In a move straight out of left field, Ford revealed its brawniest midsize sedan yet: the 2017 Ford Fusion V6 Sport. Not just any V6, though, a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6.
The power? 325 hp, and an astounding 380 units of twist. Ford stated its Sport line of vehicles has done a remarkable job at courting German vehicle owners into the blue oval, meaning the Fusion was a natural next move, according to Ford Authority.
As we take all of this in, should Chevrolet follow suit with its own sported up Malibu? Let’s dive a bit deeper.
Foremost, Malibu could support a hotter engine with no issues, thanks to its E2XX platform. It’s a matter of packaging and what makes sense to drop into a family sedan, since GM currently doesn’t offer a true, middle-of-the-road boosted engine. Let alone a V6. Sure, there’s the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, but the Avista would likely reach production before the engine finds its way into a Malibu.
There’s also the matter of how power is being put down. The Fusion benefits from all four wheels providing a places to put power down. The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu never had all-wheel drive in the cards. With our hypothetical Malibu Sport shaping up, each vehicle sold would likely arrive with some sort of “don’t fear torque steer” branding. Remember the three-generations-ago Malibu SS?
So, while it seems like a long shot, it certainly is possible for a Malibu Sport. But, before you say we didn’t think of it, there’s something else that will likely take care of the Malibu’s lack of sportiness: the next-generation, 2018 Buick Regal GS, where the Ford’s competitive advantages come standard.
Comments
Nah, but an Impala SS would be a much nicer ride….
Merge the Impala and SS into one ride. It would be painfully easy to take back the market from Dodge and the Taurus.
the impala ss can be done in months since Xts v sport is there GM can easily put that drive train in impala
but GM is stupid as usual
Yes, Chevrolet should do the same and also add AWD to the Malibu. They should call it …Malibu SS !!!
Ok lets get this straight.
How much is this going to cost. Once you add more power you will need AWD. Right now a top line Malibu can go over $35,000.
Now look around and just look at the other options you have for only a few dollars more. Not a good value for Chevy or the customer.
Best to leave the Bu to what it is a Value priced family car.
Now if you want to do it right and make it a better car take the Buick and apply AWD or take a Alpha and replace the Impala with a RWD sedan that could offer better performance and at a better price than similar RWD models including the SS.
As an owner of a FWD Turbo with over 300 HP it is fun to drive but always leaves you wanting more tracking. FWD suck for traction as the weight transfer unloads the front wheels and leaves you struggling to hook the tires up.
I love my HHR SS for the price I paid for it under $25K but I would be very disappointed with it had I paid $10K more and still had FWD.
Ford is marching on. GM needs to keep pace. I like the idea of a twin turbo V6 in the Cadillac XT5. Then you’ve got all whl drive.
Trouble is….Cadillac wants way too much for their performance packages. Need to bring that price down.
Yes, Take 2.0Tand boost it up to 325hp and 320lbs t. 8 speed auto! that would work.
I like the idea of the new 8 speed auto….not the 2.0 Turbo. It’s really not worth using on anything but compact car.
The boosted V6 would be the right thing to do. 🙂
Up the performance specs in both the Malibu and the Cruze as Ford has with their products.
People forget Chrysler led here with the 200. Same AWD arrangement with 295 horsepower 3.6L V6 (not boosted). Own one!
GM is actually now the only member of the Detroit trio without a non-premium AWD or V6 mid-size sedan.
I would propose that Ford is also lacking a NON-Premium AWD mid size sedan. The Ford Fusion with the Eco boost V6 is as premium as the Buick Regal GS in content and pricing. Also, how much longer is FCA going to offer the 200 or Dart? If it really brought in a profit, then why wouldn’t FCA continue with it?
FCA is switching to 80% truck and SUV production to duck CAFE fines… by making FCA USA into a truck manufacturer. The 200 and Dart were profitable cars, but FCA has to limit car production to 20% unless/until they can get their RAM trucks to be more fuel efficient.
That includes 300, Charger, Challenger, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo (Giulia). Fiat 500 (and 124) is a pride thing for FCA so that has to stay. Keeping a high volume 200 or Dart in the mix is cutting it too close.
They’re selling too many Hemi’s and without those sales, FCA USA becomes horribly unprofitable.
This is also why FCA is trying to find another manufacturer for the 200 and Dart “so they can continue to be built”. If another auto maker builds the cars, they don’t count to FCA’s CAFE quota.
Thank you for this information. This sounds like a pretty cogent explanation of why FCA is ending production of the 200 and Dart.
The truth is FCA has failed with the 200 and Dart as they do not sell unless under heavy incentives . They also have been back markers in the segments they are in as the best reviews can say better than they were but not as good as most in the segment.
There there is little money left and what money they are making on the trucks and Jeep are going into the Italian side of the company not Chrysler unfortunately. This is why many projects were disappointments of remakes on Lancia platforms and why the RWD cars may not appear till 2019-2020 when they needed them yesterday. Magazines do not even test them anymore as they could not beat the old Camaro and Mustang so why test it against the new models.
Sergio is raping Chrysler and odds are they will merge possibly with a Chinese MFG that will make the cars as they continue with Jeep and Ram to fiance their folly with Alfa and other mistakes.
Note the Giulia is nothing but a fake Alfa with some of the Alfa quirks and flawed quality. They will never compete with the BMW with it.
The car already is delayed due to internal crash test and has had to be reworked and is about two years late coming out now. This also pushed back the LX RWD that was to have been based on it.
The bottom line is FCA is in trouble and will need a dance partner soon or they will flounder. Sergio has really done them wrong as they were his path to profits and volume yet he chose Alfa and Fiat? National pride and then bailing out to Ferrari is no way to save FCA.
