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The Chevrolet Malibu (named after Malibu, California) is a mid-size car produced in the United States by General Motors. It is marketed in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Israel.

[edit] First Generation 1964-1972

For more details on this topic, see Chevrolet Chevelle.

The first Malibu was the mid-range Chevrolet Chevelle from 1964 to 1972, the SS being the top of the line. 1964 was the first production year of the Chevelle Malibu.

[edit] Second Generation 1973-1977

The Malibu was restyled for the 1973 model year. Models included the base Chevelle Deluxe, mid-range Malibu and the top-line Laguna.

For 1974, the Deluxe was dropped, and the Malibu became the entry-level Chevelle. The Laguna trim package was replaced with the Malibu Classic. The Laguna S-3 model was introduced to replace the SS, and continued through 1976.

[edit] Third Generation 1978-1983

For the 1978 model year, the Malibu name replaced the Chevelle name. This was a downsized version compared to previous mid-sized Chevrolets. Only two trim levels were offered - Malibu and Malibu Classic. The Malibu Classic Landau series had a two tone paint job on the upper and lower body sections, and a vinyl top.

A very rare 1980 Malibu M80 was a dealer package for only North and South Carolina in an effort to revive the muscle car era. It was however mostly aimed at Nascar fans who regularly traveled to Darlington Raceway. To this day, its unknown how many are left or were actually produced. (Estimates place this around 1,901 cars) All M80's had to be white with dark blue bucket seat and center console interior. The base of the M80 was a 2 door sport coupe equipped with the F41 Sport Suspension package and the normal 1980 305 V8 (140 hp) drive train. The M80 option added two dark blue skunk stripes up top and a lower door stripe with the M80 identification. The package also added front and rear spoilers and 1981 steel rally wheels. There was no factory Malibu SS option available from 1978-83. The SS only came in the El Camino.

Three bodystyles were produced (station wagon, sedan, and coupe); the sedan initially had a six-window roofline with a farly typical notchback rear window, which was revised for 1981 to a four-window profile and "formal" upright roofline. The 2-door coupe was last produced in 1981. In recent years, the coupe has been sought after by drag racers and usually spotted as street machines.

In 1981, General Motors of Canada in Oshawa produced a special order of 12,000 4-door Malibu sedans for Saddam Hussein's Iraqi government. The deal was worth 100-million dollars to GM. These special order Malibus carried the unusual combination of GM's lowest-power V6, the 110hp 229ci (3.8 l) engine mated to a unique 3-on-the-floor stick shifter. All of the cars were equipped with air conditioning, heavy duty cooling systems, tough upholstery and 14-inch (360 mm) stamped steel wheels with trim rings and "baby moon" center caps. They were the ultimate Iraqi Taxis. In 1982 with 7,000 Malibus sitting on a dock in Halifax ready to ship and 5,000 more waiting for the train in Oshawa, where they were built, the Iraqis cancelled the order. Excuses reportedly included "quality concerns" or the supposed inability of the local drivers to shift a manual transmission. GM President-at-the-time Donald Hackworth said GM would still try to sell the Halifax cars overseas. Of course the real reason the Iraqis backed out was their escalating hostilities with Iran which required diversion of funds to support the ramping Iraqi war effort. In the end, the orphaned Iraqi Taxi Malibus were sold to the Canadian public at the greatly reduced price of about C$6,800 and over the years have acquired a low-key 'celebrity' status.

In Mexico, General Motors produced this generation in the Ramos Arizpe plant, and was sold during three years (1979 to 81). Mexican versions came in three trim levels (Chevelle, Malibu and Malibu Classic) and two body styles (Sedan & Coupe) with the 250 c.i. l-6 as basic engine and the 350 c.i. 260 hp (194 kW) V-8 as the optional; this engine was standard on Malibu Classic models, during the three years of selling. This was possible because the Mexican regulations about emissions were more flexible than in the U.S.A.

