Power-Dense Powertrains Drive Malibu’s Global Rollout

[FenwickHockey65]

Power-Dense Powertrains Drive Malibu’s Global Rollout
Chevrolet midsize style and performance introduced to more than 70 countries this year
General Motors

March 8, 2012

DETROIT – The all-new Ecotec 2.5L debuting on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu midsize sedan this summer is one of the most-powerful naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines in the midsize segment, topping the output from the new Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry. It will be joined this fall by a new Ecotec 2.0L turbo engine, delivering more horsepower than any previous V-6 offered in a Malibu.

Malibu’s Ecotec 2.5L delivers an SAE-certified 197 horsepower (147 kW) and 191 lb.-ft. of torque (259 Nm) – the most torque of any naturally aspirated four-cylinder in the segment. And when compared with the competition, it delivers 19 more horsepower (14 kW) and 21 more lb.-ft. of torque (28 Nm) than the 2012 Toyota Camry LE’s 2.5L I4 engine, and 27 more horsepower (20 kW) and 21 more lb.-ft. (28 Nm) than the 2013 Ford Fusion’s 2.5L four-cylinder.

The Ecotec 2.0L turbo is SAE-certified at 259 horsepower (193 kW) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (353 Nm). Its peak torque is sustained from 1,700 to 5,500 rpm – a broad range that provides an immediate feeling of power in all driving conditions and helps produce 0-60 performance in 6.3 seconds.

The new engines feature direct injection for increased fuel efficiency and higher power, and help drive Malibu’s performance around the world. Both will be offered in the United States, Canada, Israel and other markets, while rounding out a diverse North American powertrain lineup that also includes the segment-exclusive, fuel-saving eAssist™ technology in the Malibu Eco. It combines start-stop technology with regenerative braking and a lightweight lithium-ion battery to provide an electric boost in certain conditions, delivering a GM-estimated 25 mpg in the city 37 mpg on the highway. That’s better fuel economy than any non-hybrid midsize sedan currently available.

“The 2013 Malibu is the latest entry in Chevrolet’s growing global car portfolio, which has seen almost an entirely revamped lineup in the last 15 months,” said Chris Perry, global Chevrolet marketing vice president. “We sold 4.76 million Chevys worldwide in 2011 – one every 6.5 seconds – and the new Malibu will help us grow the brand globally even more this year, where it will be introduced for the first time in many markets.”

The 2013 Malibu is Chevrolet’s first global midsize sedan and will eventually be sold in nearly 100 countries on six continents. It is already on sale in South Korea and China, with sales to begin this year in more than 70 additional countries, including Canada, throughout Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East, Africa and other Asia-Pacific markets.

In the United States, current generation Malibu sales are up 4.4 percent for the first two months of the year, building on 2011’s near-record U.S. sales of nearly 205,000.

The new Malibu was designed to be the most finely tuned Chevrolet midsize sedan ever and is built on an award-winning global architecture that helps deliver a more confident, responsive and connected driving experience. The body structure is 20-percent stiffer for a greater feeling of solidity, quietness and quality.

Inside, the 2013 Malibu delivers:

• 1.5 inches (38 mm) more front shoulder room
• 3.5 inches (89 mm) more rear shoulder room
• 2.7 inches (68 mm) more front hip room
• 2.8 inches (71 mm) more rear hip room
• More than 1 cubic foot (28 liters) more trunk space
• Nearly 4 cubic feet (113 liters) of additional EPA interior volume.

Malibu’s driving experience is also enhanced with Chevrolet MyLink, an all-new in-car infotainment package that gives customers a higher level of wireless connectivity and customized infotainment options while building on the safety and security of OnStar. MyLink is safe and easy to use. It adds stereo audio streaming and wireless control of smartphones, building on the voice-activated Bluetooth hands-free calling capability already offered in most Chevy vehicles. MyLink is standard in LT, LTZ and Eco Malibu models, along with a seven-inch, high-resolution, full-color touch screen display that makes media selection easy to navigate. The radio face also swivels up to reveal a hidden and illuminated storage area.

The Chevrolet Malibu Eco is on sale now and priced less than a full hybrid vehicle, with a suggested retail price of $25,995, including a $760 destination charge. Additional models go on sale this summer, followed by the Malibu Turbo this fall.

