Bob Lutz and the New Malibu

Outstanding. I think we were all pleasantly surprised with this one.

I'd like to know if this car was somewhat intimidating to Opel. This is obviously much nicer than the current generation Aura, which supposedly is intended to be a step up from the 'bu. Both the 08 CTS and Malibu were design competitions, right? Definitely should keep doing that!

I can't wait to see it. I'm especially anxious to see if this level of quality and detail will be present on some of the more interesting Chevys. Such as the future Camaro and Impala.

the malibu looks real nice keep up the good work we just bought a new impala and love it

WOW! I really like the style of the Chevy Malibu and the Saturn Aura. It seems as though you've packed a lot of value into this car, which is what has been missing from GM. GM was previously good at cheap, but you really didn't get the feel of being in a quality automobile.

However, I am at the point where I've moved on from this car segment. What I currently drive is an Acura TL. Is there anything in the pipeline that will compete with this level of refinement, providing what I consider a "nice-enough" car without being a budget buster like a Caddy or a BMW.

Incidentally, after 20 years of Honda products, I find they are still great cars, but I'm just plain tired of driving one. I think there is a lot of potential to appeal to people like me who are ready to switch to something new if you provide the right product. But remember, people like me won't settle for anything less than a top-notch vehicle. I was looking to switch last time, but still found my '03 Acura to be the best value at the time.

Thanks for the Malibu introduction. It looks great from a natural eye-level angle, and in a moving video. Interesting touches you pointed out, I'm still not too fond of the rear tail lights though, something seems incredibly off with those, at least in photographs.

Interior looks Fantastic! GM is really impressive these days, thanks for the great work, I will soon be proud to own American once again!

Amazing! Chevrolet has certainly entered a new era and will more sucessful than ever before. I am very confident in GM, and will forever believe in this company. The strides that are currently being taken to improve this company are outstanding. I commend everyone from GM. Job well done!

As someone who has posted often on this blog, and almost always in a critically constructive mode, I would say that I would drive this car if quality and ride are comparable to styling. Only the third sedan from GM that I would own. First two being the new Caddy CTS and Pontiac G8. Today I drive an Acura RL so that's a winner from a perspective of appealing to non GM owners.

But, I must say that at 26K for the LTZ, it is in a very, very competitive segment. Interior beats Camry and Accord hands down. Exterior is on par and maybe a little nicer. But, there are too many other cars I would pick off first including luxury brands in the same price range.

Bob,

That is a lovely vehicle. Personally (most opinions on styling are totally subjective) I really like it. It is elegant and clean. It manages to be attractive without being loud or flashy. It may not be the most distinctly styled mid-size out there, but it is certainly one of the nicest-looking. I especially like the trapped-hood. I had never noticed that until you pointed it out in the video, and I think it is an excellent example of the detailing on this vehicle's design. I still have some reservations about the plastics used on the interior, as they are still too hard and rough to be class leading, but otherwise I really like the design of the new Malibu. I hope it drives as well as looks.

Oh, just a thought, it might have been in your interest to get a better gas mileage reading on the DIC before filming it. 22.4 mpg average isn't that flattering, and I believe the Malibu is capable of a higher average than that, right? I should certainly hope so.

Nice car!!! The ads are outstanding!! Congrats Bob.

Thanks for the update Bob. I think you guys are doing a great job now. I hope this car sells as well as its price model allows. The appearance of the car is certainly a big jump forward for Chevrolet and GM as a whole.

I concur with DannyK. Buick definitely needs to move into direct competition with Lexus and Acura, delivering sporty and luxurious refinement without incredibly high prices. With the weak dollar, now is a great time to make Buick a solid choice in the entry level luxury/sport market. Slot it right between Chevy/Saturn/Pontiac and Cadillac in terms of price, performance, and refinement, and you'll have a winner.

dannyk,

you should check pricing on the CTS, it starts lower than the TL and has a 6 speed auto available isntead of a 5 speed. Sure it costs more with options but its got a lot more features available than the TL. I would say the G8 is also a TL competitor.

barry,

$26k is not expensive for this type of car at all. A loaded Accord is over $30k and a loaded camry is over $33k which I find to be ridiculous. The Malibu is very realistically priced and only the Koreans and Ford undercut it on price- even though the Malibu offers more overall.

This car is probably the best looking in the segment, period. I critique designs by thinking of what could've been done better and I wouldnt change anything on this car. This and the Aura are the two best looking midsize cars under $30k. The new Accord isnt even close.

Sheth,
You don't get it. It is indeed expensive. And, there are many luxury brands in that price range. If you are paying $33K for a Camry, you must be buying in Euros.

And, a Chevy does not have the brand equity to compete head on with a successful luxury brand. I don't care what kind of car it is.

ie, You are welcome to an opinion but the market doesn't agree with you. That said, I wish GM and the other American auto makers the best.

This is great looking car inside and out. The big question to the consumer and ability to compete against Camry and Accord is how the long term reliability going to be.

Bob:

The new Malibu truly is an outstanding, elegant design. It is a far better looking car than anything in its market.

Which makes me wonder where GM went off the rails with the upcoming CTS. The new Malibu has those long, lovely, elegant lines. Whereas the upcoming CTS is just plain gruesome, particularly the over-done grill, the silly fender vent, etc.

This is what Cadillacs should look like. Fire whoever came up with the "Art and Science" look, point the remaining Cadillac designers at the new Malibu and tell them to get to work.

Also a hybrid is in the works for the new Malibu. Should hit dealers around mid calender year 2008.

The new Malibu looks great inside and out. So far, GM is doing all the right moves to put itself back on track with the rest of the automotive industry. One thing that remains to be determined is the reliability of GM cars. I've had pretty rotten luck with my previous GM, namely a Pontiac Firebird V6. That was years ago, so hopefully, things have changed. If you want to reinstate the status of being the great American automotive leader, then show us what you are really made of and deliver the reliability along with the goods.

Bravo!!!! The car that will launch the official rebirth of GM!

Tyler & Danny K,
have either of you take a look at SAAB?
I believe Saab is GM's near lux brand.
'08 9-3 Aero will be getting XWD which is said to be next step in AWD.

If euro style is what you looking for Saab is the best bang your $.If your into Asian cars Buick should be making the Park Ave soon!

Very nice. The interiors sure do look nice in the photos... i'm really looking forward to seeing and feeling them in person.

One exception, though: The awful green vacuum fluorescent displays on the HVAC, odometer/driver information panel and the radio are absolutely hideous and betray the car's upscale intentions. A nice set of LCDs with softer backlighting is the way to go. Green VFDs just scream "1980s" to me, and i'm sure GM wishes to forget that decade as much as the rest of us.

I'm also mixed on the use of rear side marker lights instead of wraparound tail lamps. The rear of the car looks oddly truncated, like the front end and the back end of the car were designed by different teams. I've seen this on a few GM products. (The Pontiac Grand Prix, for example, has crisp, angular front details, but the rear is soft, rounded and indistinct. The G6 Coupe also has poor front/rear symmetry.) To me, there needs to be rhythm and symmetry between the car's headlights and tail lights. The Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura and Sky accomplish this nicely. But on this car, it looks like they forgot what the front of the car looks like when they designed the rear.

The squared-off slab back fascia with rectangular side markers looks like a hacked solution we used to see back when side markers first became required by law. Kudos for the LED tail lights, but the rest of the car's rear doesn't do them justice.

Wow! It looks much better in the video than in the photos at the Chevy website. What did you guys pay your ad agency for those lousy photos?

The Malibu - what a nicely executed design.

GM is just doing an amazing job on their PRODUCTS.

I have been a Chrysler guy for many years (and before that Honda); but Lutz has really brought GM around and I would very seriously look at getting one now.

HUGE step up from the current Malibu.....and all at once you can compete against Honda and Toyota. Please do a video on powertain next, where you are also fully competitive. As the proud owner of a new 08 Enclave (CXL) I can personally say that GM's newest product are outstanding engineering and design acheivements. My Enclave gets more notice and positive comment than any other car around. I am sure a lot of Malibu drivers will get similar attention. Please keep up the good work so I can buy a second GM product in a year when its time to trade in my 2001 Acrua TL.

I have to say that this is the way that you sell a car. I agree that aesthetics are totally in the eye of the beholder. My only gripe is that the rear end of the car doesn't look like it matches the style of the front.

That said, the interior is knock-out superb. I think you all have finally nailed the fact that Americans are spending more and more time in their cars. The exterior is important for initial impression, but the interior is perhaps even more important.

The small details are very well executed. I too was impressed with the hood configuration.

I also have to say that what I've seen of the Malibu advertising thus far is very creative. Showing an old Malibu as the car you could ignore followed by the new model that you can't is bold and daring: It readily admits that the Malibu 2 models back was largely forgettable.By showing the new Malibu in comparison, you're really making a statement about the overall change of design direction at GM. Well done.

