This is the most sensible thing GM has done in years, excepting their steady brilliance with the Corvette. Manual trannie drivers are reliable speed freaks.
I had the chance to get an Impala SS a couple of years ago, but they're FWD and auto only. Booooring, and a waste of good horsies. I got a Mustang GT instead, 5sp manual.
My 5.7 liter LT1 94 Camaro got 28 MPG highway. Thats cruising at 75 with a/c on. It wasnt worth much city wise though.