2008 Chevrolet Malibu @ 2007 NAIAS

[NYCshopper]

2008 Chevrolet Malibu @ 2007 NAIAS

Teaser Pic:


GM Press Release:

Chevrolet to unveil all-new 2008 Malibu in January

DETROIT, Mich. – Chevrolet confirmed today that the all-new 2008 Malibu will be unveiled in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and released a sneak peek of one of the car’s available two-tone interiors, which demonstrates a new level of refinement in the extremely competitive mid-size car segment.

“The next-generation Chevrolet Malibu's interior showcases the precision and detailed execution that will differentiate it among the mid-size car segment,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet General Manager. “The 2008 Chevy Malibu will offer a number of striking and progressive interiors that use premium materials to demonstrate quality and value not seen before in this segment.”

In the sneak peek photograph, the roomier Malibu cabin showcases Chevy's classic dual cockpit design.

The new Malibu builds on the success of its current model, which garnered many awards such as the 2005 J.D. Power Initial Quality Award and the 2006 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety “Top Safety Picks” silver medal.

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[NYCshopper]

Bigger Pic for Reference:

[phoenix96]

That's a very nice looking interior, especially for a GM product.

[BOY]

not being fanboy here but does that remind anyone else of a hybrid forester/legacy interior... or is it just me? Seriously, I look at this and ignore the bowtie and the gear selector and it could be a subie cabin.

[phoenix96]

Originally Posted by BOY

not being fanboy here but does that remind anyone else of a hybrid forester/legacy interior... or is it just me? Seriously, I look at this and ignore the bowtie and the gear selector and it could be a subie cabin.

Yes, it struck me as having a lot of similarities to the newer Subaru interiors too.

[happasaiyan]

aw geez. every car that comes on this site "looks like a subaru"

seriously, now.

[skunkfifty]

Originally Posted by phoenix96

Yes, it struck me as having a lot of similarities to the newer Subaru interiors too.

reminds me of the interior of my friends girlfriends Crossfire. minus all her junk everywhere

[BOY]

Originally Posted by skunkfifty

minus all her junk everywhere

in the trunk too?

Originally Posted by happasaiyan

aw geez. every car that comes on this site "looks like a subaru"

seriously, now.

you don't see the similarities?

[Hazdaz]

Very nice interior.... from any manufacturer... so the fact taht a GM car will look like that is amazing and more proof that GM actually "get's it" and knows that it needs to improve dramatically to survive.

Mental Note - buy more GM stock soon.

[happasaiyan]

Originally Posted by BOY

in the trunk too?



you don't see the similarities?

i see the chintzy grey plastic on the dash...and the twin-knob hvac controls...

but overall, no i dont see any similarities. to me, every car is going to look somewhat like some other car because most of them serve the same functions...so you really have to look at the whole picture.

[35th]

So which Opel is the interior out of?

[mhoward1]

Thats the Aura interior.

[Hazdaz]

Originally Posted by mh_WRX

Thats the Aura interior.

Well they are based on the same platform, so sharing some of the Aura components on the inside is only common sense... like the radio area looks the same, but definitely enough changes so you can't call it a simple re-badge. And honestly, I think the Aura's interior looks good enough that even if they did just re-badge, it wouldn't necisarily be a bad thing.

[happasaiyan]

Originally Posted by Hazdaz

Well they are based on the same platform, so sharing some of the Aura components on the inside is only common sense... like the radio area looks the same, but definitely enough changes so you can't call it a simple re-badge. And honestly, I think the Aura's interior looks good enough that even if they did just re-badge, it wouldn't necisarily be a bad thing.

THEY ALL LOOK LIKE SUBARUS!

just messing with ya, BOY.

[crazyhorse]

Being as I sell Buicks.. (well like 1 buick for every 20 Subaru's I sell) I can vouch for the fact that GM is finally getting their act together on the interiors. The Buick Lucerne doesn't have a super flashy interior but the quality is amazing compred to the LeSabre and other models that came before it. Nice to see they're finally coming around Heck we had IPOD integration in Buick's before Subaru did

[happasaiyan]

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

Being as I sell Buicks.. (well like 1 buick for every 20 Subaru's I sell) I can vouch for the fact that GM is finally getting their act together on the interiors. The Buick Lucerne doesn't have a super flashy interior but the quality is amazing compred to the LeSabre and other models that came before it. Nice to see they're finally coming around Heck we had IPOD integration in Buick's before Subaru did

bs flag. no one who owns a buick owns an ipod.

[crazyhorse]

Yea... That was my thinking as well. I guess the grand kids are happy at least (Actually the Lucerne is selling very well to people in the 40-50 range.. It's a GREAT highway car and I'd buy one over an Avalon ANYDAY if I had to have a big sedan)

[blk_wrx]

Okay, nice interior but where the hell would the NAVI go should it be an option... if it replaces the radio unit, it would be too low and out of sight for a driver... requiring drive to look away from the road too long... just my thoughts

[mhoward1]

The door on top of the dash opens, like it does on Nissans

[rice h8r]

might be better but still not top quality...
that two tone looks nasty!!!

