GM Announces 2016 Chevrolet Malibu

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by stoopid

Yeah I get that, just wondering what the actual difference between the platforms [academic question].

Small/large I guess based on this thread, although some of the details in this link turned out to be wrong:

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...t-where-83822/

Epsilon has 2 wheel base lengths, a long and short.

Early versions of the cars were the Pontiac G6 (short) and Malibu (long).

Currently, the Malibu and Regal are short while the La Crosse and Impala are long. The XTS is long but with an extended rear overhang for a whopping trunk.

The new Malibu is, IMO, the most important launch GM has in the next several years. It is where they don't compete.....can't compete. Yes, the Malibu is a good car. But the Fusion, Accord, Camry and Altima are all far superior products at least in customers eyes. They all have their warts if you get them out on the back roads, but that's not why people buy in this segment.

I hope GM steps up here in a big way and sets the standard for the segment. History suggests they don't have the ability to do that, however. One reason will simply be Buick. GM will not make the Malibu better than the Regal, or at least history again suggests they won't. Of course we can expect a new Regal shortly as well.

[Firefighter]

I wish they would go to RWD in the midsized sedans. That was the biggest reason my wife ended up with a used G8 GT over a new Malibu or Impala, when we replaced our faithful 2004 Impala SS with almost 200K on it. I was just over and done with FWD.

It bugs me that the only option for RWD is a Caddy...

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[Number 3]

Originally Posted by Firefighter

I wish they would go to RWD in the midsized sedans. That was the biggest reason my wife ended up with a used G8 GT over a new Malibu or Impala, when we replaced our faithful 2004 Impala SS with almost 200K on it. I was just over and done with FWD.

It bugs me that the only option for RWD is a Caddy...

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Or an SS

[Firefighter]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Or an SS

Yeah, at $50K... I should have mentioned it though. A midsized RWD sedan with a turbo 4 or a solid 6 (think ATS) with a bowtie and a mid thirties price tag would sell incredibly well.

At least that's what I think...

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[Q'smuscle]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Epsilon has 2 wheel base lengths, a long and short.

Early versions of the cars were the Pontiac G6 (short) and Malibu (long).

Currently, the Malibu and Regal are short while the La Crosse and Impala are long. The XTS is long but with an extended rear overhang for a whopping trunk.

The new Malibu is, IMO, the most important launch GM has in the next several years. It is where they don't compete.....can't compete. Yes, the Malibu is a good car. But the Fusion, Accord, Camry and Altima are all far superior products at least in customers eyes. They all have their warts if you get them out on the back roads, but that's not why people buy in this segment.

I hope GM steps up here in a big way and sets the standard for the segment. History suggests they don't have the ability to do that, however. One reason will simply be Buick. GM will not make the Malibu better than the Regal, or at least history again suggests they won't. Of course we can expect a new Regal shortly as well.

Dang, I thought having family competition was a good thing! I guess not! Sooooo I'm guessing the question should be does GM still have too many division?

Originally Posted by Number 3

Or an SS

Too bad the SS don't look as good as the Malibu! If only GM came out with a RWD V8 version of the Malibu , only the front of the Chevy ss looks better than to me!

[Number 3]

Here is the problem with one too many divisions.

LWB Epsilon. Impala, La Crosse and XTS.

Hi per strut front and linked H-arm rear suspensions. Standard on Cadillac, optional on Buick and not available on the Chevy. You have to have a differentiator for Buick and GM has historically done that by holding Chevy back. All just my opinion but Buick keeps Chevy from being better. Notice in the areas there is no Buick ( Camaro and Corvette) we get greatness.

[Q'smuscle]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Here is the problem with one too many divisions.

LWB Epsilon. Impala, La Crosse and XTS.

Hi per strut front and linked H-arm rear suspensions. Standard on Cadillac, optional on Buick and not available on the Chevy. You have to have a differentiator for Buick and GM has historically done that by holding Chevy back. All just my opinion but Buick keeps Chevy from being better. Notice in the areas there is no Buick ( Camaro and Corvette) we get greatness.

Yup , I notice. It seems like Chrysler is doing it right because they're going all out with their cars. Well I guess, Chevy is doing it right because they have 3 performance cars but the other cars suffer from having the other divisions.

[stoopid]

And yet somehow the Cruze, which IMO is overpriced (for a mediocre compact), competes very well in its class.

[Q'smuscle]

Originally Posted by stoopid

And yet somehow the Cruze, which IMO is overpriced (for a mediocre compact), competes very well in its class.

Yea , I don't get it neither! That's why the Malibu exterior and interior isn't the problem too me. Ppl buy what they want! GM can't be top seller with every car. I will laugh if the New 2016 or 17 Malibu don't sell more than the current ones.

[TJ91]

i think its going to look great

[stoopid]

Originally Posted by Q'smuscle

I will laugh if the New 2016 or 17 Malibu don't sell more than the current ones.

Historically the Malibu is a steady seller. If you look at the numbers I posted earlier, it seems to make little difference which gen/style. If you take out 2003 and 2007 (new gens coming the following years in 2004 and 2008), there's only small variance between model years. No measurable difference between the last two gens and there's nothing to indicate that is suddenly going to change. As I said earlier, this segment of the market is flooded with good cars. GM has to be pleased that the Malibu still even ranks.

2000 207,376
2001 176,583
2002 169,000
2003 122,771
2004 179,806
2005 203,503
2006 163,853
2007 128,312
2008 178,253
2009 161,568
2010 198,770
2011 204,808
2012 210,951
2013 200,594
2014 188,519

[FenwickHockey65]

Someone at GMI brightened up the image.

[Mikes SS]

Damn, that looks like a much more sporty Malibu!!

[MEDISIN]

Originally Posted by Firefighter

Yeah, at $50K... I should have mentioned it though. A midsized RWD sedan with a turbo 4 or a solid 6 (think ATS) with a bowtie and a mid thirties price tag would sell incredibly well.

At least that's what I think...

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$50k!? ATS 2.0L turbo average price paid is $34,000 according to TrueCar. SS sedan sells for $42,000. They would sell incredibly well if people knew the price and didn't assume they cost way more than they really do.