I've been a truck driver all my life. That said, the new Malibu is one of the only passenger cars I would readily consider given the choice.

Dear Mr. Lutz,

as already mentioned at numerous comments before, the Malibu doubtlessly is a fantastic car, maybe even the new benchmark for its segment. My proposal: Introduce it to Europe, either, as a more upscale alternative to the Epica. As I am convinced, there might be big potential for it, even more, if there would be available the Hybrid-version of this model. Maybe this measure would boost additionally the positive development of Chevrolet over here.

Overall i'm a bit dissapointed! Too plain and generic in the sides. Where are the bodyside moldings? Why can't you order red paint on lower trim levels? Why is the V6 gas mileage so low? Where are the overhead assist grips, rear seat center armrest and Nav screen? Overall I give this one a C

Overall styling is rally nothing new in my eyes but predictable in light of todays boring sedans. The interior is more impressive to look at. Too bad they didn't follow through with some of the missing items from the Aura and G6 like a NAV screen, rear seat center armrest, bodyside moldings, overhead assist handles and better exterior paint color options.

This car looks promising. Being in the market for a sedan, I just test drove an '08 Accord back to back with an '08 Impala. I found the Impala to have the edge in quietness & comfort, and I felt the interior was more solid and user-friendly. I'm holding off on a purchase, however, until I drive the new Malibu.

But, I have a concern. The Impalas I've rented returned amazing MPG in highway driving - 32-34 at 65-75 mph, in fact, on the last 1400 mile trip in a 2007 with the 3.5 and 4-speed automatic. However, from everything I've read, the new 3.6 and 6-speed auto can't match this in the Aura... if that's the case, I would have liked to see the Mailbu with the 3.5. I'd trade 40 horsepower for 34 mpg.

barry,

You cannot get many luxury vehicles for $26k, period. That is the price these days for a midsize sedan with a V6 and the Malibu fits that description. I havent seen too many Lexus or BMW models listed for $26k and even if I did they would have less power and space than the Malibu so all you would be getting was the luxury badge.

steve,

GM's reliability has been improving for years as CR and JD Powers can attest. Dont think that "less than average" ratings in CR mean cars are not reliable. According to CR the average problem rate for vehicles is between 1% and 3% depending on which automotive system you are talking about. All cars today are relatively reliable compared to what was sold 10 or 20 years ago.

Jared,

The CTS is hot. You seem to be in the minority on that issue because the press and public love it.

to GM:

The Malibu needs to add a rear armrest next year. This should be on ALL of GM's cars. I do not get why the epsilon cars lack this.

Where's the Maxx ? As a present Maxx owner, I love the practicality and rear seat room and access. If you'd make the new Malibu in a wagon or hatch with a V6 and 6-speed manual, I'm interested... even if I had to order it with the manual tranny.

And I'm with mtPete, my 3.5L V6 has been a trooper pulling 34 to 36 mpg on the highway with more than sufficient power. I understand the 3.5L is available to fleet buyers; can consumers order this variation?

Bob, thank you so much for coming to GM! You and the others who are currently there are doing one hell of a job in moving this company in the right direction.

Bob,

Wow. While I'm at the point where I buy upscale from Chevy, the new Malibu caught my eye. Right up until I saw the gas filler was on the right side. Same is true of the CTS. Is there a reason for this?

I agree that it needs overhead handles and the center armrest. However, no, body side moldings are bad bad bad. Nothing should be added to the car for the sake of "styling". Clean and elegant is way better than gaudy and cheesy. Finally, built in Nav is a bad thing. Studies show that is depreciates more than the rest of the car relative to price, so essentially you lose more value with a nav system than you gain when selling the car. For owning the car, the portable aftermarket systems offer features and usability equal to, or often better, than the in-dash factory installed stuff, plus you can take it from vehicle to vehicle if you ever switch. They're better, and they cost only hundreds of dollars versus the thousands you pay for factory nav GM is smart to sell cars without nav. It makes it easier to get one with what you want rather than paying thousands more for a nav system you don't want because you have a better one anyway.

I haven't been excited about an American manufactured car for years! That is, until Bob Lutz gave me a personal demo on this blog site. What an awe-inspiring vehicle, and to think, I just received a full sales pitch without having to go to the showroom. Mercedes and Honda haven't done that for me, yet. Great to see Bob is on the cutting edge of technology - both in manufacturing AND on the Internet! Great work Bob!

Interesting how Bob mentions a boring grey interior which is exactly what appears in the new Malibu hybrid as well as one of the options in the base model! It looks absolutely dreadful.

OK, my critique:
1. The taillights on the trunk have to go.
2. No bodyside molding? Not a good thing here in Cali where tight spots mean a heck of a lot of scratches.
3. Steering Wheel and the cheap looking Bowtie logo in the center cheapen the look of the interior. You should use the steering wheel thats in the Vue.
4. No Rear Center Armrest? Ya kidding me?
5. No Bluetooth? It should be standard in every car you sell yet it isnt even an option in this car. Ridiculous.
6. The Base Models have a cheaper looking interior. No other manufacturer purposely makes their base models look bad. And there are even pics all over the internet of them-which will turn people off.
7. Where exactly is the front license plate supposed to go?

Still waiting for a home run from you guys in this market. This isn't it.

The new Malibu is definitely nicer in the interior and has many thoughtful touches. In a number of ways it surpasses the Camry and Fusion. Definitely a worthwhile addition to the GM family!

Unfortunately, it's only a sedan. It's a real pity GM decided to kill the Maxx variant off rather than tweek its styling and price point to make it more appealing (I've found mine far more versatile than any sedan). Then again, perhaps the Saab 9-3 sport combi will fill the bill, if only Saab would improve that model's reliability. How about it, Saab?

Mr. Lutz: I would like to point out that the “Driving Lights” you mention are “Fog Lights” which is a SAFETY feature NOT a performance one and should be standard equipment on all cars.

I am very disappointed with the new Malibu and GM’s decision not to offer the 3500 V6 which has led this class in MPG for V6 cars and in real world driving has outperformed the competitions 4-cylinder offerings in MPG.

As some have asked “Where's the high MPG 3500?”

You are risking the Malibu launch on the CHANCE that Accord/Altima and Camry owners will ignore their current models recent well done re-designs and flock to the Malibu based solely on styling – they may look (on the internet) but they are not likely to buy.

The Malibu LS has rental car black mirrors and is lacking other features while the LTZ lacks desirable features (no rear seat arm rest, no memory for seats, no DVD Navigation) and gets 2 to 3 less MPG than the competition which with $3.00 a gallon gas is not good.

GM makes the poor feature problem worse by not offering the 3500 V6 at all which infuriates the MILLIONS of happy Malibu, Lumina, Monte Carlo, Impala, Grand Am, Alero, Century and Grand Prix owners who supported GM in the past and love the 24/30 MPG they have enjoyed for years. Many of these owners did not like the bland styling of the previous Malibu and were looking forward to this exciting design. These buyers have no use for a 4-banger especially in a 3600 pound car and bought the car they have now because it had the 3100, 3400 or 3500 engine in it. These potential buyers have backed up their promise to consider buying a GM car with a check of their hard earned money which is much better than the ever empty promising import owner who “will give GM a chance”, but rarely do.

I’ll take a check over a chance any day.

GM needs to put the 3500 V6 in the Malibu immediately and match it with a 6-speed automatic (at least on LTZ trim) this will bring the 3500 V6/4-speed Auto 29 MPG to a class leading 30 MPG!! (real world 32-34 MPG)

Now THAT is a reason for everyone to take a SERIOUS look at a Malibu and bring their CHECKBOOK with them.

Granted some buyers will insist on a 4-cylinder and GM offers one with both 4-speed and (later in 2008) 6-speed automatic, this is fine and GM will sell some Malibu’s to them. Buyers who insist on a DOHC V6 can have one in 2LT or LTZ trim; for Hybrid buyers there is BAS Hybrid system that delivers good city MPG in the real world and is competitive with full hybrids when the initial cost is factored in. GM should offer these buyers what they are looking for, BUT it is no reason to treat your loyal GM OWNERS like they mean nothing to you.

Loyal GM owners should be the most important buyers to GM, but GM has a long history of abandoning loyal buyers and is the main reason GM has such a perception problem. The worse thing you can do to someone that has been loyal to you is betray them; this brings out negative feelings that take years to forget.

GM has compounded this problem by offering poor standard and optional feature content on GM cars and is a major factor in GM cars retaining residual values.

It is time to fix both problems and offer the 3500 V6 (LS to LTZ) in the new Malibu with E-85 capability and 6-speed automatic (LT and LTZ) along with a complete revision of the equipment on Malibu trim levels. Heated mirrors, Fog Lights, and a rear seat armrest should be included with all LT packages and the LTZ package should have 2-position memory added to the drivers seat and pedals along with power tilt/telescoping wheel so it too can have a memory setting. The 8-way memory seats/pedals should be an option for LT trims since most families have drivers that need different settings and would appreciate this feature with the 1LT cloth seats and the 2LT Sheer Suede.

