Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Green, Chevrolet, GM
Chevy Malibu Hybrid making debut at MLB All Star Game
Click image for photo gallery
It won't hit dealerships until October, but the Chevy Malibu Hybrid is now officially on display in San Francisco at the MLB All Star Game's Fan Zone, which opened to the public today. The Malibu Hybrid is basically the fraternal twin of the Saturn Aura Green Line we recently reviewed at Autoblog and AutoblogGreen. Powered by the same mild hybrid setup, the Malibu Hybrid boasts a 24/32 city/highway EPA fuel economy rating, a slight upgrade over the non-hybrid 4-cylinder. Unlike the standard 4-banger, however, this one should be eligible for a tax credit. By introducing it at the All Star Game, GM gets to kill two birds with one stone: it's puts the new Malibu in front of a lot of faces that probably haven't seen it yet, and it tells the public that a Hybrid version's on the way. Malibu will also be available with the aforementioned non-hybrid Ecotec as well as GM's smooth-operating 3.6L V6. Follow the jump for the press release issued by GM.
[Source: GM]
Gallery: 2008 Chevy Malibu Hybrid
PRESS RELEASE:
All-New 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Debuts at Major League Baseball's All-Star Game
SAN FRANCISCO – The all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid will join baseball's other stars as it makes its world debut in the All-Star Fan Zone today. The Malibu Hybrid's appearance continues through the last out of one of MLB's highlights of the year.
Thanks to an affordable hybrid powertrain option, the all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid not only will be the most refined new midsize sedan in the neighborhood, but one of the most fuel-efficient, as well. Powered by the GM Hybrid System, the first-ever Malibu Hybrid delivers an EPA rating of 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway – a two-mpg increase over the non-hybrid four-cylinder model – and will be Chevrolet value-priced, offering customers an affordable hybrid choice.
"The beauty of the Chevy Malibu Hybrid is that customers don't have to choose between a stylish, expressive, fuel-saving sedan full of standard content and the gasoline that goes in the tank," said Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper. "The Malibu Hybrid's winning package of uncompromising design and fuel economy will help us assert leadership in the midsize sedan segment and meet the needs of Chevy customers."
Production of the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is scheduled to begin in October, with vehicles arriving in dealerships shortly thereafter. The system will be available as a powertrain option on the base LS model, which also features Electric Power Steering, Automatic Climate Control and the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system.
The GM Hybrid system featured on the Malibu Hybrid saves fuel by using sophisticated controls and software, as well as a unique, 36-volt electric motor/generator mated to GM Powertrain's 2.4L Ecotec VVT four-cylinder engine and Hydra-Matic 4T45 four-speed transmission. The GM Hybrid system maintains the vehicle's sporty feel and seamlessly reduces fuel consumption by:
* Shutting off the engine when the vehicle is stopped, to minimize idling
* Restarting the engine promptly when the brake pedal is released
* Enabling early fuel shut-off during vehicle deceleration
* Capturing vehicle kinetic energy during deceleration through regenerative braking to charge the advanced nickel metal hydride battery
* Performing intelligent battery charging when it is most efficient
The GM Hybrid system provides additional power, when required, during launch from the electric motor/generator. At wide-open throttle, such as during a passing maneuver, the system enhances acceleration by using the motor/generator to bolster the gasoline engine and achieve maximum power.
The GM Hybrid system also is designed to automatically maintain full accessory functionality – including climate control – when the vehicle is stopped, so that hybrid operation is seamless to the driver and passengers. The Malibu Hybrid delivers an appropriate balance of fuel economy and cabin comfort with an air conditioning system with two selectable modes. The Hybrid A/C mode favors more fuel-efficient performance by limiting the draw on the hybrid powertrain, while the normal mode provides maximum passenger comfort in hot climates and enhances defogging performance.
Malibu Hybrid models make a statement away from the gas pump, too, thanks to specific exterior appointments such as 16-inch low rolling resistance tires and unique hybrid badging. Inside, a special gauge cluster provides information and feedback about the hybrid powertrain's operation.
