Details on the '08 Malibu are sketchy at the moment

Last week brought the best spy shots of the 2008 Malibu to date. We're pretty encouraged by what we've seen so far, which is much better than the boring rental-fleet staple that currently wears the moniker. Today, The GM Source has published a Chris Pauwels sketch (above) of what it's believed the next-gen Malibu will look like once it loses its anti-spy camo for good. Pauwels' work, readers may remember, last graced Autoblog when we published the 2008 CTS rendering he did for The GM Source. According to the site, that rendering is a "dead ringer" for the production CTS, and if the Malibu sketch is similarly spot-on, there's plenty to be enthusiastic about.

We're big fans of the Chevy SS Concept-inspired grille, and if the coupe-ish rear end that Chris predicts is accurate, then the new Malibu should look as good leaving as it does arriving. The GM Source states that it shares its architecture and powertrain choices with the current car, so don't expect anything radical there. No matter. The appearance overhaul should work wonders. Between this and the new CTS, the General could be sitting pretty when MY '08 rolls around.

[Source: The GM Source]

Editor's Note: The Car Connection has recently received a new photo of the '08 Malibu from Mrs. Priddy and Co. Included with it are details about a verbal altercation that ensued when a GM employee confronted the photog during the unauthorized photo shoot.