The very first production model of the all-new Chevy Malibu made its way down the assembly line recently, and it happened at a fitting location: GM’s Bupyeong #2 plant in Incheon, South Korea. After all, that country will be the initial sales market for the eighth-generation Malibu, which will be Chevrolet’s first midsized sedan aimed at the global marketplace.
“The new Malibu is our most important product introduction of the year,” said GM Korea President and CEO Mike Arcamone. ”It will play a significant role in enabling us to attain our goals in the domestic market while ensuring that GM Korea becomes an important part of Chevrolet’s success in its second century.”
The completely redesigned Malibu is set to go on sale in South Korea in November, then start rolling out to nearly 100 regions, on six continents, as Chevrolet’s range-topping sedan for international buyers. This naturally includes CT Chevy Dealerships and other U.S. customers, who will welcome the much-improved Malibu early next year with the launch of the 2013 Malibu ECO – the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan ever produced in Chevy’s 100-year history.
Leveraging GM’s eAssist light-electrification technology and a highly economical four-cylinder Ecotec engine, the car will be capable of 26 mpg city and 38 mpg highway, and without compromising performance.
“The Malibu ECO is a smart choice for customers who want excellent fuel economy without the price premium of popular hybrid sedans,” said Russ Clark, Chevrolet product marketing director for midsize cars. “Malibu ECO exemplifies Chevrolet’s drive to use technology that delivers high-value, gas-friendly performance. In fact, the Malibu ECO delivers the fuel economy of a compact car in a midsize sedan.”
And it won’t be alone, either. A full roster of Malibu models will follow the ECO version in the summer of 2012, when Malibu LS, LT and LTZ trim levels are scheduled to hit U.S. dealerships.
“The current Malibu has left an award-winning impression and changed the way people think about Chevrolet. It redefined what an American midsize car could be,” added Rick Scheidt, vice president, Chevrolet Marketing. “This all-new Malibu delivers on the intangibles of today’s Malibu but gives customers even more: more style, fuel efficiency, content and features, craftsmanship, and dynamic capabilities rivaling high-end sedans.”
Comments on this entry are closed.