Rumored: New Malibu Coming Jan. 2011?

[cyclone]

Originally Posted by dindak

A new Malibu only 4 years after the current? That's whack!

Actually 3 years after, they started making the current one early 2008.

The current Malibu has had great sales, i hope this makes it even better.

[killerrd2]

GM needs the CRUZE now! I wish they would confirm moving this timeline up as well...but alas, I know it all depends on the turbo DI 1.4 motor.

[jcgable]

The wait on the Cruze is getting ridiculous. I still can't believe we have another 10 months to wait.

As for the Malibu: The fact that GM's new board is the one behind these changes illustrates the fact that the Government has not destroyed GM.

[rsbaker]

Originally Posted by Z28x

THat would be very smart. Cruze needs to be out ASAP and needs to beat the new Civic and Focus to market and the 40mpg mark.

Absolutely! Cruze needs to be here now. I never understood why GM just didn't import Cruze for 6 months or a year until the production could be ramped up in the US. They could have made huge sales gains with the cash for clunkers. It's great news about Malibu though. I can't wait to see the first photos of the new 'bu!

[Cadman]

GM is banging out ALL KINDS of goodness! The next 15 months is going to be quite possibly the most exciting time ever for GM!

[rsbaker]

Originally Posted by jcgable

The fact that GM's new board is the one behind these changes illustrates the fact that the Government has not destroyed GM.

Agreed!!!

[nsap]

Originally Posted by jcgable

The fact that GM's new board is the one behind these changes illustrates the fact that the Government has not destroyed GM.

The fact that the Board is making demands regarding the business is a start! That was part of the fundemental culture problem at old GM; the Board sit back and watched.

[caddycruiser]

Excellent on the Malibu, as it's still one of their "bests" by far, but also still fairly old in a lot of ways, versus new/current GM. So, as rumored from the start, the new-new EP-II version was already waiting in the wings, and what great timing. Just after a rehashed (excellent car, but still) Fusion/Milan, the dragging on Camry, the ugly Accord, etc., but also a new Sonata, 2 new Buick sedans, etc.

As for the Cruze...fine, get it here, but the darn ride/handling and powertrain refinement BETTER be beyond finessed vs. current reviews overseas, because it certainly can't sell on looks or wow features. That one, of all, still worries me, and still doesn't strike as being as "whoa" as essentially every other new GM, which is questionable given the hype. We'll see.

And then the Impala. Ed Peper said "stay tuned", essentially, just before his job change on a GM blog chat, but we've heard so much and seen so little over the years, it really seems like the forgotten child. Especially with cars like the new Taurus out there that, really, it could only compete with back in the pre-500, old but squared off oval days. That's some mighty thick gray hair, and a car that offers nothing other than old world GM pushrods, a big trunk, and a back seat that's less comfortable and tighter than many small cars.

Malibu - Check
Cruze - Okay, but worried...
Impala - It's still around?

[dannyg]

Originally Posted by killerrd2

GM needs the CRUZE now! I wish they would confirm moving this timeline up as well...but alas, I know it all depends on the turbo DI 1.4 motor.

If they do move up the launch date to March, maybe they'd have to do it without the 1.4 turbo...ouch. Personally, I think they'd be better off launching the Cruze with the 40MPG turbo later rather than an also-ran 35MPG 1.8L sooner.

[vsd]

That's good news, keep it fresh. I just hope they chose a better material than a basketball to make the interior out of this time.

[Hitman1970]

I wonder if Impala would go fleet only for a year or two if they could not pull ahead the redesign. The rest of the Chevy lineup is about to make the current Impala look umm... err... less spectacular. I say this as someone who had intended on buying an Impala LTZ in 2006.

[usa1]

I'll believe GM will bring the new Malibu in Q1 of 2011 when it happens.

Mark

[Bigbee60]

The 2008 Malibu is just a refresh of the 2004 car. New body, new topline interior and not much more. The 2004 to 2007 models (and the short year 2008 Classic) were good cars that needed the last 15% of the engineering done. The 2008 model got up to 95% engineering (still missing lots of today's gadgets, suspension and brake options, too slow to get the 6 speed auto in all models, etc.). So a 2012 new model released in January 2011 still means the current car lived for 8 model years with a mid-cycle refresh. Pretty average for the industry. CHevrolet should have a Malibu sedan, wagon, and coupe in the range. A coupe that's a three door hatchback/kammback is also a cool possibility to explore.

[megeebee]

Originally Posted by fp115

Its all about money, the possibility for the retooling to accelerate and whether suppliers can adapt to the new timeline.

Exactly. There are so many dozens of suppliers that produce pieces and parts for any car. They all have their own pressures and capabilities. I'm sure though they are all cooperating as well as they can. They stand to prosper along with GM if these new products are as good as we hear (and hope).

[Quixote88]

I like the fact that GM's moving up the timetable for the next gen Malibu. The mid-size sedan segment is the most competitive in the U.S. market. Keeping your main entry the freshest in the marketplace is extremely important.

Now, if GM announced that the Malibu would also come in coupe and hardtop convertible configurations, a la the now defunct G6, that would totally make my day.(That, or offer the new "Regal" in those configurations)

Edit: NSAP, any insight on a Malibu coupe? Thanks...