DVD based Navigation should be an option on LT and up models, there are many sales reps that must have this feature (they need more than “turn by turn”) and it has been optional for years on competitors cars.

Make these changes and the Malibu and the percentage of retail sales will rise and sell 28,000 to 35,000 units a month – otherwise it will be about what it is now.

Bob,

When will GM change the focus to "building a better mousetrap" from the current (and boring) "build a cheaper mousetrap"? This is yet another example of a mediocre, plain vanilla, take no chances, build it as cheap as you can, middle of the road, bottom of the class car that has become GM under your direction. You need to reach much higher than this if you ever want to overtake Camry or Accord. I predict dismal sales with this car, just as the Aura hasn't been setting the segment on fire either - and it received car of the year accolades and still can't sell. Why? Because the specs are "built for cheap" instead of "built to win".

Invest in the product - and they will come. Stop letting the beancounters run and ruin your company. Cheapest doesn't win - you lose. Why Bob is this so difficult for your company to understand? When will someone finally get the stones to change this misguided direction?

Nice car period! I don't quite understand the additional qualifications like nice car in the European style or old school style, etc. A car is either nice or not! This one is nice in its own way.

I am finally warming up to hybrid after concluding that diesel will not give the needed boost to MPG because of the needed clean-burning tweaks. When will a two mode (not the light version) hybrid become available on this car?

Bob,

Mission accomplished.

You delivered the new Chevrolet face and body from both the Impala and Cavalier to the new Malibu. Taking the car up a big leap in styling.

The same formula you used for the CTS. Its style was previewed by the STS. Mission accomplished there as well.

Although the second time around for this styling will wear thin with us car folks.

We can't get excited just because we see an old dress on a new model. It is good for the customer however. That great styling offered in a slightly smaller package for a lower price. Alas, poor STS and Impala.

If we want to break that spell we both know what you have to do. A new design means NEW design. But these cars are getting hand-me-down styling. Great styling no question, but like last years song, hay it's still a good song but it's played out.

Now you already know what you had to do to take this to the next level but you would prefer to stay in the lines. Play it safe, stick with a winner. We will be successful, maybe not win the world or change hearts of the most stubborn import buyers but we will win enough.

But that is the dilemma here, how much is too much, how much do we want? If we want more you know exactly what you needed to do, but you chose the straight path. It's a good path, but I would have preferred the harder road that takes us to the mountaintop.

In short.

Mission accomplished, it's just that I was hoping for a greater mission.

Great job on this car. And i saw my first all new CTS on the road today, had to do a double take. Very nice. As you were pionting out the details of the hood design of the Malibu, the website has a picture of the CTS directly above. The CTS has the gap coming from the grill and it kinda pointed out that the Caddy does not live up to the Euro rivals and is embarrassed by it's little cousin.

I love the look of the new Malibu--the previous generation was an often-overlooked bargain, in my opinion, stymied by stodgy styling.

That said, I must question the ability of this car to *really* stand out on styling alone. The same basic look--low, sleek, with a coupe-like roofline--has already been used on the Buick Lucerne, and has not propelled that model to notable sales heights. It's a pretty design, but not a bold one; it actually has much in common with the Camry (high hoodline, long wheelbase, chrome window detailing).

Similarly, the interior will need some substantial upgrades over the Aura to be truly class-leading. Are the rock-hard door armrests fixed? Are there fewer cutlines in the center console? Do the LCD readouts still wear that coarsely-pixelated blue font that recalls the '80s?

The volume-selling 3.5/4AT combo is hardly a class act, either--it was commendable in the '04 Malibu, and is now a bit behind the times.

I don't doubt that the Malibu will be a solid player in its class, but I think it's a stretch to call it a game-changer. It's unrealistic to ask, perhaps, but what Chevy needs is a car that's absolutely, unequivocally superior to the Camry and Accord in terms of power, economy, space, handling, and interior quality if it wants to regain its title of class leader. What I'm seeing here seems more like a solid effort to keep up with the Joneses.

Dean

It's quite brilliant really. By putting the gas filler on the right hand side, drivers of the Malibu must walk a few extra feet from their seat to the gas filler when getting gas. These few extra feet walked will, eventually, cause the owners to lose a few pounds. By carrying less weight than the competition, the Malibu will have a slight advantage in fuel economy. It is all very meticulously calculated, and a lot of thought went into that design. It really is a level of attention to detail not seen before in a sedan of this class.

Or of course it could be because some gas fillers are on the left, some are on the right, people don't really care, so GM picked a side.

Also a hybrid is in the works for the new Malibu. Should hit dealers around mid calender year 2008. - James N.

Yes, and this "hybrid" will only get 27 mpg combined. Meanwhile, the Prius will be getting 46 mpg combined and the Civic hybrid will get 42 mpg.

Another long-wheelbase, non-hatchback sedan. When are you going to make my car Bob? When are you going to get the technology out of the cockpit and under the hood where it can really start to deliver good fuel economy?

Bob,

I was skeptical to see if the Malibu would live up to the hype, but after seeing and feeling it at Long Island car show this weekend, I can say without doubt, that you have a complete winner. The exterior is stunning, and the interior is even better! I have never been in a GM product, with such a great interior. IMO the materials used are on par with BMWs I've been in lately. I know people aren't going to believe me, but wait till they get there hands on it! You guys went above and beyond on this one and it shows, Great Job!

I somewhat disagree with some here who in my opinion are being a little too unrealistically critical of this car.

To be frank, one thing I believe some of you are overlooking is exactly what target consumer the car is geared towards. This is a middle income family car. One important thing to consider is that unlike some of the car enthusiasts here who buy cars every few years, the average middle income family- mine included- tends to keep cars and trucks for over 10 years. Do you remember Bob's comments about the comparison of interior materials and the exterior fit and finish compared to some of their cars made 10 years ago? Well this goes for all carmakers across the board. My truck has a rather dismal interior: Low-rent plastics, a cheap cloth seat, a plastic dash that squeaks, and a rather unexciting color pallet. The truck is 12 years old. When it was new, it was actually pretty nice because it came with AC, power steering, and a nice radio, which prior to it's generation were considered option. 10 years later, the interior of this same model has gotten much nicer. That is to say that with every generation, cars and trucks mature. To a person like me who's never even been inside a car with a GPS unit, heated seats, or anything else like that, even the lower grade Malibu would seem outright luxurious.People take for granted that AC, pwr steering, ABS, dual airbags, power windows, and locks ALL seem to come standard plus a few other goodies we who own older cars could only dream of. I could care less of the center console has a few extra seams or cracks.

Secondly, I just looked at a brand-new Accord parked on the lot next to where I work. Their 4 cylinder lower end model was almost $28,000. This is getting into borderline mid-level luxury sedan pricing. Secondly, the interior was typical of your rather bland yet functional Japanese brand family car,meaning it might be comfortable, but the looks are largely forgettable. Chevrolet did exactly the opposite and actually went out on a limb to make an interior that makes a real statement.

If GM can sell these at a dramatically lower cost in comparison to the Japanese makes, they will make a strong argument for those considering one to buy a Chevrolet.

Lastly, 10 years ago, 25 MPG for a family sedan was considered good. 28MPG in my opinion is great.

Dean,

Putting the gas filler is considered a safety feature on a Saab. If you have to add fuel on the road, you will do it from the kerb side, not on the highway side. Simple and brilliant. Just like Daylight Driving Lights that the US still refuse to implement although it has been proven without a doubt that they save lives. Volvo and Saab have contributed more to the advancement of safety of the automobile than all other companies united. I wish GM gave Saab a more active role in developing safety features for all GM cars.

No Plug? NO SALE! I can't wait for E-Flex!!

Please hurry!!!

Edvard, very good points. I agree many people here are totally missing what the target market for this car is. At the same time, constructive criticism is always useful for further improvements, which makes this forum very important to the supremacy of GM's future products.

Paul, when discussing fuel efficiency, please compare apples to oranges. The Prius and Civic are both compacts, where the Malibu is the midsize, hence larger and heavier. It would be best to compare it to to Camry hybrid, as it is closer in size to the Malibu. Now we have a good comparison. The Camry hybrid is more fuel efficient, but costs thousands more, has much less trunk space due to the larger batteries, and, judging from Toyota's recent unending spate of recalls and loss of confidence from Consumer Reports, a dismal outlook on reliability. On the other hand, the Malibu Hybrid delivers less fuel economy, but costs much less and has more trunk space. The Camry is a full hybrid, while the Malibu is a mild hybrid, halfway in between a conventional vehicle and a full hybrid in both cost and benefits. So really which one is better is totally up to what you're looking for. If you want maximum fuel economy in a midsize at the expense of all else, go for the Camry. If you want a more well-rounded car in terms of efficiency, practicality, price, and reliability, go for the Malibu. It just depends on the person, and each one serves a specific segment.

cordo,
GM has put day time running lamps with automatic on/off in all GM products since the mid nineties. I don't think any other automaker, save the Germans, make it standard or available..