The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is covered by GM's five-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, the most comprehensive in the industry. In addition, the Malibu Hybrid's advanced nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack is covered by an eight-year / 100,000-mile warranty.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
iQuack 4:34PM (7/06/2007)
Makes no sense to spend more money for the Malibu hybrid because the mileage isn't all that great.
My 3200 pound '04 Accord EX-L gets an actual 22 mpg in the city and 33.2 mpg on the highway--overall average has been about 24.5 mpg. The 4 cylinder is fast enough and relatively uncomplicated compared with any hybrid.
Silly to buy all that complexity for so little fuel saved. Then you'll have to worry about batteries when the car is older if kept for more than a few years.
What will resale value be for all these hybrids as they approach the point where they'll need costly new battery packs? Expect the value of these things to fall like bags of rocks when they're 6 or 7 years old--maybe sooner.
Hybrids are brilliant engineering, but the bottom line is that except for the Prius and a couple of other hybrids that really do get an honest 45 mpg, they're pablum for Greenies and Al Gore acolytes and little more.
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Don 6:17PM (7/06/2007)
Amen. GM's mild hybrid system was a waste of money.
3cubedminus3squared 1:05AM (7/07/2007)
They should of spend that money on making sure it didn't look like an over grown cobalt.
Interiors nice, but the outside is meh, to me.
MJL 4:39PM (7/06/2007)
Right on #1. But my question is, more specifically, if GM is going to use this mild hybrid everywhere (now three models, I think), why didn't they invest in designing a real hybrid engine the first time around? I thought, in fact, that the whole purpose of only doing a "mild" setup was to use it as a stopgap until a real hybrid could be developed.
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Jordan 6:00PM (7/06/2007)
GM did invest in a proper hybrid system. It is called the 2mode hybrid system and it was codeveloped with DCX and BMW. And is making its world debut in the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid and Yukon Hybrid. Then Later in 08 it will be introduced in the Saturn Vue.
This system allows for the vehicles operator to choose from running on full electricity, both, or gas. And on the 3 ton SUV's will return mpg numbers in the low to mid twenties. That is pretty good considering the mass.
The mild hybrids were introduced for two reasons. 1) a stop gap to get a hybrid on the market while the 2 mode was being perfected. 2) a alternative to spending a huge premium for a hybrid car, these systems are cheap compared to full hybrids and do return better results.
Dave 4:43PM (7/06/2007)
This makes all the sense to me in the world.
GM is known for destroying other people good ideas if it cant compete itself.
In the 1980's it took the gasoline engine 4.3 V6 and 5.7 V8 and turned them into diesels knowing fullwell they would not be reliable. And it worked! It made people hate diesels in general and not just GM. Diesels were sent packing for 30 years.
In the late 1980's it took poorly made pushrod crap engines and put turbos on them knowing fullwell they would have reliability issues. It worked! People mistrusted turbos for 20 years until the last few years.
Now it is the second time it is bringing out a mild hybrid, first on the silverado 3 years ago. Whats the reason? to get tax credits one the one hand and throw people off of hybrids for another 30 years.
but this time it will not work! toyota will have none of it! This time only GM and its reputation and money will lose.
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Andy 6:44PM (7/06/2007)
What an idiot.
Steve B. 10:46PM (7/06/2007)
I don't think it's intentional.
To GM's credit, they often try to push technologies that simply aren't quite mature enough, or before they've put quite enough R&D into them. They also have a long history of trying to use innovative technologies or methods, and having them blow up in their face. Don't assume a plot when simple engineering failures will suffice.
For example, automatic transmissions, all aluminum engines, turbochargers (they had the first production one!), cylinder deactivation, diesel engines, rear-engines, air-cooled engines, fuel injection... the list goes on.
