Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Chevrolet, GM
Chevy Malibu Hybrid to launch in just 11 markets
GM is predicting that the Malibu Hybrid will be in short supply when it launches next month and has taken steps to ensure that the cars that are available get sold quickly. They're doing this by limiting its availability to just eleven markets in the Northeast and West Coast, presumably the ones where they've seen the most success moving their previous hybrids, the Saturn Vue Green Line and the Saturn Aura Green Line (both of which use the same system that'll be in the 'Bu). If you live in another part of the country and are looking to plunk down $22,140 of your hard-earned dough on the greenish Malibu, you're going to need to be patient, as full nationwide distribution of the Malibu Hybrid may not happen until MY 2009.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Justin 4:07PM (12/07/2007)
Is "MY 2009" different from other people's 2009?
I'm guessing you meant May.
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PeterL 4:16PM (12/07/2007)
Actually, they meant Model Year.
drewp 4:24PM (12/07/2007)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_year#USA
why not the LS2LS7? 4:30PM (12/07/2007)
Meh. It's okay if they don't make a lot of the current hybrid. Many people would rather have the two-mode model anyway, and that comes in MY 2009, right?
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Dave in MI 4:31PM (12/07/2007)
I doubt there will be huge lines for the 2 mpg bump....
ECOTEC 2.4L I-4 VVT 22/30
ECOTEC 2.4L I-4 VVT Hybrid 24/32
3.6L V6 VVT 17/26
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MKIV 6:25PM (12/07/2007)
Isn't there a power difference between the two cars? One would think the Hybrid had similar power to the V6...NO??
why not the LS2LS7? 6:37PM (12/07/2007)
Yes it does have performance closer to the V6.
MikeW 12:18AM (12/08/2007)
Oh, this 'hybrid' has performance similar to the V6 with one bank shutoff.
The axle ratio is taller on the hybrid than the regular 2.4, so any possible gains in acceleration from the helper motor, is erased via the taller gearing.
There might be a line for the 6 speed auto, an extra 1mpg city & highway.
The dual mode could be as quick as the oversized tire V6 model (maybe not as fast though)
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0802_midsize_sedan_comparison/specs_and_%20road_test_data.html
Derek 10:27AM (12/08/2007)
Guys, it's a Malibu. Hybrid buyers are looking for improved mileage not hopped up performance in the midsize sedan segment. Honda already proved that.
Yeah, 2mpg isn't huge, but the cost of the hybrid upgrade isn't huge either.
R.Autry 4:37PM (12/07/2007)
So typical of domestics. Finally a product that could be in demand and they won't (see refuse) build out their assembly lines. All in the interest of building suspense. They tried it most recently with the Pontiac Solstice (sp) and now you find the cars in used lots. Can't the GM bean counters see all the other hybrids running around and circles around GM, ect.. I really don't like GM. Ever since they sold me a 1974 Chevy Nova that turned out to be build crap. My last new domestic by the way. Foreign ever since.
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VP 4:49PM (12/07/2007)
So if you want you can buy a Ferrari used, does that make the product from Maranello crap? So chevy produced the Nova i am sure "foreigners" never produced any crap. Enjoy your daily visits to the dealership with your new tundra.
MasterCKO 5:14PM (12/07/2007)
huh? I think that you mistaking (or mixing up) your domestic-bashing talking points. The thing with the Malibu is that they are being cautiously optimistic about the demand. The last thing they want to do is deluge their lots with a car that no one ends up wanting (a problem that they're actually notorious for in the past). Not only will that keep early demand high, once they know that the car will remain a hit, they can then build out lines in response and be more efficient about the whole deal.
The Solstice is a different story. They wanted it to be high demand to get people excited about Pontiac again (which worked at first), but because sportsters tend to be trendy in nature, demand for the design is now waning. Which indicates that it's time to up the ante (V6 and new styling, anyone?). Nothing really "wrong" with the styling now (I like it a lot), but it needs to be refreshed to get people excited again. How hot would it be if it were something like this (but a two seater, obviously) for it's next model year?
http://www.worldcarfans.com/9071030.012/pontiac-solstice-sd-290-race-concept-for-sema
Anyway, you're basing your buying decisions on something that happened to you over 2 decades ago? Wow. Life is about change, my friend. I don't know, maybe domestics have improved since then, maybe??
rar 5:16PM (12/07/2007)
If you don't like GM, Why does this post even intrest you?
Mark 6:20PM (12/07/2007)
Blah blah blah. I had a toy from Japan made in 1955. Biggest POS I ever owned. My little brother cut his finger on it too. Domestic ever since.
why not the LS2LS7? 6:44PM (12/07/2007)
First of all, this is the exact same technique used for the Altima Hybrid.
From Nissan's page:
Altima Hybrid is available in California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine and New Jersey. Service of hybrid components outside those states is limited and could involve some days delay. (That 2nd part is great, hope your car doesn't break down outside these areas.)
So you can get off your "stupid domestic idea" high horse.
Second of all, this model is only going to last for one year, with a two-mode coming soon. So going to the trouble of ramping up to make it when you're going to replace it in a year isn't necessarily a great idea. And to be honest, this vehicle isn't even that clean anyway! It's rated no cleaner than even the V6 Malibu.
caddydave 8:16PM (12/07/2007)
I bought a new 1971 Nova SS, my very first new car and kept it for over six years all during my Navy career, drove it like a mad man to get home on weekends, a trip of over a thousand miles. All tolled, 140K when traded and I found the car to be built quite well.
Then on the other hand, we had a '99 Camry that we kept for only one year due to all the sqeaks and rattles. We now have an '08 CTS and an '05 Lexus and the Lexus will be traded next March for another CTS.
Those two "foriegn" cars were the first and for sure last.
espo19047 8:23AM (12/08/2007)
I cant believe you are still using a 1974 Nova to compare imports to domestics.
Shadyman 6:47PM (12/08/2007)
Wow. +1 'Troll' for R.Autry.
Oh wait. Not Slashdot... No mod points. Damn.
Tired 5:08PM (12/07/2007)
And the 11 markets are?
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MasterCKO 5:18PM (12/07/2007)
yeah, I wondered the same thing after reading this.