[Evergreen6]

Originally Posted by stoopid

Or a Camaro.

Nope, that's on the fender.

[Kyle2k]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Probably to bump up the FE numbers. Lighter car requires less power-oriented tune and allows a more efficient one.

Doesn't power come with efficiency?

[Cymaro]

Too bad Chevy doesn't have an AWD car. This would be a perfect candidate.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Kyle2k

Doesn't power come with efficiency?

Usually that only happens when you increase the compression ratio. For most other things, its one or the other.

Once you near the pre-ignition limit for an engine, you essentially have to do wasteful things with the fuel in order to keep the engine happy. Tuning the engine for a lower power target lets you waste less gas.

[oklapike]

Originally Posted by lbls1

Very strong design. I actually like the current Malibu, but this effort was needed for Chevrolet to become more competitive. I've always felt that the Malibu was an equal for Camry and Accord; Perhaps this design will finally catapult Malibu into the top three sales slot.

I think the top three is a bit optimistic (at least for this generation). If this new Malibu makes the impact that the initial reaction would seem to indicate, I could see it meeting the stated sales goals (250k per year - maybe a bit more). That would put it into a solid number five spot behind Fusion.

[matt55]

Much much much better .

[lbls1]

Originally Posted by oklapike

I think the top three is a bit optimistic (at least for this generation). If this new Malibu makes the impact that the initial reaction would seem to indicate, I could see it meeting the stated sales goals (250k per year - maybe a bit more). That would put it into a solid number five spot behind Fusion.

It is reaching; I feel that it isn't necessarily the design that is keeping Malibu behind. The american cars have had to contend with a lingering reputation of poor quality and design that, until roughly a decade or more ago, has gone unanswered. IMO GM started answering the poor quality of their products as long ago as 1995, with better ignition systems and more integrated engine management electronics. Its not amazing that it has taken nearly 20 years for the company to begin to shed its bad skin from the horrible late 70's and 80's. Once GM can universally change customers' impression of their products, I feel that we should see an improvement in sales of its mainstream cars like Malibu. GM and Chevy are getting the message; It wasn't long ago that buyers had to suffer with a marginal design for almost a decade without change. GM is really trying to get back in the forefront of the industry.

[Kyle2k]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Usually that only happens when you increase the compression ratio. For most other things, its one or the other.

Once you near the pre-ignition limit for an engine, you essentially have to do wasteful things with the fuel in order to keep the engine happy. Tuning the engine for a lower power target lets you waste less gas.

Are you talking about fuel efficiency or emissions, because it kind of sounds like an emissions thing.

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by oklapike

I think the top three is a bit optimistic (at least for this generation). If this new Malibu makes the impact that the initial reaction would seem to indicate, I could see it meeting the stated sales goals (250k per year - maybe a bit more). That would put it into a solid number five spot behind Fusion.

behind accord. Fusion is number 3 Altima 2 and Camry is #1.

250K is the sales goal? That is quite the goal, last year they only sold 188K Malibus. even the year before was 200K. I don't think its going to gain 50-70K in sales in one year, maybe in a few but not the first. Like otehr have said the public needs to see how good of a car it is before it starts climbing in with the big boys

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Kyle2k

Are you talking about fuel efficiency or emissions, because it kind of sounds like an emissions thing.

Fuel efficiency. Here's a couple of examples.

It is common to use a rich fuel-air mixture to cool down the air charge, making it less prone to pre-ignition. Tuning your engine so that the air charge isn't as hot (by lowering boost or easing off on the compression ratio) lets you lean out the mix a little bit. When you do that, you get less power but you waste less fuel in the meantime. BMW is supposed to be introducing a new turbo engine that uses water injection (under certain circumstances) in order to improve the fuel economy (and possibly emissions too) by not having to use as much gasoline to achieve the same air charge temperature.

With cam profiles, a high performance cam has more overlap. That means that both the intake & exhaust valves are open at the same time. Inevitably, this leads to unburnt gasoline exiting the cylinder -a complete waste of fuel.

[JantzenOKC]

Looks like a winner to me. Huge improvement over the current model from what I can see.

[khell86]

Digging the side profile and rear end.

The front end though looks a lot like a larger refreshed Cruze which is no bueno IMO.

[PYROLYSIS]

Don't care for the front end styling. Impala looks much better. Everything else is impressive.

[TheCaptain]

Wow! What a hot unit! If Chevy did this good with the Malibu, they should hopefully hit it out of the park with the Camaro!