Again great styling.

Nothing wrong with the styling. But so too the Saturn Aura has exceptional styling. The Oldsmobile Aurora has exceptional styling as well. To get these cars to show up on the radar and make a dent in Camry's wings, it needs to pull some punches.

Assuming the race was started all together at the same starting line the Aura would be running with the Camry no question. And the Malibu would be running with the Accord. But we know the Accord and Camry have a vast head start.

Like I said mission accomplished I will not be surprised at all...

At all...

If the Malibu takes the sales lead when introduced. I even think it can take the sales crown for its first year. The car is that good. But after 2 to 3 years will the car have staying power and will GM support it with updates and marketing after two years will determine success after that.

The car is a winner but I just want to remind us all that we are starting the race already two lengths behind and some artillery in the way of heritage styling would have given it more spark.

In short...

I don't doubt the success of the Malibu for 1 second, I just wonder if we did enough to be first is all.

Bob,

why dont you tell us the truth: how much fuel is it wasting? are there any new and fresh technologies? there are so many important questions beside the looks - arent there?

Paul, when discussing fuel efficiency, please compare apples to oranges. The Prius and Civic are both compacts, - Tyler

The Civic is a compact, but the Prius is a mid-size, just like the Malibu.

It just depends on the person, and each one serves a specific segment.

Agreed. And, for me, fuel economy trumps everything else. So for someone who considers the term "treehugger" to be a compliment, the person who people ask about environmental issues, there is no GM car I would want to buy.

The new Malibu looks pretty good but I am a little under whelmed overall. Dropping the Maxx is a mistake for starters
The base prices have also gone up considerably across the board with a base LS starting at 20K and the LTZ going for 27K. The Malibu should be priced a bit lower than the upper scale Saturn Aura. As others have mentioned the lack of overhead assist grips, rear seat center armrest, bodyside moldings and some high tech goodies like Bluetooth is lame on an all new 2008 model with such a high price tag. I just looked at and priced out 2008 Kia Optimas and Hyundai Sonotas and they all has overhead assist grips all the way around, rear seat center armrest, bodyside moldings and the Sonota even had stability control for under 20K. And if the new Malibu is like the Aura with it's narrow width and cramped feeling interior, the Optima and Sonota will beat the Malibu in interior room also. Also the 3500 V6 should be at least an option for those of us that prefer gas mileage and smooth quiet performance to trendy fads that CR favors. And for those that are talking about target audiences, the Sonota, Optima, Fusion, Accord, Camry and Altima are indeed it's intended audience and most of these vehicles are better equipped and lack the silly cost cutting of the Malibu, have more interior space and even cost less in some cases!

Paul, very incorrect.

The Prius has a 106 inch wheelbase, 175 inch overall length, 68 inch width, 2,932 pound curb weight.

The Civic has a 106 inch wheelbase, 177 inch overall length, 69 inch width, curb weight of 2,600 to 2,800 pounds depending on trim level.

The Malibu has a 112 inch wheelbase, 192 inch overall length, 70 inch width, curb weight of 3,400 pounds.

The Prius is the same size or smaller than the COMPACT civic in every way except weight, which is higher due to the weight of the batteries. However, even the Prius' higher weight doesn't come close to the Malibu, which is larger in every way because it is a Midsize.

Please do your research before calling me a liar. I used to work at a Toyota dealership. Just because people ask you about environmental issues doesn't mean you have the answers. Now I know why Gore won the Nobel prize. People who believe man-made global warming is undebatable truth think they know the answers to everything without ever actually looking at the facts themselves.

How is dropping the Maxx a mistake? I have never once seen a Maxx driven on the street. Did Chevy sell even one in the Southern California area? Are the 5 people who bought a Malibu Maxx all on this site and looking for a new car? I also don't see why not having bodyside moldings is such a big deal? If it looks good already, why add extra cheesy plastic? How is that value added? Its price, while higher the the old, lousy Malibu, is still lower than most everything else in its class, except for the Kia and Hyundai, but they have to be priced lower because they're fighting even worse quality perceptions than GM is.

Glad to see other fans of the 3.5! Also some good constructive criticism here.

Cowboy: if the 3.5 is available in fleet cars, maybe I'll just wait and pick up one at an auction. Although it probably won't have stabilitrak.

That's one reason there isn't a new Impala in my driveway - the 3.5 equipped cars don't come with stabilitrak. I tested out the Impala LTZ recently and came away impressed but want to drive the Malibu before purchasing.

GM is just so close. To me, the perfect Malibu would have the 3.5, 6 speed auto, stabilitrak, and a sticker price around $24,000.

I also imagine what that car would be like with a 5 or 6 speed manual...

paul,

I find it interesting that you spend so much time posting here when you claim GM doesnt make any models with enough fuel efficiency to appeal to you. There are only 2 40mpg gas vehicles sold here so if that is your standard your list is going to be short. If the Malibu's mileage is unacceptable than I suppose the same could be said about the gasoline Camry, Accord, Altima, Sonata, etc. The Malibu's 4 cylinder mileage is comparable to the class leaders and the hybrid gets better mileage than any non hybrid midsize sedan for the same money as competingn four cylinders. Unlike Toyota Chevy isnt bundling luxury extras with the hybrid package to drive up the base price.

johan,

Other details about the car are available on the internet. anyone who wants to learn about the car can do so rather easily. The 4 gets 22/30 which is about the same as Accord and Camry I-4 models.

John,

The Altima, Fusion, Sonata, etc. are not better equipped than the Malibu when priced comparable. The Malibu offers many features you cannot find on Fusion and Sonata. The Altima is thousands more with similar levels of equipment and has a duller interior. Unless you have sat in the car I'm confused as to how you are able to identify so much cost cutting.

No offense, but the Sonata and Optima are not what I'd call fantastically reliable cars. Browse through a few owner's reviews of these things and see just how many of them are having problems with the transmissions locking up. I don't agree that these cars are in the same segment as the Malibu for the simple fact that they are pretty much extreme low-end cars to start with, even if they do come with a few extra gizmos.

I will get right to the point. I keep reading about trust and restoring confidence to where it was long ago at GM. In the 1980's American guitar companies experienced similar woes to the modern day American car company. There solution was reissues. Companies like Fender and Gibson had lost confidence with would be consumers, however they continued to see more and more interest in the guitars they made when consumer confidence was at its best. So they began to make EXACT replica reissues of these the most popular and valuable models. For example the 1988- 1962 Fender Strat reissue. The beauty is... people ate it up and put Fender and Gibson back on the map. They still offered the 1988 Fender Strat as an economy model, then for the reissue charged almost double. Once this took effect they each opened a "custom shop". Here guitars were made not only to replicate their predecessors but they actually aged the wood and scuffed them up some to make them look like you've had the guitar since 1962. And guess what, to trash these guitars and get them with dings already in them people paid even more. The effect, confidence was restored to the brand and they were able to not only start a whole new market with reissues, but restored normalized or even increased sales to regular models as well. Today these companies are doing quite well. I have always thought the American car company could benefit from this idea with reissues. They could reissue the 1965 Chevelle. I don't mean something that reminds you of a Chevelle or the new version of a Chevelle (like Ford's Mustang, that Thunderbird looking thing, or Chevy Malibu) but EXACT replicas. Baby Boomers would eat this stuff up if you approach them the right way. Young people would like it too (I am only 31). I hope I have conveyed my idea effectively because I think it could work. Please tell me if there is somewhere else I should post this. I could not find any other place to post this so I decided to start here. I and my family have been GM customers all our lives basically since cars were invented.

Mr. Lutz,

The new Malibu's exterior is very classy and understated. It is much better in my opinion than the new Honda Accord. I like the interior better also. It is reminiscent of the old twin cockpit Corvette interiors. Congratulations to you and the General Motors team.

Respectfully,

Eric Matthew Vest

Sure, the Prius will average in the 40's but the cost of the car is well above the $22,500 list price of the '08 Malibu hybrid. and that difference of $2600.00 will buy alot of fuel. Also the 300lbs of batterys in the Prius could become more of an environmental hazzard then the smaller battery of the Malibu when it's time to dispose of them.

I find it interesting that you spend so much time posting here when you claim GM doesnt make any models with enough fuel efficiency to appeal to you. There are only 2 40mpg gas vehicles sold here so if that is your standard your list is going to be short. - sheth

If Toyota or Hyundai or Honda had a blog where they asked for public comment, I'd post there, too.

And I know my options are limited. That's why I keep asking for more options.

If the Malibu's mileage is unacceptable than I suppose the same could be said about the gasoline Camry, Accord, Altima, Sonata, etc.

Absolutely.

