Diesel-Powered Chevy Malibu To Launch This Summer In Europe

Chevy will offer its new eighth-generation Malibu with a diesel powerplant later this summer in Europe. The move will finally give The Bow Tie brand a modern diesel-powered mid-size offering in the competitive European market, something that wasn’t provided by the outgoing Daewoo-designed Epica/Tosca.

While details of the powerplants that will make up the Malibu’s diesel range are scarce, we believe at least two 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel offerings will make their way onto the spec sheet. The first is the LBS unit currently found in the European-and Australian-market Chevy Cruze Diesel, Opel Insignia and Astra while the second is the LBR mill found in the two latter vehicles. The LBS is the more powerful of the two, making 160 horsepower and an impressive 258 lb.-ft. or torque, while the LBR is good for 130 horses and 221 lb.-ft. of torque.

The possibility of a diesel-powered Malibu making its way Stateside is unlikely, especially given the fact that the Malibu’s efficiency strategy is centered around the Eco mild hybrid model in North America, a model not offered elsewhere around the world. But with the U.S.-bound diesel-powered Cruze carrying an all-new diesel mill and being months away, we wouldn’t discount the possibility entirely.

GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.

Alex Luft

GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.

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  • hopefully it does great. i wish we had viable diesel alternatives in the big 3 cars. i have a friend at work who bugged me for a few mouth about getting a new Passat Diesel. well he finally went out and bought one. do you know ALL he talks about is the incredible range he gets!

    he just drove from Pittsburgh to Tampa last week with ONE fill up! ONE FILL UP! that's while cruising at 70mph!!!

    my Ecoboost Flex (which is pretty decent on gas for a 355hp, AWD 5000+lbs vehicle), barely gets over 300 miles on one tank. i have to fill up just driving between Tampa and Atlanta.

    why are any SUVs in the US still running relatively inefficient (for the platforms size and purpose) gas powered engines. all full-size trucks and SUVs should have been predominantly Diesel pwr'd years ago.

  • GM should investigate the possibility of a diesel Malibu here. The diesel Passat sells reasonably well, so there is clearly a market.

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