Roughly a year after launching the eighth-generation Malibu sedan based on the global Epsilon II platform, Chevy will refresh its bread-and-butter model for the 2014 model year. The 2014 Malibu is expected to address several of the car’s weak points, the most prominent of which has been the little amount of second row legroom (supposedly) and the mediocre fuel economy from the car’s three available powerplants (in North America). And while we have some ideas about how The General will address the rear seat legroom issue, we’re curious to find out how it will improve the model’s fuel economy.
But neither the rear seat nor fuel economy improvements will be immediately noticeable. What will be, however, is the 2014 Malibu’s updated exterior styling that is expected to take on cues from the highly-acclaimed 2014 Impala.
To give you an idea of how the freshened Malibu might look, we’ve put together this rendering of the 2014 model, which uses the new Chevrolet front fascia design seen on the new Impala, but with some tweaks to the fog lamp housings and the hood.
Stay tuned to GM Authority for GM News, and for information about the 2014 Malibu.
Comments
Is it just me, or does this rendering make the car look like it has DVD sized rear wheels/tires?
Looks good with the new nose, though I thought the old one was fine. It’s a bit silly being so slammed to the ground in the rendering.
Something about better aerodynamics… 🙂
I think it looks better. I still like the 2013 but this is better
Judging by the spy shots, I think the 2014 Malibu will take more cues from the 2014 SS Sedan. In the shots you am see a large lower grill.
David from what I have seen I think you may be right.
The cars I have seen have had lights with the halo effect like the SS and Sonic. The Cruze will also get these too.
With a car so narrow it would be difficult to get the Impala grill to look right but I think it may end up a blend of the Holden Malibu and some Impala influence.
Either way the photo above looks nice but I really do not expect it to be just like this.
The rear seat room while not expect to be like the last model because of the shorter wheel base will be markedly improved over the present just because of the front seat coves that will be put in. You will still have to bend your legs to get in but your knees will less likely be forced into the seat backs.
The MPG can easily see some increase with an improvement in torque. This can come with more boost but I am not sure how far they can push it with out having to go to premium fuel. Most cars GM makes today have a Premium recommended listing that gives you a choice of premium vs. HP. Now on my Eco Turbo I picked up 50 HP and 1-2 MPG but I also now have to use premium.
I expect some tuning issues to help but keep in mind this car will not be around long as it is at the end of its life and GM will replace the Malibu and Regal in a few years. This segment 4 years will be a long time anymore.
Some spy shots appear to show a Sonic-like grille. A lower intake. I would like to see the Malibu like that rendering but that might be too close to the Impala.
Considering how similar the new nose of Chevy is on the Traverse and Impala I expect the Malibu to go pretty much the same way. Bring them both up on the Chevy site and compare. The GMA rendering looks real good to me.
This rendering looks great, but I think GM engineers are pathetic in certain areas. Why the hell are their continuing to make their new models with less rear seat leg room vs the competition, such as the Malibu and the CTS? Come on fellas, lets outdo the competition.
This is where you have to have all the facts to understand why.
This car was done many years ago pre bail out of GM. GM took the money they had left and put much of it into new products that they could get started and on the way as they knew they would remain still for nearly a year plus while the bail out money was coming in.
GM knew if they did not have this work done they would be like Chrysler and just have a lightly rehashed car like the Sebring as a 200. Chrysler is just now getting to the point where they are getting a replacement done.
GM had to use what they had in the platform they have for the present Malibu as it is all they had ready at the time.
The present Malibu is not what they want or will have in a few years as we should see a new car to replace this one in less than normal time.
This is also why this car is getting the fast refresh as they knew they needed up dates but could not wait longer to put this on the market with the old car as old as it was. They knew they needed to beat the Ford out for any attention and then apply the fixes in a year. I do not see the updates as a reaction as much as it is more finishing what was not ready.
Keep in mind this car was shown to the media back in 2009 – 2010.
GM knows it still has a lot of work to do and it can not all be done at once. They just have to pick and choose things as they go till they get it all done. I think they knew this was going to be a tough one with a update that was out dated already in a fast moving segment. If they had released this car in 2011 as they would have liked things would have been fine but that just could not happen. When you had an W body Impala, Aveo and very profitable trucks and SUV’s that need replaced you have to do what you have to do.
The present car is not a bad car but it got behind before it ever hit the market. The changes will help.
Put your finger over the bowtie on the front end
Acura TSX anyone?
Mind blown
Better do something with the rear of the car because when i look at it it looks all pieced together nothing flows together.
I recently took the opportunity to get in and out of the backseat of a new Malibu.
Getting in and out was a little difficult — the door itself is rather long, reminiscent of the old Delta 88’s from the late 80’s. A re-design isn’t possible but maybe extending the opening a little more would help.
Inside there was ample room, but the sensation is that it is tight, partially because of the fact that the bottom of the seat touches the top of your feet. A seat re-design to open up more space for the feet should be simple.
So Holden is getting an outdated model… wtf GM.
I sure hope not. The front makes it looks more like a Corolla than an Impala. I like the Malibu styling as it is- a lot. I still say styling is not this car’s problem.
Why does the Freep have an article stating the following “Chevrolet Malibu makeover debuts today” but yet no one else has any similar news.
Strange…
If you check back to our home page in about 15 minutes, you’ll see the freshened Bu in all its glory 🙂
I think they should have an 8 speed auto with DSC (Slapstick) and a 6 speed manual. AWD should be an option. As for engines, possibly:
A 1.1L Twin Turbo I4 with 176HP and 220LBS-FT. TQ. 26 mpg City / 38 mpg Hwy / 31 Combined
A 2.5L I4 eAssist with 202HP and 181LBS-FT. TQ 27 mpg City / 40 mpg Hwy / 33 Combined
A 2.8L Turbo V6 with 300HP and 295LBS-FT. TQ. (SIDI, VVT, “DOD”, and DOHC) 24 mpg City / 32 mpg Hwy / 27 Combined
A Hybrid Plug In/2-Mode 2.2L Turbo Diesel I4 187 HP/320 TQ. 36 mpg City / 49 mpg Hwy / 41 Combined