasm intended). Obviously there is a difference between a bus and a pickup truck in terms of its role within society, but simply saying one is a danger to our roads while ignoring the other is disingenuous, at best.Why is it ok for someone to drive a Canter for their delivery business but not drive an F-150 for a weekend away camping when they have to tow a large caravan. Or why are we ok with someone driving a Hino in the city but not a Tundra pulling a horse float.To be fully transparent, I don’t really like these types of utes. I don’t think they make a lot of sense if you live in a major city. My brother used to live in Oklahoma and every driveway had some sort of Tundra/Silverado/1500/F-150 and they made perfect sense there. The roads are nice and wide and every shop has US-sized parking lots, and very few are multi-storey parking either.I am the definition of a ‘city-slicker’, I've spent my entire life in the city and suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne, and I have no caravan, horse float or similar that requires towing, so the idea of trying to live with such a big ute makes no sense to me.When I have tested these utes, even living with them for a week is challenging, because they simply do not fit everywhere. I find myself googling the maximum height of every car park I plan on visiting - and they don’t always fit.But while they aren’t for me, I find the very idea of banning or even campaigning against a car because it doesn’t suit your personal lifestyle a dangerous path to tread. Obviously the government needs to dictate certain safety requirements, but I don’t think many of us want the government saying what size of car we are allowed to drive.Because by that logic, and the argument that US utes are more dangerous than Australian-sized ones, then SUVs should be a major focus of safety groups. The modern SUV is designed for urban use, not going off-road like the original concept. A Toyota Yaris does the exact same job as a Yaris Cross but is taller and therefore, arguably, not as safe for pedestrians. Something like a BMW X5 is obviously taller and has a bigger frontal area than a 5-Series sedan. So why aren’t we banning urban-focused SUVs?Because nobody wants to be told what they can and can’t drive, it leads us down a slippery slope of government over-regulation and ultimately denies us choice depending on our lifestyle and needs.So before you throw stones at a US-sized ute, take a look at what’s in your driveway…

General Motors Speciality Vehicles (GMSV) has updated the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pick-up, giving it more payload capacity than ever before.From August 1, all locally converted versions of the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium will offer 942kg of payload, which is an increase of 194kg over the pre-update version.Meanwhile the Silverado 1500 ZR2 will offer 922kg of payload, which is an increase of 209kg over the pre-update version.With this payload increase, it sees the gross vehicle mass (GVM) increase from 3300kg to 3505kg. This sees it move from a NA (light goods vehicle) to NB1 (medium goods vehicle) certification.This reclassification means the Silverado 1500 will be exempt from the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), at least for the time being.Vehicles with a GVM between 3500kg and 3855kg are exempt from the NVES until June 30, 2027.This comes as General Motors (encompassing Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC) was the brand with the fifth-highest penalties last year as it missed the CO2 emissions target.It’s currently on the hook for fines up to $6.59 million unless it can sell more vehicles under the targets in successive years, or purchase credits from carmakers under the targets.Another reason why this move from NA to NB1 vehicle classification for the Silverado 1500 is timely is it sidesteps a newly introduced Australian Design Rule (ADR), which mandates that all new vehicles on sale in Australia from August 1, 2026, must have autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection.However, the Silverado 1500 is already equipped with this active safety technology.Other tweaks with this update include black badging and lettering on the exterior, plus the Z71 off-road suspension with Rancho shocks branding in the LTZ Premium has been replaced by off-road suspension with twin-tube dampers.Power across the line-up still comes from a 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine that produces 313kW and 624Nm. It’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with drive sent through a four-wheel drive system with full-time capabilities.The 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 line-up now starts at $135,990, before on-road costs, for the 1500 LTZ Premium and $147,490, before on-road costs, for the ZR2. This is a $1000 price rise when compared to the pre-update model.All versions of the Silverado 1500 continue to be produced in Mexico and then remanufactured from left- to right-hand drive by Walkinshaw in Melbourne, Victoria.Walkinshaw also converts the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, Toyota Tundra, as well as the Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 from left- to right-hand drive at its facility.

