Chevrolet Malibu

The Chevrolet Malibu was a car of the middle class, which was built by the spring of 1978 until the end of 1982 by Chevrolet in the United States as the successor of the Chevelle. In the spring of 1997, was established as a successor to the Chevrolet Corsica with the same name a limousine.

The name is derived from the Californian seaside resort Malibu.

Model history

Malibu / Malibu Classic ( Series 1A, 1978-1982 )

Chevrolet Malibu Coupe (1978-1980)

In the spring of 1978, the Malibu, the best-selling Chevrolet Chevelle series was, to an independent model. He was Chevrolet's second downsized series after the Caprice in 1977.

The new chassis was shorter by more than 30 cm and the vehicles - depending on model - to 250 to 500 kg lighter than its predecessor, but offered more foot and headroom in the interior and a larger trunk .. There were two trim levels Malibu and Malibu Classic. The Landau coupe of Malibu Classic series had a two-tone paint and a vinyl roof.

There were four body styles: a two-door coupe, a two-door Landau Coupe, a four-door sedan and a five-door estate. The sedan originally had a conservative notchback shape with six windows in contrast to the hatchback bodies of Oldsmobile and Buick. To save costs, the windows in the rear doors did not open at the saloons, while the combination had little ventilation window.

In late summer 1980, the sedans were given a four-window shape with a vertical rear window.

Chevrolet Malibu Wagon (1980-1981)

For collectors is particularly the ( on the Malibu -based ) El Camino interesting. The coupes were often converted into muscle cars, even if they were not as popular as the first and second generation.

Police equipment

The four-door Malibu was also used as a fleet vehicle, especially in the police and judicial authorities. After the Nova was set in 1979, the 9C1 police equipment was (not to be confused with the Chevy Impala 9C1 ) transferred to the Malibu, so that it served as a police vehicle medium size.

M80- Sport Package

Factory there was no Malibu model with SS equipment. A Super Sport package was available only for the El Camino. In model year 1980, there were at dealers in North and South Carolina, an extremely rare Malibu M80 package to revive the muscle car era. But mainly it was intended for NASCAR fans who regularly traveled to Darlington Raceway. Today is not known how many packages were sold or how many vehicles equipped with it still exist ( is expected with 1900 vehicles ).

All M80 versions were painted white with dark blue bucket seats and a center console. The base of the M80 was the two-door sports coupe with F41 sport suspension and 5.0 -liter V8 with 145 hp (107 kW). The M80 package consisted of two blue trim with M80- label for the doors, front and rear spoilers and rally steel wheels.

Production in Mexico

In Mexico, GM introduced this generation of the Malibu forth in the model years 1979 to 1981 in the plant in Ramos Arizpe. The Mexican version, there were three trim levels - Chevelle, Malibu and Malibu Classic - and in two body styles - sedan and coupe - with 4.1 -liter R6 engine or 5.7 -liter V8 engine with 260 hp (191 kW). The latter machine was at the Malibu Classic as standard equipment, which therefore was possible because in Mexico not as stringent emission regulations in the U.S. were considered.

Taxis for Iraq

1981 produced GM Canada in Oshawa plant 25,500 Malibu sedans for Saddam Hussein's Iraqi government. The business should have had a volume of more than $ 100 million. This Malibu models differed from the other versions and were (81 kW) with the weakest 3.8 -liter V6 engine with 110 hp fitted in conjunction with a manual three-speed transmission with floor shift. All of these vehicles were painted white and had air conditioning, high-performance cooling system, a hard-wearing upholstery and 14 " steel wheels with " baby moon " axle caps and Radzierringen.

Of the 25,500 copies of the Malibu sedan, but only 13,000 units were actually shipped to Iraq, most of which was used as a taxi in Baghdad. To this end, the fenders were painted orange. In 1982, when still about 12,500 copies either waited at the docks in Halifax or in Oshawa on their shipment, Iraq suddenly canceled the order. The reasons for this were supposedly different " quality problems " is specified, including the problems of the Arab driver to turn the clunky manual Saginaw transmission. The problem was finally solved by a Canadian engineer crew by a readjustment of the couplings on the spot.

