Chevy needs a clutch hit to make Malibu a player - Automotive News
NEW YORK -- Mark Reuss didn't hesitate when asked why General Motors seems to have poured a lot of sweat and money into the next-generation Chevrolet Malibu. A midsize sedan "is the heart of what people think of a brand," GM's product chief said last week at the auto show here after the unveiling of the 2016 Malibu, which is longer and nearly 300 pounds lighter than its predecessor and wrapped in... The 2016 Malibu, due out in the fourth quarter, looks to be an all-out bid to elevate the Malibu's also-ran status in a fiercely competitive segment, one in which every automaker must bring its A-game. A hybrid version of the Malibu, also shown in New York, will surpass the corresponding versions of the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata on fuel economy, with an estimated 47 mpg in combined city and highway driving. A sculpted design includes a fastback silhouette and distinctive body creases, leading many observers here to compare the Malibu to the stylish Impala large sedan that went on sale nearly two years ago. GM will build the Malibu on a new global platform that sheds nearly 300 pounds, taking the sedan from among the heaviest in the midsize segment to the lightest. It also gets an overhauled powertrain lineup, with a significantly downsized base engine -- a 1. 5-liter turbo, from a 2. 5-liter naturally aspirated engine -- that gets 37 mpg on the. Source: www.autonews.com