You know things are getting serious when a US pick-up style ute’s towing capacity reaches the 8.0-tonne mark.And that’s exactly what’s happened with the introduction of a factory 5th Wheel Hitch option for the MY26 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD.The new feature will be available from Q3 2026 build, offering the choice of a 50mm pin coupling or a 3.0-inch ‘gooseball’.As the name implies, a pin coupling uses a solid vertical pin and is best suited to off-road or agricultural towing, while a gooseneck ball uses a large, heavy-duty ball-and-socket connection in the load bed and is more appropriate for large on-road trailers.The package incorporates a factory air brake system “specifically designed, tested and installed as an integrated package.”It includes a chassis structure and bed attachment plate, added trailer connectors at the front of the load bed, trailer brake airlines and additional interior controls and warning lights for the driver.Once the 5th Wheel Hitch option box is ticked its installation will be included in the Silverado’s local left- to right-hand drive remanufacturing process and covered by GM’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty but is not available for purchase separately.Launching the option, GM Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Jess Bala said, “The new Genuine 5th Wheel Hitch option expands what Silverado 2500 can already do, while preserving the premium refinement and heavy-duty performance they expect from the vehicle.”It’s worth noting an 8000kg towing capacity means Silverado’s fitted with the fifth wheel will be NB2-certified so specific licensing requirements apply, and GMSV advises prospective buyers to check in with their relevant state or territory roads authority for further details.Pricing

Chevrolet has released a substantially upgraded 2027 version of its Silverado 1500 full-size pick-up with the headline change being adoption of the latest, sixth-generation ‘LS6’ version of GM’s small block V8 in 5.7- and 6.6-litre form.GM hasn’t released specs for the 5.7L and 6.6L V8s but dealer and industry reports point to outputs of around 300kW/580Nm and 350kW/680Nm, respectively. Scheduled to hit US showrooms before the end of the year, the new Silverado will continue to offer four powertrain options in North America - the two petrol V8s as well as an “enhanced” version of the 2.7-litre ‘TurboMax’ four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and the ‘Duramax’ 3.0-litre turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder.The Silverado 1500 is currently sold in Australia in two trim levels - LTZ Premium and ZR2, powered by the now out-moded 6.2-litre ‘EcoTec3’ naturally aspirated petrol V8.In the States the 2027 Silverado will boast seven trims - ZR2, Trail Boss, Custom Trail Boss, Work Truck, Custom, Silverado (formerly LT) and High Country.Introducing the Silverado LS6 engines, GM Executive Chief Engineer Mark Dickens said, “We pushed these engines through an extensive testing and validation process to make sure they deliver the durability, capability and dependability Silverado customers expect.”The LS6 engine debuted in the Corvette earlier this year in 6.7-litre (400kW/705Nm) form and the Silverado powerplants will be produced at GM’s Flint Engine Operations centre in Michigan as well as its Tonawanda Propulsion plant in New York State and the St. Catharines Propulsion facility just over the border in Ontario, Canada.As well as the new under-bonnet hardware the updated Silverado features a revised exterior with a new nose treatment incorporating LED headlights, tweaked LED tail-lights, chunkier wheel arch fenders and rocker panels as well as a standard dual exhaust (on Custom grade and above).Inside, the revised dash is highlighted by a new “edge-to-edge display” comprising a 16.3-inch central media display and a 12.2-inch digital instrument screen.A head-up display and 11.5-inch front passenger screen are standard on the ZR2 and High Country.The Z71 package will now be standard on 4WD models in the US, including skid plates, hill descent control and off-road suspension.When contacted for comment on potential local launch timing for the new Silverado a GM Australia & New Zealand spokesperson told CarsGuide, “Whilst we are excited by the news of the next generation Silverado, currently we have no announcements to make on future models for the ANZ region.”