Later, it was believed that the Iraqis had to withdraw for financial reasons of this business, as the escalating conflict with Iran devoured more and more money. Initially, the director of GM Canada, Donald Hackworth tried to sell the car to other countries in the Middle East. Finally, the remaining " Iraqi taxis " were sold to customers in Canada for a relatively low unit price of 6800 CAD. Over the years, these vehicles have obtained a certain " cult status ".

The GM G- chassis

The Malibu built on the same revised GM -G chassis as the Pontiac Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and the Buick Regal. 1982 was the last production year of the Malibu Classic.

There were four-door sedans and four-door station wagon with the same extras as the new front-wheel drive station wagon models based on the GM A bogie (from 1984 ) until the model was replaced in 1984 by the front wheel drive Celebrity. The production of sedans and station wagons is set, only the El Camino was further built until 1987.

Model Cars

GM sales a 1:25 scale advertising model of the El Camino made ​​of plastic from the manufacturer MPC, which was revised from 1978 to 1982 at least annually. Kit versions of it were also prepared later there was appropriate advertising models from Camino SS The manufacturer Monogram also built a model of the 1978 El Camino in the then usual, slightly larger 1:24 scale and also a 1979 Malibu sedan with police package as a simplified 1:32 quick- assembly model. Both models was launched multiple times.

While the Chevrolet Chevelle of the second series was copied frequently and at different scales as die cast model and a toy car, it was reduced by the generation of the Malibu a few versions. The manufacturer Maisto brought out a model of the El Camino with rectangular dual headlights.

Malibu / Classic ( 1N series, 1997-2005 )

Chevrolet Malibu (1997-2000)

A new front-wheel drive Malibu was introduced in early 1997 on the basis of the extended GM -N- chassis on which constructions and the Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Achieva of, the Oldsmobile Alero and Pontiac Grand Am.

The Series 1N Malibu models were first produced at the assembly plant in Oklahoma City, which was converted in 2001 to build the GMT360 SUVs. By 1999, they were also built at the assembly plant in Wilmington, whose conversion then was to build the Saturn L- series. Subsequently, the production of 1N was moved to Lansing ( Michigan).

The Oldsmobile Cutlass was the parallel model to Malibu and replaced the Cutlass Ciera. The Malibu inherited the Chevrolet Corsica. Motorised was the Malibu 1N with a 2.4 -liter inline four- cylinder with 150 hp ( 110 kW) or a 3.1 -liter V6 with 155 hp (114 kW). The performance of the 3.1 -liter V6 was increased in 2000 to 170 hp ( 125 kW), the four-cylinder engine was omitted. The Motor Trend magazine has named the Malibu Car of the Year 1997.

The Malibu had from spring 1997 to summer 2000, a grille with a silver Malibu logo in the center, while at the Malibu models and the Classic versions of the autumn of 2000 the blue Chevrolet emblem on the radiator grille was brought by the end of 2003. The LS models had some special golden emblems ( the name Malibu and logo) at the rear of the vehicles.

As the beginning of 2004 a new model was introduced based on the GM N- chassis, named it the previous generation Chevrolet Classic to and kept them for car rental and fleet vehicles until the end of 2005 continue in the program. In addition, we introduced a new 2.2 -liter Ecotec R4 for the Chevrolet Classic.

Malibu Cruiser

The Journal HCI - Hot Compact & Imports showed in its issue of February 2002, the concept car Chevrolet Malibu Cruiser SEMA Show 2001 The car was in the BASF Color " Sublime Lime " painted and featured a tuned turbocharged 3500 SFI -60. ° V6 engine with 230 hp (169 kW) at 5000 min -1; 380 Nm at 2900 min -1, a 4T65 -E four-speed transmission with overdrive, 19 " x 8 " wheels and Toyo Proxes of Evo -TI -S high-performance tires.

