In a simultaneous world premiere at the Auto Show New York and Shanghai Auto Show, China, General Motors will raise the curtain on its new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, one of the most important models of the company along year. The online debut of the brand new mid-size model is the same day that Chevrolet has announced its best results in the first quarter with 1.1 million sales worldwide.
What is important to this generation of the Chevrolet Malibu is a midsize sedan into a global player, as GM plans to sell a car in nearly 100 countries around the world and build it in several places, such as China. North American version will be produced at the Fairfax assembly plant in Kansas City, and Hamtramck plant in Detroit.
Redesigned from the ground up, the new Malibu sports new exterior design with lines and curves inspired by newer models such as Chevrolet Cruze, and even against the back Camaro with dual element LED taillights.
"The exterior design of the new Malibu is the DNA of his sister vehicles, Camaro and Corvette, to provide sensitivity sporting family sedan segment," said Bryan Nesbitt, Executive Director of GM exterior design.
The interior was also redesigned with a more fluid design with a distinguished panel including a pair of Camaro-esque round gauges in square housings, and a new hinged lid, flat panel display in the center console that articulates and reveals a drop in six inches of light hidden storage compartment. In the U.S., the Chevrolet Malibu is offered with the new package of information and entertainment MyLink that integrates wireless connectivity via Bluetooth.
Under the cool sheet metal, the Malibu rides on GM's Epsilon II platform, which is in a great variety of vehicles, including the Opel Insignia / Buick Regal, Buick LaCrosse and the new Saab 9-5.
The 107.8-inch (2738 mmng) wheelbase is 4.5 inches (114 mm) shorter than the model it replaces. However, the new Malibu also receives 62 inches (1574 mm) front and rear tracks that are more than 2 inches (51 mm) wider than before. As a result, GM says the 2013 Malibu has about 4 cubic feet (113 L) of additional interior volume, with front and back of the shoulder and more hip room, and one more cubic feet of additional space in the trunk 16.3 Cu. feet (462 liters).
The new measures 191.3-in Malibu. (4859 mm) long, 73.0-in. (1854 mm) wide and 57.6-in. (1462 mm) height). This means that the 2013 Malibu is 0.5-in. shorter, 3.0, -. wider and 0.5-in. higher than the current model.
At the launch, North America Malibu will be offered with a new 2.5-liter Ecotec four-cylinder direct injection, linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. Final figures are still under development, but GM says the boat four deliver over 190 horsepower and 180 lb.-ft. of torque (245 Nm). GM has not ruled out a V6 unit for the future.
New mid-size Chevy model is equipped with MacPherson strut front suspension and upgraded multi-link rear, while stopping power comes courtesy of ventilated disc brakes and solid rear disc brakes clamped by a twin-piston front and single piston calipers rear aluminum.
Standard safety features include an array of airbags with a Lane Departure Warning system available with collision warning forward.
North American spec, the 2013 Malibu LS, LT and LTZ trim levels, with a choice of 10 exterior colors and four interior colors.
Production and U.S. sales begin in the first quarter of 2012. Details on the European market, Australia (as Holden Malibu) and other international versions of the Malibu is being released at a later date.
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