The latest, sixth-generation ‘LS6’ version of GM’s small block V8 has found its first home between the axles of Chevrolet's updated Corvette supercar.Marking the return of the iconic Grand Sport nameplate, last seen on a limited-run of C2 Corvette competition cars in the 1960s, the upgraded mid-engine two-seater now boasts 400kW (535hp) at 6100rpm and 705Nm at 4600rpm from its all-alloy 6.7-litre (409ci) V8.The new engine also powers the ‘standard’ Corvette Stingray, raising power by 8.4 per cent (+31kW) and torque by an impressive 10.7 per cent (+68Nm), making it the most powerful base engine ever fitted to a production Corvette.But GM says extra displacement and output hasn’t negatively impacted the engine’s fuel efficiency or exhaust emissions.GM’s Assistant Chief Engineer for the small block Mike Kociba said, “With advanced controls, our new fuel system and a higher (13.0:1) compression ratio we’ve been able to improve emissions with a larger engine.”As well as the high compression ratio and an 8.0mm increase in stroke (expanding overall displacement from 6.2 to 6.7 litres) the LS6 features a 95mm throttle body, tunnel ram intake with high-velocity ports, a new lubrication system, forged pistons and rods and revised exhaust manifolds.Like the Stingray, the Grand Sport is available as a coupe and convertible with drive going to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch auto transmission.The Grand Sport also features ‘Magnetic Ride Control’ adaptive suspension, Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 tyres (275/30 fr - 345/25 rr) on forged alloy rims (20-inch fr - 21-inch rr), a quad centre exhaust and Brembo six-piston monobloc front brake calipers and four-piston monobloc rear calipers.In parallel, the heavy-hitting Corvette Grand Sport X, a likely successor for the hybrid E-Ray, adds a front-axle permanent magnet electric motor and compact high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack for all-wheel drive and a combined power output of no less than 538kW (721hp). As well as the adaptive suspension set-up the Grand Sport X adds carbon-ceramic brakes and an optional ‘Z52 Sport Performance Package’ brings a stiffer suspension tune, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber and high-performance ‘J56’ iron brakes from the Corvette Z06.A ‘Z52 Track Performance Package’ ups the ante further with carbon-ceramic ‘J57’ brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tyres and a track-focused chassis calibration as well as a carbon-fibre splitter, dive planes, rockers, wing and underbody strakes.The Corvette’s new small block represents a substantial bet on internal-combustion power by General Motors, the US giant investing US$918 million in upgrades across four facilities involved in the new engine’s production - Flint, Michigan (assembly), Bay City, Michigan (camshafts, connecting rods), Defiance, Ohio (block castings) and Rochester, New York (intake manifolds, fuel rails). An additional $US888 million is going to the Tonawanda Propulsion plant in Buffalo, New York.CarsGuide contacted GM Australia & New Zealand for comment on whether the Corvette Grand Sport is slated for the Australian market. “We have no announcements to make on future models, including potential additions to the local Corvette line-up,” a spokesperson said.

Utes have been affected substantially by increasing fuel prices, thanks to their large fuel tanks and often thirsty turbo-diesel engines.Diesel fuel prices have jumped to more than $3 per litre, making filling up a diesel ute more expensive than ever.CarsGuide has compiled a list of all the diesel dual-cab pick-up utes on sale, calculating the yearly cost of each at $3.07 per litre (the average price in NSW on 31/3/26) over 15,000km.Isuzu Ute’s D-Max and Mazda BT-50 2.2-litre turbo-diesel variants are the efficiency leaders. The mechanically identical pair of utes cost $3038.02 in fuel in a year, averaging 6.6L/100km.The Ford Ranger’s single turbo-diesel 2.0-litre is next on the list, averaging 6.9L/100km, which equates to $3177.45 over 15,000km. The new mild hybrid Toyota HiLux also has a competitive efficiency figure of 7.1L/100km, which is a little cheaper in fuel than the standard turbo-diesel variants. Three-litre variants of the BT-50 and D-Max vary in cost, given fuel consumption fluctuates between 7.1L/100km and 7.8L/100km depending on the variant.The KGM Musso is one of the thirstiest of the utes, with its up to 9.0L/100km, costing more than $4000 over the course of a year.  The GWM Cannon Alpha diesel was the other ute to exceed the $4000 mark. Concluding the list are the gas guzzling full-size American pick-ups, in Ram’s 2500 and the Chevrolet Silverado HD. Both have V8 diesel engines with a capacity of more than 6.0-litres, meaning they cost more than $7000 over the course of a year.2026 ute fuel figures Australia  *Dependent on variant**Ram does not provide official figures for fuel consumption. This figure is sourced from CarsGuide's real world testing.***Chevrolet does not provide official figures for fuel consumption. This figure is sourced from CarsGuide's real world testing.

