NASHVILLE – More songs have been written about Chevys than any other kind of car, and with more than 1.25 million Impalas sold over the decades, it’s clearly the hero of GM’s “apple pie” brand. With an almost-complete redesign, the 2006 Chevrolet Impala continues to represent the history and romance of the Chevy badge.

Originating as the crown jewel of the 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air lineup, the Impala nameplate came into its own as Chevy’s flagship model in 1959, and with the introduction of Super Sport versions in the early 1960s cemented itself as an iconic American automobile. Today, the Impala is the third-best selling car in the U.S., surpassed only by Toyota’s Camry and the Honda Accord, and competing in the most aggressive segment in the industry. In fact, the 2005 Impala scored extremely well in the J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality Survey (IQS), beating the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Chrysler 300, and Ford Five Hundred to become a “recommended buy.” The 2006 model should fare as well or better, thanks to improvements such as more power and performance, improved comfort, fuel economy, lowered emissions and upgraded safety. On sale now, Chevy expects the new Impala’s target audience to be families, empty nesters and, of course, loyalists.

Yes, it remains a front-drive car with a four-speed transmission in a world that has moved to all-wheel or rear-wheel drive propelled by five or six forward gears. Despite that, this big sedan – especially with its big V8 – is a big bargain.