Frank Sinatra never owned a Chevy Impala, but that hasn’t stopped Chevrolet from using his recording of Cole Porter’s “Fly Me to the Moon” in commercials. The clips feature a sexy man, dressed in a trendy suit, playing golf, and taking his wife to a drive-in movie while Sinatra croons “Let me play among the stars, let me see what spring is like on a Jupiter and Mars” in the background. All that makes sense with the new Impala.

Sinatra drove an Eldorado Brougham, but when introduced in 1958, the flashy Impala brought Cadillac panache to the working man. The same is true today, since the Cadillac XTS and all-new 2014 Impala ride on the same architecture.

The Impala’s aggressive front was obviously inspired by the Camaro and glistens with LEDs. A dramatically-arched roofline and sleek fastback end in a trunk large enough to hold four Jimmy Hoffas. The satin silver Hofmeister kink in the rear windowline is an elegant touch. Twin exhausts that exit through the rear facia lend concept-car flair, while fender creases echo the ’58 Impala’s curved fins.

There’s more drama inside. The car’s twin-cocoon interior exhibits signature Chevy design themes with panels that wrap into the door and trim that bears metallic paint and woodgrain. Teal-stitched leather seats add intrigue. Rear passengers enjoy space to sprawl or cuddle. Heated and cooled front seats, and heated steering wheel, pile on the comfy.

Guests also enjoy an available dual-panel sunroof, Bose audio, 120-volt outlet, and Bluetooth for hands-free phones and streaming audio. Chevy’s MyLink system uses a reconfigurable gesture-recognition touchscreen to control infotainment as if working an iPad. Safety tech includes Forward Collision Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert, and rear camera.

Inside the handsome nose churns a standard 196 horsepower four-cylinder engine, but the optional 305 horsepower V6 would put Sinatra’s old Brougham on hiatus from the moment it tore out of The Sands. Engines connect to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for the V6 is rated 19/29 mpg city/highway, but an upcoming four-cylinder with eAssist will achieve 35 mpg highway.

Anybody who’s driven a ‘50s luxury car knows “Come Float with Me” might be a more appropriate tune. The cars provided comfort without composure, leisure without legs. Our LTZ-grade test car delivered a smooth ride on the highway, but taming 20” steamrollers is tough and sometimes leads to harshness. Set into a corner, the car hugs its way through.

The new Impala definitely draws attention. Baby Boomers had nostalgia in their eyes while Grandma gave a thumbs-up. A caravan of Army boys almost fell out of their trucks trying to get a better look. The blend of four-door Camaro, classic Chevy, and Cadillac style clearly works.

Sinatra loved his Learjet, but owned a Continental Mark II, Facel Vega, and a couple of Dual Ghias — along with his Eldorado Brougham. One thing that would set even Ol’ Blue Eyes back on his heels is the $39,510 as-tested price. Base models start at a more reasonable $26,725.

2014 Chevy Impala LTZ
Five-passenger, FWD sedan
Powertrain: 305hp 3.6-liter V6, six speed auto transmission
Suspension f/r: Ind/Ind
Wheels: 20”/20” alloy f/r
Brakes: disc/disc fr/rr with ABS
Must-have features: Chevy style, Caddy class
Fuel economy: 19/29 mpg city/hwy
Assembly: Oshawa, ON/Detroit, MI
Base/As-tested price: $26,725/$39,510