[NYCshopper]

2008 Cheverolet Malibu @ 2007 NAIAS




Press Release:

Cheverolet Releases Sneak Peek of 2008 Malibu

DETROIT, Mich. – Chevrolet today released an advance image of the exterior of the all-new 2008 Malibu, which will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January and will arrive at Chevrolet dealerships later in 2007. The photo was released in conjunction with the announcement of a $208 million investment in the Fairfax, Kansas Assembly plant to prepare for production of the car.

The image reveals a partial shot of the front of the car featuring a dual-port grille, which is described as representing the “new face of Chevrolet.”

“The 2008 Malibu design is expressive and brings new proportions and a fresh perspective to the mid-size market,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet General Manager. “The new Malibu boasts a poised, wheels-at-the-corners stance with a longer hood and shorter deck appearance that conveys motion, agility and attitude.”

Chevrolet previously released a sneak peek of one of the car’s available two-tone interiors, which demonstrates a much more upscale look and feel with more premium materials and a new level of refinement in the extremely competitive mid-size car segment

[35th]

With the hood so short it looks like more of a minivan in that pic, it looks much shorter than the Aura.

[NYCshopper]

related news:

GM Announces $208 Million Investment in Fairfax Assembly

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – General Motors is investing $208 million in the Fairfax Assembly plant to prepare the facility for production of the all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu.

The investment covers expansion of the plant’s body shop and the purchase of equipment needed to make the new Malibu . The plant currently builds the Malibu , Malibu MAXX and Saturn Aura, with a Hybrid Saturn Aura scheduled for release in early 2007.

The announcement was made at the plant today during a ceremony that included representatives from GM and the UAW, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Representative Dennis Moore, Kansas City Mayor Joe Reardon and other elected officials.

“This investment is a testament to the hard work of the Fairfax employees, the UAW and local and state elected officials to make the plant and business environment competitive,” said Larry Zahner, GM North America Manufacturing Manager. “GM thanks Gov. Sebelius and the Unified Government for working tirelessly to make the State of Kansas and Wyandotte County attractive to business investments.”

Gov. Sebelius led an effort to eliminate the machinery and equipment tax, which will apply to new business investments, such as the one occurring at Fairfax Assembly. Local and state elected officials also were instrumental in securing additional incentives to support the GM investment.

“This is an important step for GM to level the playing field with its competitors in the United States ,” said Fairfax Plant Manager Paul Marr. “It also demonstrates that when business, labor and government work together, we can create an environment where manufacturing can thrive.”

Even with the incentives, Fairfax Assembly will continue to pump millions of dollars into the local and state economies, Marr said. The plant typically pays more than $11 million in real and personal property taxes and the plant’s 2,900 employees receive more than $200 million in pay, much of it pumped into the local and state economies through taxes and personal spending.

“This is a great confidence builder for our members as we move into the next generation of building vehicles at Fairfax Assembly,” said UAW Local 31 Chairman John Melton. “This is a plus. The future of Fairfax Assembly greatly impacts our community as members generously contribute time and money to various schools, churches, charities and local nonprofit organizations.”

Each year Fairfax employees contribute nearly $700,000 to various charitable causes.

Fairfax employees have been honored numerous times for their work, including first place in the entry mid-size cars segment in the 2005 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study and a silver medal in the 2006 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety “Top Safety Picks” awards for the current Malibu . Additionally, both the 2007 Saturn Aura and 2007 Chevy Malibu and Malibu MAXX received the highest safety rating from the National Institute of Highway Safety.

With its current lineup, Fairfax is playing a critical role in GM’s turnaround efforts, as well as increasing market share in the mid-size car segment.

"The all-new 2008 Malibu builds on the success of the current model assembled in Fairfax , and we're proud to have these same employees building the new car with such a high level of quality," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet General manager. "The 2008 Malibu design brings new proportions and a fresh perspective to the mid-size car market, and Fairfax employees are going to help us execute an upscale look and feel with more premium materials and a new level of refinement in this extremely competitive segment.”

The all-new Malibu , which will make its debut in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit , will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2007. With its dual-port grille design, the 2008 Malibu represents the new face of Chevrolet. It boasts a poised, wheels-at-the-corners stance with a longer hood and shorter deck appearance that conveys motion, agility and attitude. The new Malibu also features a number of striking and progressive interiors that use premium materials to demonstrate quality and value not seen before in this segment.

[Hazdaz]

Damn, I think it looks quite nice... and definitely doesn't blend in with every other aero-egg-shaped mid-sized clone out there.
Has a fairly bold look, without going too overboard - makes every Chevy sedan made in the last 20 years look ancient. Changes are afoot at GM.

I am sure the haters are going to complain that the grill is too big, and then post up in an Audi thread that they love the big grill of the new Audis.

What I am most excited about is that if this is the new look of Chevy, maybe this car will get a chance at production:

[cyberpirate]

Originally Posted by Hazdaz

Damn, is it RX8 photoshop?