Those lamenting the loss of the 3.5L need to remember its available in the Aura and G6. I dont think GM needs the EXACT same powertrains in three cars.

Bob,

On the Malibu's section of the Chevy website I feel there should be more exterior pics. I dont think there is a picture with the 5 spoke 18" rims or the 17" rims. People should be able to see every exterior look available on this car.

John

You lament the lack of bluetooth and "high tech" features but fail to mention they are only available if you are willing to drop $30k on a family car. Most people are not looking to spend that amount which is why 90% of Accords/Camrys/Altimas lack navigation and BT. The Malibu could offer BT but overall it wouldnt make much difference in sales. You can get a visor mounted BT tranmitter for $100. I agree the MAlibu needs a rear armrest but the other issues you mentioned are minor. The competition doesnt have LED tailights, remote start, Onstar, 18" wheels, rear 115V outlet, sunshade or in the case of the Accord a shiftable automatic. Also stability isn't standard on any gas only versions of the Camry or Altima, not even the top trims. Malibu has it standard on LT.

John,
I agree to an extent that creating "reissues" is one way that companies can regain lost consumers. That said, GM, Ford, and Chrysler have already been doing this to an extent. The PT Cruiser, new Mustang, and the upcoming Camero are all cars aimed at the 50-60something crowd. While this seems like a grand idea since this age group happens to be quite well off financially, it isn't a good long-term solution simply because people do get old and die. You can't harken back to bygone days forever.

Secondly, I think GM and Ford's problem is that they need to regain the lion's share of the 20-30something age group who at this point are more than likely happy enough to buy their Civics, Corollas and occasional VW.

Look at Harley Davidson. They too generated a lot of success by essentially keeping their bikes the same year after year and embracing the 50's and 60's... hence their average consumer is in that age segment, meaning mostly baby-boomers. At the same time, their bikes got more and more expensive to the point that they're now considered by many to be the motorbike company that caters to people with higher incomes, which ironic given their whole "bad boy" image.

Personally, I'd much rather see GM continue in the direction it is heading, which is to pursue futuristic design and technology.

I saw the new Malibu at a car show earlier this year. Up close, it really is striking, especially the interior. My only reservation is the tail lamps. What is with this preoccupation across the industry to put round lights inside an asymmetrical shape? This comment would apply to the early photos of the upcoming G8 as well. This is a trend that is really irritating to me. Obviously I must be in the minority but would appreciate a chance to provide some input – from a customer perspective.

My wife and I ‘came back’ to GM in the late 80s, stayed in the GM camp ever since and have enjoyed a variety of products over the ensuing years. Most recently, we added an Impala LTZ (despite the odd tail lights) to our garage and enjoy it very much.

I fully believe the majority of the vehicles GM makes are the equal or better than anything on the road. I travel quite a bit and ended up in a wide variety of rental cars over the years so my personal experience is broad. I also listen closely to friends and relatives about comments they have with their vehicles. We have consistently had better vehicles in terms of comfort, quality, performance, economy and reliability,

Keep up the good work, stay focused and listen to the customer.

I guess I fall in between the camps here. It looks okay (though I really hate the headlight assembly and grill). From the side, it's a clean design but nothing to turn my away from a Camry or Accord. It's just another so-so Chevy. And if the past few years is any indication, in three years, there were be several Malibus rusting away prematurely, several more already consigned to the junk heap as unrepairable, and a few thousand more populating the rental fleets of America (protestations by GM to the contrary, how long can the company hold off before selling Malibus to Avis again, really?).

In short, close, but really no cigar on this. It's not a Camry or Accord killer--not even close.

I don't expect to see many of these parked on the streets. New York is not GM-friendly any more. I live down the road from LaGuardia Airport. The only GMs I see these days are older trucks and rental cars. They laugh at you in this neighborhood if you actually own one of GM's cars. Sorry, but that's the way it is--perception of GM now is based on 30 years of planned obsolescence. And I have yet to see any reason to believe the new GM cars are any better (in terms of quality) than the old ones. (I do, on the other hand have reason to believe the quality is still poor, based on personal experience like seeing knobs falling off the interiors of new Cadillacs--it wasn't pretty.)

The interior is, well, just weird to me--and not in a good way. It's not about being new and unfamiliar. I've bought cars with radical interiors (to wit, a 1989 Ford Probe GT--strangest interior ever, but I loved it). This one is just, well, they needed someone with a better sense of design to do the color and layout. (Okay, you need someone with the right sensibilities, and GM is not known for being friendly to our particular group I mean--figure that one out.)

Just another GM sedan in the end. The hood is a nice touch, and it's certainly more appealing than the CTS. But it's not a category killer. Indeed, it will never outsell Accord or Camry. Too many of us baby boomer have been burned by GM too many times to trust it as we start thinking about buying our last new cars...

I must concur with those who wonder why there isn't a hatchback or station wagon version of the new Malibu.

The pendulum is swinging and SUVs and heavy pickup trucks for those living in the suburbs will soon be no more than a faded fad.

Yet, those people will still need vehicles with the utility to haul home things from the hardware store or home improvement stores. In short, they will need the utiity a hatchback or station wagon provides, without the weight and poor fuel economy of SUVs and heavy pickups..

Why doesn't GM jump ahead of that coming turn away from SUVs to more efficient hatchbacks and station wagons? The new Malibu would be a good place to begin.

Regards,

Gary Dikkers

I am one of the five Maxx owners referenced in a post above. I love the Maxx. A sedan with a trunk doesn't have enough flexibility for me. My Maxx has the cargo carrying utility of an SUV while delivering up to 34mpg from the 3.5 V6. I've had it for two years now and it has been completely faultless, with a visit to the dealer only when my Onstar diagnostics email says "schedule an oil change soon".

You might think that Chevy is trying to lose customers by giving the Maxx the Ax. But this is not the case. The Chevy Lambda-platform CUV is coming soon, in a year or so, and will do everything the Maxx can do and more. It's fuel economy will be about 10% lower than the Maxx, but it will offer much more than a 10% increase in utility. Overall length and width of the Lambda are not more than half a foot in each direction. My 30mpg-rated Maxx gets 34mpg. So a 26mpg rated Traverse (or whatever name is chosen) should get close to 30. That is enough for me. And judging from the fact that the Lamdba plant is running three shifts, I'd say it's enough for a great many other people. The Maxx owners want utility and flexibility along with class-leading fuel economy. So fellow Maxx owners, keep your Maxx another year and then go to your Chevy dealer in early 2009 and tell them you want to drive the pride of Spring Hill, TN - the new Traverse. Just like the Enclave/Outlook/Acadia, it will impress you.

Since I plan on scooping up a new Camaro convertible (if the dealers don't try to gouge me), and will look for the Traverse to eventually replace the Maxx, my driveway will end up sounding like a fraternity - Lambda-Zeta-Epsilon. Laugh all you want, GM-bashers, I buy my GM products because they deliver the reliability, durability and efficiency I expect. If you want a multivalve engine, buy a Camry and see how fast that buzzy chainsaw motor sludges up. If you want more than four forward gears in your transmission, buy a Honda (which needs more gears because the engine doesn't make any power until the tach spins past 7 or 8k) and see how far you get before third gear burns up and leaves you stranded. If you want fuel economy, buy a Pious - the cockroach on wheels - and get 41mpg instead of the rated 61, and you can be tormented by the fact that my Maxx cost $6k less and is costing me only an extra $10 a week in gas ($520 a year, which means your Pious has to go 12 years on its $2500 battery pack before you break even).

From what I've seen of the new 'Bu, it's a winner. For any family needing a solid and safe sedan, it's going to get a lot of consideration, as long as the marketing dept does their job of letting people know that it's out there.

Great job on the new Malibu! World class, please plan on exporting it with the weak dollar. Don’t get trapped into a future China export business plan, currencies may not cooperate.

I sure am curious to see how you will handle the Impala overlap. I hope that RWD Impala is in the wings.

Two things I think you should review for future design strategy;
1. Hybrids – You really need a design statement to distinguish your electric hybrid versions. Hopefully, something functional such as a solar panel. People want to make a statement that “I am green”. A badge is not going to cut it.
2. Interiors - In the future I don’t think you can plan your interior design in the same time frame as changing technology. Why spend a lot of engineering effort to integrate technology so deeply into the vehicle? It may hurt future resale value if the integrated technology is obsolete and it cannot be replaced. On your lower end ‘kool’ cars you should consider a standardized modular dash concept stacked in the lower center of the dash near the shifter. Allow every supplier to make technology that can fit into these compartments. Then you don’t need to be concerned with aligning with the correct fad or branding at the right time. An Apple car may be kool now and dead tomorrow. Phones, XM, GPS, and the like are changing so fast.

Good news for mtPete on October 24, 2007 12:46 PM

From what I have found on the Fleet Malibu with the 3500; stabilitrak, hydraulic power steering (in place of electric assist) and 17" Alloy wheels as part of the 3500 package AND a decent 6-way power seat is optional.

