2012 Chevrolet Malibu

2012 Chevrolet Malibu

2012 Chevrolet Malibu

 

As
you can see, this global influence also means sporty appearance. While
you can see the evolution from the current-generation Malibu to the new
car, the 2013 Malibu is less round and swoopy and more sharp and edgy.
The general shape of the headlights and two-bar grille remain, but are
bolder and protrude more from the body. Character lines along the hood
and doors are more pronounced, as are the car's hips and big wheels. The
rear end draws clear influence from the Camaro with its squared
taillights, rectangular fascia and dual exhaust tips. The car you see
here is a Chinese-spec model, but Chevrolet says there will be minimal
differences between U.S.-spec and Chinese-spec cars.

Sporty
as it may be, Chevrolet is quick to point out that this isn't an
M3-killer. The 2013 Malibu will come with "a global family of
fuel-efficient and powerful four-cylinder engines," a similar strategy
to challengers like the Hyundai Sonata. This doesn't necessarily rule
out a V-6 option, but Chevrolet makes no mention of one. The plan also
calls for six-speed transmissions, plural, but you can bet they'll all
be automatics. There's an outside possibility, though, that the
recently-discovered seven-speed dual-clutch transmission GM is working
on could find its way in as well.

The
Malibu is a hugely important car for Chevrolet and General Motors. The
company says that the car's intended global segment counted for nine
percent of all vehicles sold globally in 2010. Here in the U.S., the
admittedly aged seventh-generation Malibu sold over 200,000 copies and
was both Chevrolet and General Motors' best-selling passenger car.

The
2013 Chevrolet Malibu will make its international debut in China on
Tuesday, April 19, which to those of us nearly a day behind in the U.S.,
will actually be Monday, April 18, at 8:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time. If
you can't make it out to China, don't fret. Chevrolet will also debut
the car on its Facebook page at the same time and will stream the reveal
live on iPad and iPhone. Anyone watching is encouraged to send
questions about the car to Chevrolet's Twitter account at #MalibuReveal
or to the Malibu tab on Chevy's Facebook page. Given that its a 2013
model, we expect the production car to debut within the next year and go
on sale by mid-2012.

Chevrolet's
just released this teaser video and taillight image of the new,
eighth-generation Malibu along with the announcement that the car, now a
global product, will debut at the Shanghai Motor Show on April 18 - and
then at the 2011 New York Auto Show two days later.

The
Malibu, previously a North American car only, will become GM's latest
global car in its eighth generation and the Chevrolet brand's first
global midsize sedan. Chevrolet says the next Malibu will be sold in 100
countries on six continents and built at multiple plants around the
world. The Malibu, Chevrolet says, was designed for a global audience
with "European-inspired driving characteristics," which should mean
sporty handling.

2012 Chevrolet Malibu

 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

2012 Chevrolet Malibu

 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

2012 Chevrolet Malibu

2012 Chevrolet Malibu