Chevrolet presented the new Malibu, which is 136 kg lighter and has a larger wheelbase by 91 mm.The design of the car is more sophisticated compared with the previous generation, with the model featuring lines on its side and on its hood.
It is based on the Epsilon 2 platform and it features ventilated seats, 10 airbags, rear view camera, lane change warning system, collision warning system, active cruise control, automatic braking system and an automatic parking system.
The interior features 33mm more of legroom space for the rear passengers, a 7 inch touch screen, two USB ports in the rear seats and a wireless mobile phone charging system. The car features a system called “Teen Driver”. This system will activate whenever the teenager puts his key in the ignition, after the parents of the teenage driver have recorded the key to the system of the car.
Once activated, the system activates all safety systems, it mutes the radio muted until the driver puts his seat belt and it alert him, in case he exceeds a predetermined speed. In addition, it records and displays various information such as distance traveled, maximum speed, how many times the the specified speed limit was exceeded, if there was a collision warning and if the collision avoidance system was activated.
The car is available with a 1.5 liter Ecotec turbo petrol engine producing 160 hp with 250 Nm of torque, combined with a six-speed automatic transmission and a 2.0 liter turbo petrol engine producing 250 hp with 350 Nm of torque, combined with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
There is also a hybrid version that combines a 1.8 liter four-cylinder petrol engine and the Volt’s electric motor. The hybrid system delivers 182 hp, with the electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery of 1,5 kWh. It has an average fuel consumption of 5.2 liters/100 km, with the hybrid Malibu having a top speed of 86 km/h, when it uses only its electric motor.
The car will be available in five versions (L, LS, LT, Premier and Hybrid) with sales to begin in the fourth quarter of the year.
