- Chevy will not build a two-door coupe version of the 2013 Malibu.
- A coupe version of the all-new 2013 Malibu sedan was considered for production.
- The 2013 Malibu sedan will reach dealers early next year.
WARREN, Michigan — During a visit to GM's Design Studio in Warren, Michigan last week, Ed Welburn, GM's vice president of global design showed gathered journalists a rendering of a two-door coupe version of the all-new 2013 Chevy Malibu.
It was not a photoshopped version of the sedan (as we've done above); instead it was an artist's rendering. More like a detailed sketch or painting than a photograph. The rendering, which was from the driver side front three-quarter view, was part of a larger grid of images shown on a very large screen in a small theater-like room Welburn calls his virtual reality lab. It is where his global design teams, placed all over the world, including Europe, Asia and California, share ideas and designs. Sort of like Skype on steroids or a war room in the bowels of the White House.
During the formal presentation, Welburn did not reference or call out the image of the Malibu coupe. But afterward, while walking down the hallowed halls of the GM Design Center, past the studios once used by Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell, we asked him about the drawing. And to our surprise, the impeccably dressed Welburn responded with more than a no comment or corporate mumbo-jumbo.
"A Malibu coupe could be a pretty nice car," he said with his usual broad smile. "But it is not in the plan right now."
Later, in an e-mail, Michael Albano, Chevy's PR chief sealed the Malibu coupe's fate. He wrote, "No plans at this moment for anything more than a sedan."
Inside Line says: Shame, the design was striking, with a fast backlight similar to a Cadillac CTS coupe, and an interesting strip of chrome trim surrounding the greenhouse.
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rgist1973 says:
02:37 PM, 01/21/2012
WELL THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A PRIME CANADATE FOR A CHEVELLE SS WITH AN OPTION FOR RWD OR AWD WITH A 3.5 TURBO OR OPTIONAL 5.3 PUSH ROD V8 YOU SEE IF GM WOULD MAKE CARS WITH SOME OF THE SAME FRAME WORK THE SAME CAR WITH DIFFERENT CHOICES OF MOTORS ,DRIVE TRAIN THEN THE SAME CAR CAN REACH A BROADER CONSUMER AUDIENCE !
kyreeswilliams says:
08:15 AM, 11/04/2011
I'd kill a coupe if it looked like this, too. As companies like Audi, BMW, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan well know, part of the territory of a coupe comes with shortening the wheelbase, lengthening the doors and giving the C-pillars a different angle, and this concept fails to do any of the three. Moreover, because of its low beltine -- perhaps a response to the critisism of the current model's slitted greenhouse -- it lacks the sleek styling that most buyers search for when they depart from a sedan for its coupe counterpart. As far as I'm concerned, the powers-that-be were right to leave this coupe dead in the water. Anyone who wants a coupe should upgrade to a Buick (perhaps something called the Riviera?) or a Cadillac. This may even be premise to reincarnate Pontiac.
shouldermonkey says:
10:55 PM, 10/27/2011
Unless they have a high performance package built into them, I really don't get why car companies insist on making coupes of family sedans. It's like trying to be sporty but being half-assed about it.
gofaster58 says:
03:07 PM, 10/24/2011
I hope Chevrolet comes out with some kind of coupe. The ugly Camaro just doesn't cut it.
thelosers says:
02:29 PM, 10/24/2011
WTF! You would think we would be used to this type of news by now. Just about every time a car design that seems actually appealing comes around, this happens. Fill in the blank car company has decided not to build it. Ot the ever popular, they will build it, but it will not be sold in the US. Every good interesting car gets the plug pulled and the carpet gets pulled out from under American cust's feet. This just isnt working. WTF. Cmon Chevy, like it would be so much trouble to have a 2 door malibu coupe. Its not like I even want one, its just the principle of this. Enough with the f-ing cookie cutter economy car mentality. What happenned to cars with personality that were reasonable fun to drive that were under 30k??? whatever
marcus1701 says:
12:20 PM, 10/20/2011
malibu coupe? I don't think GM wants to compete in sales with Chrysler's sebring...after all that thing has been selling like hotcakes for years! As for some ppl talking about a drop top...WOW! But do you guys remember the pontiac solstice, pontiac G6 coupe and convertible, saturn SKY? I mean people who buy coupes don't buy domestic unless it's car's with heritage i.e. mustang, corvette, or camaro.
litewerk says:
08:52 PM, 10/19/2011
I like the looks of that Chevy. Also, immediately noticed a more than passing resemblance to the A5/S5 in the greenhouse, rear windows and rear quarters. Had been on the AutoWeek site earlier and read the first drive report of the 2012 A5. This concept could, if produced, be an affordable, American alternative to an A5. I certainly recall the popular personal coupes of the past like the Monte Carlo, Thunderbird, Grand Prix, Cordoba, Cougar, Cutlass, etc.
gaps5 says:
08:34 AM, 10/19/2011
I own an S5 and yes, from the C-Pillar back it is very similar. The accent line is not continued forward of the rear wheels, and the taillight is not the same, but the greenhouse looks identical.
kkear3 says:
07:55 AM, 10/19/2011
Because the Honda Accord coupe and that ugly Nissan coupe are such market forces.
ant14 says:
06:34 AM, 10/19/2011
This is the same reason Ford never built the 2 door Fusion, the Malibu coupe would bite into Camaro sales.