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General Motors says the 2015 Chevrolet Impala full-size sedan will come with a gas-saving stop-start system on its base 2.5-liter engine, showing how fast previous gee-whiz technology is migrating down from luxury cars.

The system shuts off the car's engine at stoplights. The engine restarts as soon as the driver pushes down the accelerator. The system saves all the gas that otherwise would have been wasted waiting for the stoplight to turn green. Because of their limited capabilities, they are being termed "micro hybrids."

Only a couple years ago, the technology was limited to luxury and exotic cars, like Porsche's 911. While fairly common in Europe, American automakers complained that they didn't get full credit for stop-start systems when it came to the testing process to be certified for gas-mileage ratings in the U.S.

Now, it should start turning up everywhere. By 2021, Navigant Research says more than half of all light-duty vehicles sold worldwide will use stop-start to save fuel otherwise lost to idling.

"Micro hybrid technology enables large vehicles to be designed to run leaner without sacrificing drivability, and small vehicles to be set up for limited electric-only operation," says David Alexander, senior research analyst with Navigant Research.

In the Impala, the four-cylinder engine that will get the stop-start system is ordered about 30% of the time, General Motors says.

The 2014 Chevrolet Impala, on sale since April, is a looker. It's the10th-generation of Impala, which was launched in 1957 as a 1958 model. (Photo: General Motors) Fullscreen

Impala is built on the same chassis used for the redone, smaller 2013 Malibu. (Photo: General Motors) Fullscreen

Impala joined the Chevrolet lineup as its new flagship for the 1958 model year. Pictured here is the 1958 Impala Sport Coupe, which broke new ground for high style in a mainstream-brand car. (Photo: Chevrolet) Fullscreen

Behind the big screen in the dashboard is a storage bin with USB port. (Photo: General Motors) Fullscreen

2013 Impala LTZ. (Photo: General Motors) Fullscreen

The 2014 Impala offers a 2.5-liter four-cylinder rated 196 hp, 186 lbs.-ft. of torque, and a 3.6-liter V-6 rated 305 hp and 264 lbs.-ft. Both use six-speed automatic.. (Photo: General Motors) Fullscreen

The rear seat has almost has generous leg room, as much as the front seat in many other cars. (Photo: Chevrolet) Fullscreen

The new Impala's interior is more upscale in design and materials. (Photo: General Motors) Fullscreen

Coming this fall for the Impala is a model with a "mild hybrid" powertrain GM calls eAssist. It's similar to what's used in the Eco model of the Chevy Malibu and in some of GM's Buicks. (Photo: General Motors) Fullscreen