If this information is correct, your "perfect Malibu would have the 3.5, 6 speed auto, stabilitrak, and a sticker price around $24,000." should be easy for GM to do.

In fact GM should be able to add Fog Lights, Heated 8-way power seat WITH memory and heated side mirrors for close to the $24,000 you mentioned.

Now THAT would be "THE CAR YOU CAN'T IGNORE", boost Malibu sales to the 30,000 a month rate and one I would be interested in. As it stands I will ignore the 2008 Malibu until GM offers the 3500 in one.

There are too many competitors that offer the CORRECT options at the right prices for me to waste time on an ill equipped car. I have no interest in an underpowered four banger with or without 6-speed and less interest with a V6 that gobbles gas and costs a fortune to buy.

Sheth, thanks for reminding everyone that the 3500 is still available on other GM midsize sedans. Some people want the 3.5 V6 with less power and more efficiency, and some want the 3.6 with more power/less efficiency. Now GM has something for everyone!

Also, the Aura is projected to be released in wagon form in the next few years, so if the old Maxx buyers (shout out to Chris B) can wait until then, GM should have the solution.

Edvard, I'm 20 and I plan on buying a Camaro a year or two after launch, and I know many people my age who are planning to do the same. There is just something about massive V8 power, killer handling, and RWD for $30,000 or less that just appeals to driving enthusiasts of all ages. But I do agree that forward design, not simple reissues, is the way to go. That is why I think the Camaro is better positioned than the Challenger, which is pretty much a clone of the 1970 model.

Michael, so more recommended ratings from Consumer Reports and top scores from JD Powers aren't indicators of improved quality? I'll admit that the past 30 years, from roughly 74 to 04 gave GM a bad reputation, but the new cars are evidence of a major change in quality direction. You can make some judgments based on the past, but you also have to understand that times change. The Malibu sure has changed, including quality and reliability. And you're in the minority about the interior, but styling is almost completely subjective.

Gary and Chris, as I noted above, the Aura will soon be offered in wagon form, along with the CTS, and who knows what else in the pipeline. They're not here yet, but it seems like GM is indeed trending towards offering more wagons. We'll see.

Chris, funny point on the Greek letter designations. That could make for a good ad campaign. Hmm...

Rene, 100% correct. Hybrids really do need to stand apart, as their drivers really want people to know how good and holier-than-thou they are. Obviously hybrids make no economic sense unless you drive an insane amount of miles or manage to be lucky enough for the battery to last forever and to hold on to it for years, so they obviously need to make a real statement. And interiors do need to allow for changing technology. I personally am a technophobe, so no bluetooth or other crazy distractions for me, but for the masses who must be insulated in their electronic bubble (and therefore be hazards to the rest of us) the need to upgrade will have a big impact on how adaptable the interiors of their cars can be for new technology.

Rick, as mentioned elsewhere the 3500 is still offered in plenty of other midsize cars GM offers, but for the vast majority of people it just doesn't offer the performance necessary to really compete in this class, hence why it is not offered in the Malibu.

Chris B,
I'm a TN native too! Anyhow, I don't know if I'd bash Toyota or Honda. The fact remains that overall, both of these companies still make excellent products. Do they have defects on occasion? yes. Are they bulletproof? No. Are they quality automobiles? yes. The fact is that in my family,we have a 91' Civic and a 96' Tacoma. The Civic just keeps right on going despite it's age and the Tacoma has over 200k on it at this point. In fact, every Toyota we've ever had between me, my parents, and Aunt all lasted at least 200k before we traded them in.

So to say that Toyota or Honda makes junk is a bit of an overstatement. That said- what's important is that people like me are interested in GM products. I for one think that they have shown vast improvement and offer better value. I'm not 100% sold on the long-term reliability, but if the reports start showing the same reliability as either Honda or Toyota, then they have me sold.

Paul,

As far as I know Toyota does have a blog- its just that no one is all that interested in their future product.

40mpg cars do not grow on trees and until the Volt comes out you are unlikely to have another choice in that category. In the meantime, I dont see the point of constantly criticizing every vehicle discussed on this blog. Since the Malibu doesnt get 40mpg and there are two vehicle available that do it would make sense to buy one of those two and leave this blog to those who actually like the car.

Michael:

not sure of the point of your post. it seems like you are saying GM should just give up since you dont see a lot of their vehicles in your area. I totally disagree with regards to GM quality. JD Powers and CR clearly show that GM quality is improving and is comparable to many foreign automakers. GM's exterior and interior design has been improving for the last 5 years or so and is the best amongst the Detroit automakers. If you check out vehicles like the Malibu, CTS, Enclave, etc. the quality is evident inside and out.

I do agree that many of you Boomers will never give american cars a chance in spite of overwhelming evidence that the quality gap is closing but there are millions of potential car buyers out there who are younger and more open minded. Toyota and increasingly Honda seem to be aiming for a conservative middle aged demographic. Cars like the Aura, Malibu and CTS definitely appeal to people under 40 due to strong design. With the exception of those who have been brainwashed by their anti Detroit parents most people I know are willing to consider a vehicle they find to be stylish. I know a TSX owner that loves the design of the lambdas and the Malibu. You should NEVER discount the impact of good styling when it comes to people choosing a vehicle.

Sheth, I hope you do not work for GM.

This attitude of "you will buy what WE want to sell YOU" is what has GM in the perception problem it is currently dealing with. Many potential buyers are aware of GM cars improved quality, styling and more recently interiors that match the competition, BUT the content and equipment offerings are stuck in the 1970's if not 1960's.

I don't want to buy a G6 with a 3500 because I cannot get even a 6-way power seat without leather which I do not want. The Aura XE is out because it does not have Fog Lights.

The Aura and Malibu are made on the same line and the fleet Malibu offers the 3500 so it is in GM's interest to offer the same powertrains on both.

Someone needs to explain to potential 2008 Malibu buyers who want a 3500 V6 why GM cannot put Fog Lights, an 8-way power seat and heated mirrors on a 3500 V6 equipped car.

I can understand adding memory to the seats and a 6-speed to the 3500 may take a year, but GM does offer the 3500 with 6-speed on the VUE so it is not impossible.

If GM is ever going to make a dent in the mid-size car market it must make drastic changes to the equipment list of it's cars in it. Leaving off key features on one car and something else on another forces potential customers to companies that listen and make changes.

Want to know why the Camry owns the mid-size car market? Take a long hard look at what you can get on one. It is not about the number of gears in the transmission or camshafts in the engine - it is about the number of ways the power seat moves (8 to 10 for true memory settings) and if it remembers the settings between the two drivers that commonly share driving duty in these cars. It is about heated side mirrors that defog on damp cold mornings so that you can see things behind you. It is about Fog Lights that illuminate hazards on foggy roads and dark wet streets. It is about arm rests on back seats so that the adults that ride back there are comfortable.

A midsize car must deliver exceptional value and deliver good MPG especially in these uncertain economic times with skyroceting gas prices.

A 2008 Malibu with a 3500 V6 even mated to a 4-speed automatic can deliver on the cost and MPG front, GM just needs to add the features.

The 6-speed automatic would be a great addition and give the Malibu a class leading 30 MPG rating (midsize V6 sedans) and do it around $24,000 and at a profit for GM. Real world MPG (30-34) will rival ccompetitors 4-bangers with much more power. Why this is hard to understand is beyond me.

If GM wants to sell 300,000 plus Malibus a year while increasing the retail percentage and residual values it must make a car with compelling value and style - that car COULD BE the 2008 Malibu.

I think Sheth makes a good point in terms of identifying changing attitudes in regards to the kinds of cars different age groups buy.
I'm 30 years old and when I was a kid, my dad bought a brand-new 1982 Buick Riviera. The car had power everything, from power seats, a Bose stereo system, and a "memory seat" which remembered setting for different occupants. At the time, it was a fairly technologically advanced car. It had so many problems that the dealer actually agreed to buy it back. My dad's impression from then on was never again would he consider a Domestic vehicle.

We had a 1985 Camry for years. This was back when Japanese cars were pretty funky and uber-modern looking. It had a bazillion gadgets. The stereo had a graphic equalizer with lights that kept time to the music. So I grew up with Toyotas.

As I get older and now have a family of my own, I too am starting to consider a mid sized family sedan. I agree with Sheth that both the Camry and Accord are looking more and more like the Buicks my Grandmother drove when I was a kid. I'm not at all interested in them from a mere styling perspective. I have no doubt that the Camry and Accord will likely have spotless reliability, but on the other hand the rather "blah" appearance really makes me look at other alternatives. This is ironic. I fully believe that Toyota and Honda- Toyota more so- are falling into the same trap that many GM brands did back in the 80's, which was to produce fleets of bulbous, boring, cushy cars for older consumers. This seems to be the fate of the Camry regardless of it's stellar quality.

