The younger generation is unlikely to remember what it was like to settle on the transmission tunnel cover between the front seats, trying to protect your knees from the voracious heater vents.

Large coupes are slowly disappearing from the market, and only General Motors is trying to prolong their existence. There are several reasons for this extinction: the majority of sedans today use a transverse engine layout with front-wheel drive, so there is no longer any hump in the cabin. And after the Ford Panther platform left the stage, the 2011 Chevrolet Impala remained almost the only option for those who want a solid front bench seat and six seating positions in the cabin.

This situation is a consequence of changes in consumer tastes. Previously, cars with a solid front seat reigned supreme on the roads. Today, manufacturers have come up with more modern ways to transport a large family. The baby boomer generation turned away from the huge sedans that their parents chose, opting for crossovers and minivans.

The shift in buyer preferences, as well as the fact that a sedan is not the most practical car for six passengers, could very well put an end to this class. It would surprise no one if the 2013 Chevrolet Impala gets a center console and loses the option of a solid bench seat... And there are unlikely to be many willing to mourn this loss...