Rumored: New Malibu Coming Jan. 2011?

[member12]

So...we have a new Camaro, Equinox, Traverse....and by 2011, we'll have a new Cruze, Malibu, and Aveo replacement?

Awesome. Tack that on to the 230 mpg rating of the Volt, and I think it's going to be hard to ignore Chevrolet.

[lt1george]

Originally Posted by dindak

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

Just like to good old days............every year(before computer aided design)GM changed fenders, trim,etc. Maybe someone figure out style....... SELLS. Not the same style, year after year. Just image the 57 Chevrolet design lasting 5-10 years. GM would have cooked their goose 50 years ago.
About time they wake up and CHANGE.

[YupYupYup]

Originally Posted by 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.

It has nothing to do with the government. Actually, they delayed making the decision because of the government-controlled bankruptcy. Lutz already wanted to keep the Malibu one step ahead of the competition by moving on a tight timeline for a new one. The bankruptcy put all normal decision-making processes on hold...

Malibu is going to be the car that Chevy rallies around. Impala = Voltec, but nothing absolutely firm yet.

Cruze needs to be now, but limited resources. And Voltec most important.

[civilzues]

why are people calling the 2008 a MCE? its on a different platform and was a complete redesign from the 2004....

[V8GMT360 Guy]

Originally Posted by dindak

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

Why? It used to be models got refreshed more substantially EVERY model year.... maybe we're going to return to something a bit closer to that as a way to keep the public's interest high...

[mikesright]

Originally Posted by civilzues

why are people calling the 2008 a MCE? its on a different platform and was a complete redesign from the 2004....

It really isn't what you'd call an MCE, though it does sit on a heavily modified Epsilon I platform. It's certainly a better effort than what Ford put forth with the new Fusion MCE.

[vcs2600]

Wow -- it only took them 25 years, but GM is finally taking the midsize market seriously. Take no prisoners!

And IMO GM doesn't need a new Impala --- at least not a front-wheel-drive model. If you want a larger car, you can buy the Buick LaCrosse today. GM needs to stop building overlapping products.

[MCGARRETT]

All togther now... say it with me....


REAR.....

SEAT......

ARMREST!

[SAngelo]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Good news about the Malibu...

And if GM has any sense at all, they will move up the Cruze's launch.

Great news, this car will feature a Navigation screen, a rear center armrest and Direct Injection engines. The Cruze and new Malibu should debut in the same month period !!!! The Cruze should also get the Turbocharged 2.0 liter in the current Cobalt as an option.

[SAngelo]

Originally Posted by 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?

Why doesnt GM just make the G8 the Impala and Impala SS and make teh current Impala the classic until the new one gets here.

[cdp326]

Originally Posted by civilzues

why are people calling the 2008 a MCE? its on a different platform and was a complete redesign from the 2004....

I wouldn't say different platform (the '08 is LWB Epsilon I, but the Maxx used that as well), but otherwise I agree with you. The '08 could be called the MPE maybe, for platform. Words like "ground-up redesign" and "all-new" fall into semantics because parts are carried over, but it's exactly like how other companies do it - new platform, 4-5 years later a full redesign.

Using the Camry, as I've understood it...(not sure about MCEs in the '80s but I know new models came in '83 and '87):
1992: Gen 3, new platform
1995: MCE
1997: Gen 4, full redesign, same platform
2000: MCE
2002: Gen 5, full redesign, new platform
2005: MCE
2007: Gen 6, full redesign, same platform
2010: MCE
2012?: Gen 7? new platform?

Corolla, Honda Accord, etc. are similar....

The Malibu has had its issues, sure, but for the most part I'm happy with how GM has done with the Malibu on Epsilon (I just with the Cobalt were the same). A calendar year 2011 intro for the next Malibu isn't/wouldn't be surprising, and if they're planning for that then there isn't a huge need for an MCE of this Malibu generation IMHO. I'd assume there will be a relatively short run of 2011MY Malibus of this generation, with the new 2012MY Malibu coming early 2011 as per the story. GM did that with the 2007MY full-size SUVs, and Toyota did that with the 2007MY Camry (both early 2006 launches).

While we're at it, I wonder what this means for Penske and the Saturn Aura? I'd assume produce a short run of 2011MY Auras ending before or at the same time as the Malibu, and then that's it for Fairfax Assembly and Epsilon I. (Unless there's a new Chevy Classic fleet model?)

[Suziebob]

If GM stock launches before these cars start launching, I am putting all I can in it.

[WishIhadatruck]

Sounds great!

I also hope the new Cruze is fully finalized and finished. It needs to be nearly perfect and the 1.4L Turbo needs to hit 40mpg hwy and the city number needs to beat everyone also. The last thing I read was they were promising 37+ for the hwy number. I had always heard 40+ before, we'll see.

[K Dawg ONE]

Originally Posted by nsap

Additional production will take place at Oshawa, Ontario if needed.

Too much excitment today! I need a few days to sort out my thoughts. With that being said, does this stament confirm the regal being built in Oshawa....or has that already been confirmed (I cant remember whats fact, whats rumoured, and what I imagined...lol)

[djo165]

When they make a new Malibu, I hope they include a SS model this time. Or at least a Sport model. Something with the big V6 and a six-speed manual please!