Fuel prices are soaring across the board whether it is petrol or diesel. Some drivers are being more affected than others as lower fuel efficiency contributes to higher refuelling costs. Here are the most expensive cars to run currently in Australia based on fuel efficiency. Other contributing factors to the high fuel costs on this list include the fact many of the cars have big fuel tanks and require premium fuel.Fuel prices have been calculated using the average prices for fuel in New South Wales and at an average of 15,000km driven per year. Among the heaviest guzzlers is the Nissan Patrol four-wheel drive, with its 5.6-litre V8 drinking fuel at a rate of 14.4L/100km. Its 140-litre fuel tank and requirement for premium unleaded petrol means it costs $364 per fill-up and a total yearly cost of $5617.28. The Patrol will move to a more efficient 3.5-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol, which is expected to reduce fuel costs. The Ford Mustang sports car is another V8 on this list, with its 5.0-litre unit registering average fuel efficiency at 13.6L/100km and a yearly cost of $5310.27.Ford’s other representative is the Ranger Raptor high-end ute, powered by a twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine costing $4482.76 per year. The Ineos Grenadier off-roader is the most expensive model to run and costs $5618.50 a year to run, in part due to it being diesel, which has been the fuel type that has increased the most. The Lexus GX550 has refuelling costs of $208 per fill-up currently, costing $4800 for the year, along with nearly $3000 for the Jeep Gladiator, which unlike many on this list can run off E10 fuel.The 6.2-litre petrol V8 found in the Chevrolet Silverado full-size pick-up has an economy of more than 12 litres per 100km, costing $4,356.30 over the year.  Genesis’ GV70 luxury SUV costs more $4400 per year in fuel, a similar figure to the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 variants of the Land Rover Defender. Highest fuel efficiency new vehicles on sale under $150,000 

With the hammer predicted to drop on EV subsides in the coming weeks, there are growing calls to instead shine the spotlight on Australia's ute segment, where similar tax breaks exist for "commercial vehicles."

Polestar Australia boss Scott Maynard has opened fire on Australia's owners of American-style utes, saying they "use and abuse" FBT and LCT subsidies that are aimed at tools of the trade. In a stinging rebuke of government policy that favours some of the nation's biggest vehicles, as similar rebates for electrified vehicles are under the microscope, the executive suggested the Albanese Government would be better off tightening light commercial vehicle policies towards American pickup trucks."It's actually being used and abused in the light commercial vehicle space," Mr Maynard said. "I was a tradie. That's how I started in this industry, as a tech. So I fully support the subsidy of tools of trade to our trades people. I couldn't be more supportive of it."But these vehicles are not even being marketed as tools of trade. You've got $200,000 American-style utes and pickup trucks marketed as towing caravans and boats, and yet they enjoy the same FBT and LCT let-off, which can be tens of thousands of taxpayers dollars, so that they can never, never turn up on a job site."That is entirely unjust. So if the government sets out to save some of the taxpayers' money handed over in FBT deductions, it should be done in reconciling where its support of light commercial vehicles goes, not supporting the electric vehicle industry."Since 2022, electric vehicles positioned below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold of $91,387 for electrified vehicles, under a novated lease, were no longer eligible for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) obligations. Numbers crunched by the Australian Financial Review found someone who leases a $60,000 car could save as much as $12,000 per year if they opt for an EV over an ICE vehicle.While spurring EV sales, the program is expected to cost $1.35 billion over the 2025/2026 financial year. The incentives are currently under review, with formal submissions closing last month.Similarly, most utes are not subjected to FBT obligations, provided the vehicle can carry a load of one tonne or more, or carry more than eight passengers, or are not primarily designed for carrying passengers. The vehicles must only have "limited" private use. LCT – which generates as much as $1.3b annually – does not apply to “a commercial vehicle designed mainly for carrying goods and not passengers”..Data from the Australia Institute, published in 2023, found the LCT exemption resulted in lost revenue of around $250m per annum on the sale of American pickup trucks.

A number of popular car brands in Australia are at risk of paying fines in excess of $10 million for not meeting tightening emission standards if they don’t correct course quickly.