I think GM is doing the right thing, but still needs to continue to improve quality and trust their intuitions in styling. We're the new generation of car buyers and in the end will make the difference in terms of sales.

Edvard
I agree with you that 'Reissues' are ONE way to get GM and their trust quotient with the american people back to whrere it should be. I disagree however that American car companies have given this a REAL effort. Those cars you mentioned (PT cruiser, Mustang, Thunderbird etc) are not reissues and not what I am talking about. They are a half baked marketing idea that car enthusiats wer not fooled by. Diversity is the key to nearly any endeavor in life and business. I would have to say reissues appeal to a limited market. However, the people in that market are well off and influence others. This could restore widespread faith in GM the company as well in its new non reissue cutting edge models. Harley Davidson put most of their eggs in one basket and didn't vary much from classic styling. Their mistake was banking on that one strategy instead of diversifying thier interests and market base. I am not saying scrap every GM car and go back to only making reissues that is ridiculous.
As far as young people not liking classic cars that is hog wash. Look at a rap video, you see new cars and restored classics as well. Many young folks are into this and with the right hip hop artists endorsement it could get really big with the younger demographic. The original cars of the 1960's were meant to be tinkered with by their owners and many different conversion kits were sold by the manufacturer. The intent was for the owner to install these upgrades themselves and thus the 'love affair ' with the american car was perpetuated. Imagine how that could be done with today's inovations in kits that include DVD players and screens, chrome packages, hydraullics, tinted windows, glass packs / mufflers, wheels, hybrids and a host of other things young folks do to their cars. I stand by my assertion that a 'reissue' line is a niche' market sorely overlooked by today's american car manufacturers.

Excuse me for being cynical about the quality improvements since what I saw first hand in a Cadillac dealership here was, well, falling apart on the showroom floor. If that's GM quality improvements (2007 model, I admit), then GM has a long way to go. Also, as an old client once taught me, many JP Powers ratings can be easily manipulated if you know what you're doing. Since that time, I have never listened to JD Powers; every time I did I subsequently discovered I made a huge mistake.

Yes, I'm a cynical boomer, made this way only by experience. And not just once but several times (mine was a GM family; my mother nearly bonked my father over the head when he came home with a Lincoln Continental because Henry Ford was an anti-Semite, but I digress). Year after year for the past 20 years, GM has told us it has fixed its quality control problem. Year after year, GM has lied about its quality control problem. (The ONLY time GM told the truth was in its ill-fated "Road to Redemption" campaign 4 years ago, when it promised it had improved its quality; it hadn't and the ad campaign was pulled in embarrassement by GM and its agency.)

So yes, I take everything GM and Bob Lutz says with a grain of salt. For example, he goes on and on in the video about the way the hood fits into the body of the car as if this is something new. But gang, look at the Chrysler 300 or the 2007 Camry or any late model VW and you'll see the same thing. Obfuscation masquerading as truth. I suspect that GM takes lesson from the same people who told us there were WMDs in Iraq.

And please, don't discount several million baby boomers, who still hold the money in this country. We voted with our dollars, and GM lost. And it never apologized for burning us so badly. Indeed, it continues to lie to us (really, does ANY one expect to see a Chevy Volt in 2 years when the technology still doesn't even exist?). Toyota and Honda aren't perfect (I'll never own another Honda, in fact), but they don't obfuscate like GM does in a desperate attempt to hold market share.

Maybe it's because I was such a fervent GM owner once that I feel so betrayed and so moved to blog here. Whatever it is, it's happened to me and millions of others. [Special thanks to the blogger who lumped us together as the anti-GM parents. It's practically impossible for me to be a parent, but what a nice thought.] GM has to do more than parade out JD Powers awards. It has to do more than SAY it's improved the quality. It has to demonstrate how its products are superior to Toyota and Nissan. The new Malibu? As I said in my first post, close but no Camry killer. It will outsell Aura, but only because there are more Chevy dealers and potential fleet sales.

John,
I happen to own a 1955 Ford Fairlane. This was back when the entire car- down to the dash- was made out of metal. The engine is cast iron. The bumpers are heavy chrome plated steel. This car must weigh in at over 3 tons and is 22 feet long. In other words, the term: " Land Yacht" really applies to this car and many others from it's generation. Likewise, it handles really badly when compared to modern cars. The steering is non-responsive. The shocks are like pillows and the car sort of leans into the corners. The brakes are barely functional. More like bicycle brakes.

If you were to recreate a classic American car such as mine today using the same techniques, materials, and manufacturing requirements,along with making sure it met all the modern day safety and emission requirements, then you'd be easily looking at a $100,000 car.

This would be counter-productive since anyone wanting such a car would be better off buying a restored version of the real thing.I paid $2,000 for mine 5 years ago and spent maybe $5,000 restoring it, which is far less than even a small entry level modern car.

I agree- certain things like guitars, clothing, furniture, and so forth work well for being replicated from previous generations. Items such as these are sufficiently acceptable to modern comforts.Guitars and chairs really haven't changed a great deal in the last 100 years. At least not perceptibly. In a car, people want comfort, safety, fuel economy, and style to boot.

There actually are smaller companies out there already making classics. A good example is Morgan in the UK.They've been making the same small roadster based off a 1940's design for decades. As you might have guessed, these cars are expensive and have very few modern amenities.

"retro-esque" cars like the Mustang, PT Cruiser, New Mini, and New Beetle are all wildly successful cars when they're first introduced. Some like the Mini and Mustang are still selling well. They sell well because they successfully blended modern technology and styling with a classic look. This is probably the better way to approach such an idea.The new Camero will likely be the same.

Anyhow, would I be thrilled if GM started producing- say exact replicas of a 1965 Corvette? Heck ya I would. But would it be practical? Probably not.

I think the all new Malibu looks incredible, you did a great job! My only beef is the nationwide TV commercials with the girl running into (and the robbers leaving in) an Oldsmobile Cutlass. Why??? Maybe I'm missing something, and if so please explain...if not I'd like a shot at working in your marketing department. P.S. - if you get money back from your marketing division please remember the whistle blower. Tremendous job however on the car!

Rick,

I assure you I dont work for GM. I do not understand the idea of holding GM products to standards that others cannot meet. We all know that lower trim levels of most midsize cars are NOT available with all the bells and whistles. The Malibu is no exception so it's pretty silly to criticize Chevy for not offering the EXACT combination of features you want. Honda and Toyota do this all the time. In fact, Honda doesnt even allow you to chose options on their cars. Talk about telling the customers what they want. For the record the Camry does not have memory seats. I'm not sure why you believe the Malibu's competition offers this feature when that is not the case. Also, it should be noted that the Aura/Malibu have heated mirrors avaialable as far as I know and the camry doesn't have fog lights standard on every model. In fact, I believe only the SE model has fog lights standard.

I do not think the 3.5L engine needs to be offered on this car when it's on two other vehicles in the same class. The engine is competent and efficient but we all know the press would criticize it as "low tech" since its not DOHC.

"And please, don't discount several million baby boomers, who still hold the money in this country. "

Yes, that actually explains a lot, which might be the reason why the US economy is in the worst condition it has been in decades, with the least amount of savings, record debt and foreclosures, and a troubling percentage of Boomers who spent heartily and saved very little for retirement.

Yes- Boomers did set the tone for what people bought. But we're entering a new generation and even though your generation might have been burned 30 years ago back when such forgettable cars like the Pinto and Vega were made, we who are now left with your generation's mess want value, comfort, and more importantly- style.

Read some of the comments here. We aren't old retired people who fought in the War. We're 20-30somethings in need of originality. Its about time a company like GM finally had the guts to go out and make a different car that doesn't look like a Camry.

Michael - you are spot on in your comments. Until GM stops driving low cost as the ONLY priority, this will not change. Toyota and Honda put quality and performance well ahead of cost, and it shows in their product and sales. They do not need to rely on marketing spin - the products sell themselves. Just walk into any Honda or Toyota showroom on a Saturday morning, and then do the same at your local Chevy dealership, and you'll see what I mean.

IMHO,

Everyone needs to get a grip.

Is this Malibu the clear class leader ? No.
Is this Malibu a much improved offering and class competitive ? Yes.
Does it appear that GM put significant effort and care into its design and construction ? Yes.

Sure there are few items we can find fault with. This is true of Camaccords, too. The 2008 Malibu is an excellent car, period.

Respectfully,
Chris (Toronto)

Sheth, How am I holding GM cars to a higher standard than the others?

GM can take the $26,995 Malibu LTZ and
1. Replace the 3.6L with the 3500
2. For 2008 use the 4-speed auto in place of the 6-speed
3. Drop the "Tap Shift" feature
4. Use Heated Cloth seating (Leather optional)
5. Make the premium sound pkg optional
6. use 17" alloys in place of 18" Alloys
7. Make the Premium mat pkg optional.