The exterior renovations included HID headlights ( with low beam and high beam) and tail lights in the Altezza style as well as a custom bodywork package. There were also various modifications in the interior, including a center console over the entire length of the interior, four black Sparco leather sports seats and a Kenwood music system ( with radio, 10 - CD - and - DVD changer, different amplifier and speakers, and a TV).

Chevrolet wanted this Cruiser never build in series, but to show young buyers that you could customize the car to your own taste.

Malibu ( 1N series, 2004-2008)

Chevrolet Malibu (2004-2006)

Early 2004, the third generation was introduced to the market. It was based on the new Epsilon platform, which took advantage of the system introduced in 2002 Opel Vectra C also. The predecessor was produced until 2005 or under the name Chevrolet Classic for car rentals.

The new Malibu was available in two body styles:

As four-door notchback sedan and five-door hatchback version that was called Malibu Maxx and was based on the Opel Signum.

This Malibu - generation had a large grille, which was horizontally divided by a chrome bar. This design element was introduced in the front view to match the look of the Malibu models of the pickups from Chevrolet.

In the summer of 2006, the series received a facelift, with the chrome bar accounted for in the radiator grille.

The Malibu 1N was built in Kansas City in the U.S. state of Kansas.

Production of the saloon was discontinued at the end of 2007, the model remained under the name Malibu Classic for fleet sales still available. The production of the hatchback model Maxx ended in mid- 2008.

Chevrolet Malibu Maxx (2006-2008)

Malibu ( 1N series, 2008-2012)

Chevrolet Malibu LT (2008-2012)

In early 2008, Chevrolet before a completely newly developed and grown with the size of the model. This is based on the same platform as the Saturn Aura no longer produced and Opel Vectra C. The Chevrolet is in Kansas City (Missouri ) and Lake Orion (Michigan) produced in the United States. Here the now set Pontiac G6 was also temporarily produced simultaneously.

The Malibu is powered by a 2.4 -liter inline four- cylinder with 126 kW or a 3.6 -liter V6 with 188 kW. The power is transmitted exclusively through automatic transmission with four ( in four- cylinder models) or six steps.

As of spring 2008, a mild hybrid version was available, but was discontinued after only one year. With a saving of only about 10% of the sales figures were too low.

In early 2012 the production of this series has been discontinued.

Malibu ( since 2011 )

Chevrolet Malibu ( since 2011 )

The third generation Malibu was introduced Motor Show in April 2011 as part of Shanghai. Since October 2011 she is offered in South Korea and in July 2012 it was introduced worldwide.

As for previous developments of Chevrolet, this model will replace several existing vehicles at the same time: the previous Malibu in the U.S. and in Europe, the Chevrolet Epica. The latter was sold in South Korea as Daewoo Tosca and Holden Epica in Australia. While the Holden brand will continue to exist and the car Holden Malibu is there to say it will be marketed in South Korea in the future as a Chevrolet.

According to GM the car will be offered in " nearly 100 countries on six continents ." Manufacturing facilities there are in Detroit and Kansas City in the United States and South Korea and China.

The car is based on the Epsilon II platform that also, for example, the Opel Insignia is based. The design of its predecessor, was developed in the new generation. A striking feature are the taillights that cite the current Chevrolet Camaro.

The Malibu is offered in the U.S. exclusively with four-cylinder engines: The base engine is a 2.5 -liter engine for disposal, continue to be a 2.4 -liter mild hybrid ( e - Assist ) in the Malibu Eco is offered, the basis for this combination is offered in Europe 2.4 - liter engine, which is only available in conjunction with the e- Assist system in the United States.

The six-cylinder engine of the last generation is eliminated and is replaced by a 2.0-liter turbo engine with 188 kW ( 259 hp ), this engine is also found in Cadillac and Buick Verano ATS. In Europe there is next to a four-cylinder two -liter diesel engine, which is also in the smaller Chevrolet Cruze use in similar form.

Awards

• The Chevrolet Malibu won the title of North American Car of the Year 2008 with 190 points, ahead of the Cadillac CTS with 165 points and the Honda Accord with 95 points.
• 2009: Top Safety Pick 2010