Next-Gen Chevy Malibu Wagon Rendered In Both Sporty And Rugged Style
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The Chevrolet Malibu nameplate was first manufactured for the 1964 model year as a subseries for the Chevelle, with a wide variety of body styles coming and going over the years. These days, the latest ninth-generation model is only offered as a sedan, but what if General Motors decided to build a next-generation Chevy Malibu wagon? What would that look like?
To find out, friend of GM Authority Brandon L. DeJean grabbed his digital pens and drew up the following two renderings. A recent graduate from Youngstown State University, DeJean is the same artist that gave us the full-size Buick SUV rendering we covered last week, as well as the tenth-gen Chevy Malibu Sportback we covered on Tuesday.
This time around, DeJean created this next-gen Chevy Malibu wagon model, which comes in two distinct flavors – sporty, and rugged.
Let’s start with the sporty model, something DeJean calls the Chevy Malibu Wagon RS. Taking the same design cues as those used for the Chevy Malibu Sportback, including RWD proportions and the GM Alpha II platform under the skin, this Chevy Malibu wagon comes with the same fascia style, including a large grille treatment, narrow headlamps, and black badging. However, the window line and roof line are new, falling back at a gentle angle to a squared-off hatch section. The windows are tinted, and look good against the black trim surrounds, while the rear-most pillar comes with a “floating roof” design similar to that of the Chevy Blazer crossover.
Up next is the Chevy Malibu Wagon Activ, which adds a number of off-roader-inspired design cues to the mix, similar to the Buick Regal Tour X. It all starts with a taller ride height and tough black cladding along the wheel wells, while the fascia treatment was also revamped with a more narrow lower grille section and pronounced side intakes in the lower front bumper. Taller rubber wraps smaller wheels in the corners, while the sideview mirrors are matched to the body color.
As good as they look, both of these renderings will likely remain nothing more than concepts, given the latest ninth-generation Chevy Malibu will be discontinued without a replacement. Still, it doesn’t hurt to dream.
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The cost for Cadillac to develop a Sport Wagon off their CTS wasn’t very much money a decade ago meaning it shouldn’t cost Chevrolet much money to develop a sports wagon variant off the Malibu; but whether such a project gets the green light will depend on interest from input from China.
Now there is a real good idea. I bet it would sell nearly as well as the Regal wagon.
The hard reality Americans have shut the door on the wagon. They are accustomed to the more usable space of a CUV or SUV today. Even then today’s models ride and handle like cars not trucks.
The only reason the CTS wagon was approved was due to plans to go to Europe. But then those plans failed.
Even now Europe and Asia are migrating to the CUV now.
Wagons are cool but the major problem is the markets are cool to them. For even what little money invested here is it could make more return on other models.
The problem is GM and dealers themselves getting better profits from SUVs. Also what didn’t help was European production and Opel sold. A N/A made wagon would do better here than Regal.
Personally, I love wagons. But it’s all about pricing… If GM offered a RWD ice wagon with a large displacement forced induction I4 for 35k it would immediately be at the top of my list… But that’s probably not gonna happen.
I agree. If they offered a Malibu Wagon with a 2.0Turbo or V6 engine options with 8 speed automatic, for $30-40k CAD it would be on the top of my list too.
Can we not design a cookie cutter car without a shark-mouth grille and that ridiculous looking rear spoiler?
These cars are just flat out ugly, the New Blazer, what an insult to it’s history. GM had a retro Nomad in 99 that was killer, but they scrapped it for the Pontiac Aztec. Shows how out of touch they have been. The big 3 are headed to large trucks and SUV’S, and throw away cars will all be imports.
Ide be for a 5 to 7 seater wagon with awd.
With a rear drive bias. Something sporty that could handle winters with winter tires and still leave smiles per mile on 3 hour trips. The dodge magnums are clunky looking now.
Nice
I’ll take one. That be like 56 wags since 1975. Let’s roll!!!
HECK YEA!!!!!! GIVE US A MALIBU WAGON. I love wagons but there are very few options in the auto market. I would buy one in a heartbeat if the engine and transmission options offer a fun sporty trim.
Rwd based ……el Camino please
Turbo 4 or NA V6 engine. RWD or AWD. Malibu size. 5 seater with space to fit a 75″ TV with the seats down. Sleek but functional design. Base 26k top of the line 35k.
I would buy one as it looks very much like my 2008 Saab 9-3 Sport Combi, that is a wagon for those of you that are not a Saab fan.