Now you have a Malibu with all of the equipment I mentioned (except 6-spd and memory seats for 2008) and can be sold at BETTER PROFIT MARGIN for $23,595.

Now THAT would be a Car "You can't ignore"

Add the optional leather seating and your at $24,595.

For 2009 GM can:

1. Add E-85 capabilty to the 3500
2. 6-speed auto
3. Memory Driver seat
4. Rear Seat Arm Rest
for around $23,995 (Cloth) and $24,995 (Leather).

"Tap Shift", 18" Wheels, Dual Exhaust with chrome tips would remain 3.6L LTZ exclusives.

I don't care what the press says and you are overstating the reaction to the 3500, Aura XE road tests don't dwell on the OHV layout and I have read many positive comments from the press about the 3500 performance in the Aura.

I DO CARE what Aura owners say, most negative comments have been about lack or rear armrests, low quality on door panels and lack of optional equipment on the XE models. Most 3500 owners LOVE the MPG they get, are happy with the performance and don't make much mention of the lack of "High Tech" DOHC. In a family car the 29 MPG vs 26 MPG is more important and makes the 3500 the "High Tech" solution as it performs the important family car (MPG) "peformance" requirement better than the 3.6L

To your point on the 3500 offered in the G6 and Aura, so is the 2.4L 4-banger keep it on those 2 vehicles only.

GM can offer a Malibu with V6 performance at the competitors 4-banger prices with MORE features and (with the 6-speed) 30 MPG!!

And all for less than $25,000.

That is a car that will help GM sell 30,000 plus units a month, and expect that at least 50% of RETAIL Malibus sold would have the 3500 V6.

Someone still has to convince me that the 3500 V6 in LTZ trim (slightly modified) is not the BEST VALUE in the Mid-Size market.

"Is this Malibu the clear class leader ? No." -- Me

I guess I should retract the above comment. This Malibu may very well be the clear class leader - the point is I have not driven it yet, so I cannot offer an opinion.

Thanks,
Chris (Toronto)

Bob,

Well now that the Malibu has been released, the reviews have come out. I read Malibu review articles on money.cnn.com and Edmunds.com, and both were very favorable with high praise. So congrats on a well-received launch. Initial reports are favorable, so test #1 is passed. Now test #2 is short run sales, and finally test #3, long term sales. Good luck on tests #2 and 3, but for now take pride in your accomplishments, and thank the Malibu team for a job well done.

This car looks great. One of the things that I always liked about Toyotas is that with even a cheap corolla, when you got the car home and started getting to know it, you felt like you got more car than you bargained for, not less. There was always nice little touches that one would think would be reserved for more expensive cars, a pleasent surprise to reinforce and reassure the wisdom of your purchase. Well, looks like GM is on to that, too, with the new Malibu. Quality and value don't have to be expensive or from foreign companies, and as soon as America's consumers start getting that, GM will again be very competitive in the sedan market. GM just needs to pound that quality and value message home over and over again, and eventually it'll sink in.

this car is fantastic. now all its needs is the extra bumb in horse power to 275, dual zone climate controls, a nav system, and this car is segement leading in every category. nice work GM, your on the right track!

The Malibu is a beautiful car, from first impressions (here in this vid and in magazine spreads.)

It was nice hearing Mr Lutz admit the failure of the early 90s cars to appeal to the American public. Lesson learned? Let's hope so.

The interior looks elegant. Did I just say that about a Chevy?

Mr.Bob Lutz
Drove your new Malibu LTZ, saturday at my local dealer,
GREAT CAR!
Having worked at Toyota Lexus
dealerships since 1973 I found myself comparing this car more to the ES350 Lexus,
than the Accord or Camry. You
truly have a winner on your hands!

J. Masters,

I think its critical to get a grip on what GM is offering. You are only fooling yourself by putting Asian brands on a pedastal they do not deserve. Check out the reviews of the Malibu. At least two have said the interior is borderline class leading and superior to the camry. The new camry has been criticized by multiple sources for having a down market interior. I'm not sure how you measure all of this built in quality you speak of but it appears to me that recent GM interiors are as good as anything Honda and Toyota can muster. If you walk into any Honda or Toyota showroom you might notice a few things like gooseneck trunk hinges (both), lack of manumatic (both except for Camry SE), lack of LED lights (both except camry hybrid), lack of remote start, dull interior color choices, lack of 18" wheels, etc. You will also find cheap plastic in the Camry and considerable gaps between the dash and doors in the Accord. Check out the review of the Accord by Mark Phelan for details on the Accords mediocre build quality. better yet, check out the Malibu website's comparo pics and see the gaps for yourself.

None of these cars is perfect but the Malibu can hold its own on paper and in the real world according to the reviews. The same reviewers who have been telling us for years that the best cars are imports are now saying the Malibu competes on every level. I think that counts for something.

The Malibu reviews are coming in - and they are quite good:

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/05/first-drive-2008-chevrolet-malibu/

Congrats GM - more content is noticed and appreciated. How did the GM beancounters let this happen?

This 2008 Malibu truly is 'THE CAR YOU CAN'T IGNORE'

Proudly made in Orion MI

Well I went and looked at (yes really looked at) touched, felt, and then drove, (as opposed to just shooting my mouth off) a Malibu LTZ. Now I will tell you to go look at it with a cold clear eye then shut up and drive it. This is a stunning car for the dollar and if it holds up well one of the best values out there period. The LTZ would stand up to a Camry XLE for 6 grand less, and still have the hands down better interior with better materials. I am stunned, this isn't anything like you have seen before. Stop offering opinions and drive one take your time inspecting it. I kept thinking that anyone that takes this car as a joke is in for a serious realignment.

I've been holding my breath waiting for the reviews to come in, and the first drives are saying "it's good"
(exhale, smile.)

The LTZ looks great! I think edmunds.com said it best: "...the car is smoothly handsome and free of styling gimmicks, which bodes well for its long-term appeal. And it has none of the self-conscious oddness of recent Honda and Toyota designs." Oddness indeed.

Yes, by all means park an Accord and Camry next to it in the showroom. I'll take the quiet, confident, pretty one, the sleek American beauty without all the bumps and bulges of the other two.

The Malibu front end looks truly goofy, and the rear looks like an afterthought. C'mon Lutz, surely you can do better than this. The interior is nice in pictures, but I'd bet money that there will be a general sense of cheapness and obvious cost cutting, like every other GM car. Near class leading - what exactly does that mean?

GM has had the ability in the past to pen up many a classic car. Why are you so afraid now?

Did you hear the one about the car you can't ignore? Well it's the same as when you do a double take when you see a really strange-looking person - it's hard to ignore.

The Malibu is freakin' ugly, there I said it. I know you were all thinking it, but nobody said it out loud. It has a snout that only its mother could love. Or maybe father in this case - is that you Bob? Were the third string designers given the task of the front clip? Or maybe you could only afford to pay temp workers? How could you let this thing escape, Bob? Now I think I know why that woman ran straight into the car. Just before the commercial runs, she caught sight of the new Malibu and couldn't shake it out of her head.

Malibu vs. Camry
GM vs. Toyota
Quarterly losses vs. record profits
Anyone see the trend?

Automotive News
November 12, 2007 - 12:01 am ET

DETROIT — That jaw-dropping $39 billion third-quarter loss General Motors reported last week may have resulted largely from an accounting adjustment, but it also was a sign that GM's turnaround has veered off course.

Even without the staggering paper loss — due largely to writing down credits that could offset taxes on future earnings — GM had a disappointing quarter. Excluding one-time items, GM lost $1.59 billion, compared with a $497 million profit in the same quarter of last year.

GM's bad quarter was detailed in the same week that Ford Motor Co.'s financial turnaround appeared to gather momentum and Toyota Motor Corp. announced the second-highest quarterly operating profit in its history.

The new Malibu style looks good.
What I question, who decided to start putting the gas fill on the pasenger side of the car. This is an Inconvenience at most gas stations.
I want a car with style and convenience.
Thanks for the consideration of my opinion.

We just purchased the first 2008 Malibu from SIMMS Chevrolet in Ortonville, MI. WOW, what a car! GM definitely has winner on thier hands. Every time I drive this car I say Wow. We are now looking forward to being the first to purchase a pair of Volts in Ortonville.

As for those who do not like the location of the gas tank filler. Well I for one an happy to see it. Ever try filling up your vehicle with the hose laying on the decklid?

Just saw a new 2008 Malibu on the road yesterday. Nice styling, but the most important thing I noticed is the side view mirrors. Now that the mirrors are no longer triangular, I'll consider going to a showroom to check out the new Malibu to replace my 2000 Malibu. As long as the mirrors were triangular, the Malibu was not even on my list of cars to consider. Triangular mirrors are such a pain to use, and a safety hazard as well, I'm surprised they're not banned. Just one question: did Chevy go back to the mirror shape of the previous generation Malibu because of customer complaints, or some other reason?