The trouble at Ram now will be they are not getting the MPG with the trucks and may have to cut back on truck production yet they have no smaller cars to boost CAFE. They are screwed unless someone steps in soon.
Some good conclusions, but some bad facts.
The 200 and Dart were always intended to be incentivized. They are being phased out which is why incentives went away. Any time you phase out a car, sales will suffer… customers will self-select other options. That’s to the benefit of people like me that know what they want, and lock in a lifetime warranty.
The CUSW platform is excellent, and people don’t realize the Jeep Cherokee is essentially, a lifted wagon version of the Chrysler 200. The good news for FCA is that Cherokee counts as part of that 80% truck/SUV sales.
Giulia is a solid car, and the first remake of LX platform in over 15 years. Well overdue. It will make for a great Charger and Barracuda platform. Can’t wait to get one myself… hopefully a Magnum!
I do agree that FCA is trying to find a buyer. They’ve said so. That’s why I bought now, I suspect things like lifetime warranties will be phased out soon in order to better shape FCA for a new owner. Get one while you can!
Throw a Livernois tune on the Fusion and see who wins. The 200 will be first to get ball joints and tie rods changed. That’s about it.
I’m not saying the 200 is better. It’s the runt of the litter – by far. But it shouldn’t trail the pack as much as it does. I shouldn’t have been able to get one for over half off one year out.
The Malibu has actually built up some namesake. It’s a risk of losing it by falling behind.
But I would love for a Pontiac Grand Prix to come back and provide the luxury-delete version… Malibu Turbo as the base, Grand Prix G6 as the performance variant, and Regal GS as the luxury variant. The hierarchy is restored, all is right with the world.
I think the Buick is the better choice. Once you option the Ford up with their turbo V6, the Regal GS is at the same price point. The GS already can be had with the AWD and also has the Hy-per struts up front for better cornering.
A difference between GM and Ford is the amount of brands. Ford only has Ford and Lincoln (and who knows how much longer Lincoln will stick around if they can’t get them straightened out). GM has four brands to choose from and the Regal GS is the best fit in this case.
Lincoln not going anywhere there constantly growing and are a hit in China.
A Malibu mith AWD and either the 3.6 V6 bi turbo of the ATS or the 3.0 V6 could be nice to drive and a road rocket with 400 hp. I would like to see it
I’ll 2nd that. Amen. Although I need a coupe as the 4dr door post gets in my way.
Now why doesn’t someone from GM think on that…..and give it to us.
Hope so. Hope to see powerful Chevy cars in each segment
This sounds like a job for none other then…..wait for it…..PONTIAC. A 2017 Grand Prix riding on the brilliant alpha platform with a supercharged or turbocharged V6. Style it aggressively, price it around 30k and call it a day. Watch them fly out the door. Make a new special edition every month and they will bring excitement back to GM. Pontiac would make a great 3 or 4 car lineup. The Grand Prix, a bigger G8 type V8 sedan to replace the SS after it goes out of production (plus Chevy doesn’t need 18 sedans that all look the same), and a Solstice type roadster. Maybe a Camaro based Trans Am with a boosted V8. RWD will be the defining aspect of every Pontiac that comes off the assembly line. That way Chevy can do what it does best: be a volume car maker. Leave driving excitement to Pontiac. Leave volume sales to Chevy. Leave comfort to Buick. Leave Luxury Performance to Cadillac. Leave Trucks and SUV’s to GMC. Give each of the GM brands a specific image and goal. Sell Cars. Make money. Repeat.
Luxury, comfort and performance can be had in all one model. Buick can and has done it and Audi is showing how it can be done under a BMW price range.
I work at a Buick/GMC dealership and we haven’t sold a Regal GS in over a year, hell we can’t even get rid of the regular Regal Turbo’s sitting on the lot. And it isn’t just this dealership. Nobody is buying them. Is it a nice car? Absolutely. Is it way overpriced? Absolutely. Audi is a premium brand and in no way competes with Chevy or a would-be Pontiac. Not a single person would rather have a Buick over an Audi. But a Pontiac that’s 20K cheaper than that same Audi? And faster? And better looking? Now you have the recipe for a sales success…
Dan you nailed it. The alpha based G6 or whatever you want to call it is the main whole in GM’sentire lineup…The buick Regal GS does not pull consumers in.
I like the Buick Regal GS but I am a GM loyalist.
I think that would defeat the purpose of the Regal GS.
Would any one of the dreamers care to explain how much you can ask for a Malibu price wise before people will not buy it while keeping it under the price of a Buick GS that is coming?
There is a limit people will pay for a Malibu and selling only 8% of production as AWD just is not a money maker.
Again to make money GM needs to sell cars people will buy not just want.
Buick with the Opel connection is prime for higher level AWD performance cars people will pay more for.
Also lets just see what GM has coming before you wish too hard on getting another Malibu SS like we had 10 years ago. Not much of a car for the price you pay.
Also note Ford sells these cars in low numbers and they use a Fusion as they have little else to use. They only have a Mustang as a RWD car and not much else in any division. GM has Buick to do about anything they would like to do in a price segment many will move to if the model is right.
The 2016 Ford Fusion is a ‘heavy’ car weighing 3,550-3,700 lbs making it 400-550 lbs heavier than the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as this is why despite 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum with a 2.0L DOHC-4v 4-cyl turbo making 77 hp more than the Malibu’s base 163 hp engine, the Fusion is only about a half-second quicker than the Malibu accelerating zero to sixty; thus, the twin-turbo 2.7L V6 might not make the Fusion not much faster than a LTG 252 hp powered Malibu and if necessary, Chevy can simply drop the 275 hp variant of the LTG in the Malibu as it takes a lot to offset 550 lbs.