2008 Chevrolet Malibu breaks cover

[adrenaline]

General Motors will use January's Detroit auto show to showcase its new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu sedan. It uses an extended version of the company's new front-wheel-drive Epsilon platform, which already underpins the Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura. GM made certain the new Malibu is substantially longer than any of its competitors, including the Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, and Honda Accord.

Power comes from a 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine in the base model, rated at 164 horsepower — 20 more than the previous model. A more powerful 3.6-liter V6 is also available, offering 252 horsepower (compared to the old 224 hp).

As previously reported, the interior of the new Malibu has been completely revamped, with an emphasis on higher quality materials and assembly.

I've uploaded a few images. For a complete gallery, head to: http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/12/...ibu/#more-4594

This must be a pretty important entry into the midsize market for Chevy. The front/ interior are magic. The rear, IMO, is terrible.

So, is this a Camry killer?

[Spastik_Roach]

Whats up with the stupid (probably) fake wood in the interior? Replace that with some aluminium perhaps and then we'd have all around quite a nice car. The rear end is so much a copy of a Passat its not funny though.

[adrenaline]

Whats up with the stupid (probably) fake wood in the interior? Replace that with some aluminium perhaps and then we'd have all around quite a nice car.

Here's one with plastic aluminium

http://images.leftlanenews.com/conte...let-malibu.jpg

[drakkie]

Please dont tell us this hideous banger comes to Europe too in 2008

[Spastik_Roach]

Here's one with plastic aluminium

http://images.leftlanenews.com/conte...let-malibu.jpg

Better than fake wood...

[Waugh-terfall]

I cannot believe I'm actually saying this, but, I actually quite like it with the wood... Shoot me now... Please.

[Slicks]

Please dont tell us this hideous banger comes to Europe too in 2008

Its there already, its called the Opel Vectra....

[Waugh-terfall]

The Vectra and the Malibu are 2 totally different cars...

[drakkie]

The Vectra and the Malibu are 2 totally different cars...

Maybe they do just share platforms(IIRC the Vectra was on the Zeta). GM is a big fan of that... unfortunately

[Waugh-terfall]

Maybe they do just share platforms(IIRC the Vectra was on the Zeta). GM is a big fan of that... unfortunately

Maybe. But I think the Malibu is smaller than the Vectra or t'other way round.

[clutch-monkey]

Maybe they do just share platforms(IIRC the Vectra was on the Zeta). GM is a big fan of that... unfortunately

isn't the vectra FWD? how is that supposed to go on GM's RWD zeta platform...

[fpv_gtho]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Epsilon_platform

[Waugh-terfall]

isn't the vectra FWD? how is that supposed to go on GM's RWD zeta platform...

Correct, and I don't know..

Hmm, well, you gotta love Wikipedia!

[Ferrer]

I think it's not that bad, and I also think this car is a lot bigger than the Vectra.

One think is curious, when I saw the Chevrolet steering wheel I couldn't help thinking Daewoo...

[Waugh-terfall]

I really like this car, if I lived in America, I'd be inclined to buy one... This side view really looks a bit like one of those Holden things, I can't remember which one, but it's one of them!

GM really have ruined the Chevrolet name, a long standing company name that everybody knows of, and they go and stick it in the mud, pour sloppy poo over it and spit on it many-a-time by putting on the front of a sodding Daewoo... I actually wrote a letter of complaint to General Motors when this was announced. lol!