The first Chevrolet Malibu, named after the city in the United States, hit the market in 1964 and was then a sub-series of the Chevrolet Chevelle. Since then, General Motors has produced a number of Malibu models and was the best-selling automaker in the U.S. in 2010. Chevrolet plans to sell the Malibu in more than 100 countries and hopes to replicate the success it has had in the United States. Joined. But in the increasingly crowded midsize sedan segment, how does Chevrolet plan to stand out with its next-generation Chevy Malibu?
Design
Malibu Exterior Designer Dan Gifford has called the 2013 Malibu “more athletic and more aggressive.” The sportier 2013 model takes design cues from the brand’s sportier models, the Camaro and Corvette, and will be nearly three inches wider and just slightly shorter.
“We wanted to bring a sporty sensibility to the family sedan segment,” said Bryan Nesbitt, GM’s executive director of design.
The model will not only have a wider and more aggressive stance, but it will also be more aerodynamic, thanks to the integrated rear spoiler and ‘active shutter system’. The louvers operate by opening when airflow to the motor is needed for cooling and closing when cooling is not required. Chevrolet suggests the Malibu will have a drag coefficient (Cd) rating close to that of the Chevy Volt, the brand’s range-extending electric car. The ‘dynamic surfacing’ is designed to ‘catch the light and show off the reflection in an exciting way’, which GM hopes will set the Malibu apart from others in its class.
Interior Design and Technology
Being more than two inches wider than the 2010 Malibu, the new model has 113 liters more cabin space. Premium materials have given the cabin a more upscale feel, and Chevy has included some clever new storage, including a six-inch-deep storage space below the touchscreen, perfect for storing mobile phones. The new Chevrolet Malibu also comes with Chevy’s MyLink in-car infotainment package, which connects users’ smartphone with the system, allowing them to control music, navigation and even make calls or send text messages via voice recognition technology or through the 7-inch color touch screen. The system is the first real competitor to Ford’s successful Sync system that uses the same smartphone integration principles.
Engines and Management
Chevrolet has chosen to trim the engine lineup by removing the current V6 option for the 2013 model year, which GM says isn’t as popular with Malibu buyers. The automaker will sell the new Chevrolet Malibu with a choice of more powerful and fuel-efficient engines that will include a new 2.5-liter direct injection Ecotec four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine options that will be available in the European market are yet to be revealed. GM hopes the “European-influenced ride and handling” will help sell the new Chevrolet Malibu in Europe.