SherbornSean 4:46PM (7/06/2007)
iQuack,
I have an '04 Accord as well, and consistently get 30MPG. Never have I gotten less than 28.
I still think Chevy will have a winner on their hands with the '08 Malibu, but the mild hybrid looks like a half-step to nowhere.
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Tyo 4:57PM (7/06/2007)
What excites me is the 3.6 DOHC "high feature" in a malibu. That'll be my fathers new ride.
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Viv 5:10PM (7/06/2007)
The new malibu is one classy looking ride. It is going to convert a lot of people back towards GM.
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mr.ed 5:11PM (7/06/2007)
Bill said "Much ado about nothing." He was right. GM should finally ditch the NIH and pay Toyota for their Valvematic technology. They lost out when they turned down Honda's offer of free CVCC design, even after Honda modified a stock Chevy V8 to run with no smog controls using CVCC, choosing add-on catalytic converters, smog pumps and miles of vacuum tubing instead. And crappy mileage. And crummy performance.
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Jason 5:26PM (7/06/2007)
Rims are direct copies of the current Altima wheel covers. More importantly, Chevy will never gain huge ground with the out-dated and obtrusive center bar grille look. This is the worst application yet, with the heavy bar being set off-center, creating three totally different air-intake opening sizes (WTF!). Hard on the eyes at first blush and reminescent of the Griswald Family Truckster with double and tripple everything (excessiveness). It's hard to kick old habits GM... sad, on an otherwise nice looking car.
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obie 7:02PM (7/06/2007)
So you're saying that GM's designers ripped off the rims from the altima and didn't actually put any work into designing them? Just think about all the money, thought, and time that goes into any car and all the details on it, regardless of the manufacturer--except maybe chinese ones... :)
TIMMAH! 7:25PM (7/06/2007)
Yeah this is a loser out of the gate. As #1 has mentioned, there's other more reliable, less complicated ways to get the same or better mileage using a conventional powertrain. So unless they score in styling, amenities, or patriotism ("buy American" -- which I don't think really works anymore since almost all imports are made in the US now), it's not going to be a big seller.
I think their bigger market will be to sell mild hybrid capability to the heavy truck market since they've got no alternatives at the moment and it presents a solution to those drivers who are getting hit hard by rising fuel costs. The Malibu solves no such problem, this is not a case of "build it, and they will come".
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phewop118 7:41PM (7/06/2007)
Wow. That mileage is kinda weak. Didn't the last gen base impala get about the same mileage and was much larger and had no hybrid shit.
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Randall 8:17PM (7/06/2007)
My Chevy Cobalt SS gets 26 mpg city/33 highway. I want a tax break!
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youth driver 8:33PM (7/06/2007)
Maybe we should put this into perspective and notice that the Malibu is not a compact car like the prius or the civic, its in fact much larger and thus heavier. But hey lets all follow the Japanese marketing campaign and see where it gets us... http://www.leftlanenews.com/civic-hybrid-owner-sues-honda-for-false-mileage-claims.html
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... 10:12PM (7/06/2007)
the prius is hardly small. its considered a mid size sedan and toyota has tried to keep the weight down at 2900 lbs. I don't know about the cubic feet inside, but it's roomier than most midsize sedans i've been in. GM's "mild hybrid" is just a waste of their own and other people's money. also compare to the camry hybrid, with more usable acceleration(8.6 secs to 60) and 33/34 EPA mpg.
youth driver 11:23PM (7/06/2007)
I agree with you in the fact that GM's "mild hybrid" is a waste of time. In the same vein that all hybrids are a waste of time, in 4-5 years when your warranty has run out and you need to change the batteries at a cost of 2,500-3,000$ the savings really start to slip. Where do the batteries go as well? Oh yeah they have to be recycled and who pays for the recycling fee? If people want real fuel savings go buy a small diesel car like a Golf TDI or a Jetta TDI. People are just fooling themselves with Hybrid cars until you can make a battery that is environmentally friendly and cheep.