Chevrolet Monte Carlo Will Bow Out at Midyear

DETROIT — Inside Line has confirmed with supplier sources that production of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo will cease at the end of the 2007 model year. That means the last Monte Carlo will roll off the line sometime this summer.

In recent years, the Monte Carlo has been one of General Motors' biggest successes on the NASCAR stock-car racing circuit. But the two-door companion to the Chevrolet Impala sedan has not resonated with the buying public.

The Monte Carlo nameplate was originally introduced in 1970 to give Chevrolet a rival to the Ford Thunderbird. The Monte Carlo was produced from 1970-'88 and again from 1995-2007. The latest iteration of the front-wheel-drive coupe made its debut at the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show. The current model has a base 3.5-liter V6 that makes 211 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque. The Monte Carlo SS is equipped with a 5.3-liter small-block V8 that makes 303 hp and 323 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.

There had been speculation for months that the Monte Carlo was set to be retired from the Chevrolet lineup.

© Source: article on insideline
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