Malibu at a glance

• Introduced in 1964
• Longest-running nameplate in the midsize segment
• More than 8.5 million built
• Current model has received more than 40 industry awards since 2008, including “North American Car of the Year,” and three consecutive years as a Consumers Digest “Best Buy”
• 2011 sales of 204,808 were the highest since 2000
• 2013 Malibu to be built in four global locations, including two U.S. sites, and sold in nearly 100 countries on six continents
• 2013 Malibu is Chevrolet’s first-ever midsize entry in many global markets
• Malibu Eco is on sale now with an EPA estimated 25 mpg city/37 mpg highway – the best fuel economy of any non-hybrid in the segment.

[Brokinarrow]

Impressive! Such a boring color palette to choose from though :(

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Brokinarrow

Impressive! Such a boring color palette to choose from though :(

I think a more vibrant blue would be a good addition...that being said, it isn't a sporty Camaro or Corvette, nor is it a youthful/quirky Sonic/Spark. The exterior paint options in this segment as a whole are fairly boring to say the least.

[truth411]

Ok, somebody in GM has to be thinking that there should be a twin turbo version of the 2.5 I-4. Could easily be over 300hp and deliver over 30mpg. I submit a 2.5tt would make a great power plant in the ATS and the C6 camaro.

Edit: Autoblog reports HP for the turbo is actually 269, is this correct?.

[L99SS]

Hopefully I missed it, but is GM ever going to offer a turbo diesel option for any of their cars?

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by truth411

Ok, somebody in GM has to be thinking that there should be a twin turbo version of the 2.5 I-4. Could easily be over 300hp and deliver over 30mpg. I submit a 2.5tt would make a great power plant in the ATS and the C6 camaro.

Edit: Autoblog reports HP for the turbo is actually 269, is this correct?.

No, what's posted here is right from GM, so the correct figure would be 259 HP.

Originally Posted by L99SS

Hopefully I missed it, but is GM ever going to offer a turbo diesel option for any of their cars?

Yes. Cruze Diesel coming in 2013.

[L99SS]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Yes. Cruze Diesel coming in 2013.

That sounds cool. Can you tell me how it will push the envelope compared to the VWs?

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by L99SS

That sounds cool. Can you tell me how it will push the envelope compared to the VWs?

Honestly not too sure...GM hasn't said much about it.

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by truth411

Ok, somebody in GM has to be thinking that there should be a twin turbo version of the 2.5 I-4. Could easily be over 300hp and deliver over 30mpg. I submit a 2.5tt would make a great power plant in the ATS and the C6 camaro.

Edit: Autoblog reports HP for the turbo is actually 269, is this correct?.

Why put in a 4 cylinder TT when the current 6 makes a little over 300 HP and close to the same mileage anyway?

[truth411]

Originally Posted by Brokinarrow

Why put in a 4 cylinder TT when the current 6 makes a little over 300 HP and close to the same mileage anyway?

I would have to see the fuel economy for the 2.5. But a 2.5tt would be more fuel efficient than the 3.6 v6 and could offer equal or more power, especially when it comes to the power curve.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Brokinarrow

Why put in a 4 cylinder TT when the current 6 makes a little over 300 HP and close to the same mileage anyway?

Because its a PITA to stick a V6 in when only 4 cylinders are supposed to fit. This way, they only have to design engine mounts & engine-bay clearances for 1 engine family - the ecotec 4 cylinders. This saves a bit of money for hardware, and simplifies things for the engineers -and the simpler it is to engineer, the cheaper it gets. Changing things around adds cost and weight. Strangely enough, this is also why I oppose a T4 as the base engine in the 6th gen Camaro -it adds cost and complexity (and complexity manifests itself as either more cost or more weight, if not both) to a V6/V8 lineup

[Number 3]

Just curious as to why you think a 2.5 TT would get over 30 mpg when in the Regal GS with the 2.0 T and only (laugh........only) 270 HP you get 27 Hwy with a manual trans?

A twin turbo helps with spooling up the boost more quickly. You can use two smaller turbos instead of one big one. In the end, the cylinder pressure is the limiting factor, not the number of turbos.

Yes, you could probably get 300 HP from such an engine, but I doubt you'd get 30+ MPG.

Even the new Verano with a 2.4 NA engine only gets 32 MPG and that is a smaller car.