- The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, a somewhat evolutionary redesign incorporating twin taillights on each side of the rear, was revealed on Thursday ahead of its April 19 debut at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show.
- The redesigned Malibu was teased in a new 60-second GM video that described the car as having "let the hair down a little bit," along with borrowing design cues from the Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette. But there will be no V6 engine option, just four-cylinder engines.
- GM has ambitious global plans for the Malibu, saying in a statement that it will be sold in nearly 100 countries and built in multiple locations, including China.
DETROIT — The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu was revealed on Thursday ahead of its April 19 debut at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show, along with ambitious plans by General Motors to sell the redesigned midsize sedan in nearly 100 countries and build it in multiple locations, including China.
GM teased the next-generation Malibu via an image that shows a new styling cue: two rectangular taillights on each side of the rear. It also released a new 60-second video that described the new Malibu as having "let the hair down a little bit," along with borrowing design cues from the Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette. However, judging from the video, the Malibu's design is more evolutionary than radical.
In the video, Dan Gifford, the Malibu's lead exterior designer, says that the car gets "added width" to improve its stance and handling, along with "broad shoulders." The grille, which has a wide bar, appears to be carried over from the current iteration of the car, which is Chevrolet's top seller in the U.S.
GM said the new Malibu will be available only with four-cylinder engines, presumably with a focus on fuel economy. The 2011 Malibu can be ordered with a 252-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine on 2LT and LTZ models. The 2013 Malibu "will feature a global family of fuel-efficient and powerful four-cylinder engines, along with six-speed transmissions," said GM in a statement. It noted that the 2013 Malibu will be Chevrolet's first midsize car to be sold globally.
No word at this point whether a Chevrolet Malibu SS is in the works. Pricing was not announced either. The 2013 Malibu will go on sale here next year.
Chevrolet said in a statement that the Malibu will be unveiled simultaneously at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show and live starting at 8:30 p.m. EDT on April 18 on Chevrolet's Facebook page. The Web reveal will also be streamed live on iPad and iPhone mobile devices. It said that the Malibu will also be shown at the 2011 New York Auto Show on April 20.
The global strategy for the Malibu is striking, given that Chevrolet for years pitched itself as GM's most all-American brand. In 1954, singer Dinah Shore crooned "See the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet" in a memorable ad campaign, while Chevrolet's 1974 ad slogan "Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet" fell just short of jingoism with its blustering patriotism.
Inside Line says: The big question is whether the redesigned Malibu will have global reach — and yet still appeal to American buyers. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
openeyes1 says:
09:36 PM, 03/31/2011
Chevrolet badly needs a 5-door Malibu, to enhance the currenty line of boring cookie cutter sedans with limited trunk space. The previous version was loosely connected to the Opel Vectra (as was the SAAB 9-3), and GM basicly softened it up for the American marketplace.
A complete line of 4's with 6-speed transmissions would be a welcome sight.
dgmail says:
12:50 PM, 03/31/2011
I just hope it wont end up as ugly as those Accord and Camry bug eyed abortions
stovt001 says:
12:48 PM, 03/31/2011
"The 220 hp engine in the Regal's not going to cut it...But the current ecotec isn't there yet."
Bear in mind the 2.0L Turbo ecotec made 260 HP in the Cobalt SS, HHR SS, Sky Redline, and Solstice GXP, and it didn't take many tweaks to get it to 300. GM even sold an upgrade kit that retained the factory warranty. So the ecotec line is more than capable of HP in the high 200 range if not deep into 300 territory, but inexplicably the Regal got a detuned engine. Why the Regal Turbo didn't get the 260 hp tune and the GS get the 300 hp upgrade I can't begin to guess, but there's no reason a turbocharged ecotec in the Malibu couldn't compete with Hyundai and Kia's turbo, unless GM chose to detune it again.
hondacura4 says:
12:29 PM, 03/31/2011
"They needed to downsize the Malibu anyway. It was too long and narrow
Now it will be more similar to the Camry and Accord, and will stop comparing to the Impala."
Blackdynamite, the Malibu doesnt need to be downsized. If anything it needs some width. The Accord is a larger car vs the current Malibu and is direct competition. I personally think Chevy should use the Holden Caprice as their large car as it could be a really good Charger/300/Taurus competitor.
As far of the lack of a V6 option, I guess Chevy is taking a page from Hyundai's handbook. Certainly not a bad thing.
albook says:
12:28 PM, 03/31/2011
"They needed to downsize the Malibu anyway. It was too long and narrow
Now it will be more similar to the Camry and Accord, and will stop comparing to the Impala"
BD what specs have you been looking at? The Malibu, at a length of 191.8in is shorter than the Accord, Mazda 6 and Altima. The Impala is over 200in long. The Malibu is perfectly sized in length; it just looks long because of the exceptionally long-for-the-class wheelbase. And that will be shortened in this generation for more trunk space.
The LEDs do look very nice and well incorporated into this design.
piredon says:
12:17 PM, 03/31/2011
Hyundai/Kia set the bar on a 2 liter turbo in this category. The 220 hp engine in the Regal's not going to cut it. 0-60 has to be in the 6s to be competitive. But I'm a big fan of forced induction small engines, if it's done right (see Audi). But the current ecotec isn't there yet.
a1c_scg says:
12:12 PM, 03/31/2011
Let's hope this thing isn't as slow and pricey as the Cruze. GM desparately needs this car to be more than just adequate, which is what the Cruze is.
I hate to say it, because once upon a time, I was loyal to them, but I don't have too much faith in GM anymore.
blackdynamite0 says:
11:49 AM, 03/31/2011
They needed to downsize the Malibu anyway. It was too long and narrow
Now it will be more similar to the Camry and Accord, and will stop comparing to the Impala
The 260HP Saturn Sky RedLine will provide the top engine
If it's a 2013, it won't go on sale until next year
So why reveal it so early this year?
BD
rocket_ says:
11:36 AM, 03/31/2011
BANGLE.
BUTT.
Sheebus.
mustang5507 says:
11:02 AM, 03/31/2011
The current Malibu is finally a car that 1) looks good, 2) has wooed the automotive press, and 3) is competitive in pretty much every category. The only problems seem to be its lack of width, lack of a rear armrest, and GMs insistence on putting that 4-speed in the early cars. It should have had 6-speeds across the board from day 1.
Let's just hope that the new 4 cyl/auto arrangement remains competitve, and not bloated (thus slow) like the Regal and LaCrosse.