[edit] Engines

Year Model Available Engines
78 = 200 V6 (95 hp), 231 (3.8L) V6 (105 hp), 305 V8 (140 hp), 350 V8 (165 hp)
79 = 200 V6 (95 hp), 231 (3.8L) V6 (105 hp), 267 V8 (125 hp), 305 V8 (140 hp), 350 V8 (165 hp)
80 = 229 V6 (110 hp), 231 (3.8L) V6 (105 hp), 267 V8 (115 hp), 305 V8 (140 hp), 350 V8 (170 hp)
81 = 229 V6 (110 hp), 231 (3.8L) V6 (105 hp), 267 V8 (115 hp), 305 V8 (140 hp), 350 V8 (170 hp)
82 = 229 V6 (110 hp), 231 (3.8L) V6 (105 hp), 4.3L V6 Diesel (85 hp), 305 V8, 350 V8 Diesel (105 hp)
83 = 229 V6 (110 hp), 231 (3.8L) V6 (105 hp), 4.3L V6 Diesel (85 hp), 305 V8, 350 V8 Diesel (105 hp)

[edit] G platform

The 1982 Malibu, facelifted with more squared-off front styling marked by quad headlights with long, thin turn signals beneath them, shared GM's redesignated rear-wheel drive G platform with cars like the Pontiac Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Buick Regal. 1982 was the final year that a Malibu Classic was marketed; Malibus were produced as 4-door sedans (and station wagons, which retained the full options list as the new FWD A-body wagons that would not appear until 1984) until 1983 when it was replaced by the front-wheel drive Chevrolet Celebrity. Although the sedan and wagon were phased out, the El Camino remained in production until 1987.

[edit] Scale models

GM commissioned a 1/25 scale plastic promo of the El Camino from MPC, which was updated annually from 1978 to at least 1982, Kit versions of it were also made, and the tooling was later modified to an El Camino SS. Monogram also produced a '78 El Camino in their then-usual, slightly larger 1/24 scale, as well as a '79 police package sedan as a simplified 1/32 scale snap-together kit. Both have been reissued multiple times.

[edit] Fourth Generation 1997-2003

A new front-wheel drive Malibu was introduced in 1997 on an extended wheelbase version of the GM N platform shared with the Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Achieva, Oldsmobile Alero and Pontiac Grand Am. All N-body Malibus were produced at the Oklahoma City Assembly plant (after 2001 it was retooled to build the GMT360 SUVs) and the Wilmington Assembly plant (after 1999), before moving production to Lansing, Michigan. The Wilmington plant was retooled to build the Saturn L-Series in 1999. The 1997-99 Oldsmobile Cutlass was a clone of the Malibu that replaced the Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. The Malibu itself replaced the compact Chevrolet Corsica. Power came from a 2.4 L 150 hp (112 kW) I4 or 3.1 L 155 hp (116 kW) V6. The Malibu was Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year for 1997.

When a new Malibu was introduced on the Epsilon platform for 2004, the N-body Malibu was renamed Chevrolet Classic and remained in production for the 2004 and 2005 model years. The Classic was offered for fleet orders only.

The 3.1 L V6 was updated in 2000 with a new power rating of 170 hp (127 kW), and the 4-cylinder was dropped. A 4-cylinder was reintroduced in 2004 when the Ecotec was offered on the 2004-05 Classic.

[edit] Engines

[edit] Malibu Cruiser

The February 2002 issue of HCI: Hot Compact & Imports magazine featured the Chevrolet Malibu Cruiser concept that GM Performance Division built for the SEMA show in 2001. The car was painted Sublime Lime (BASF) and featured a highly-modified turbocharged 3500 SFI 60-degree V-6 (230 hp at 5,000 rpm and 280 ft·lbf (380 N·m) of torque at 2,900 rpm), a 4T65-E four speed transmission with overdrive, a set of 19x8-inch wheels by Evo wrapped in TOYO Proxes T1-S high-performance tires. Numerous interior modifications include a full length custom center console, four black leather Sparco racing seats, a KENWOOD entertainment center (radio, CD, DVD, TV, 10-disc changer and numerous amps and speakers). Other exterior modifications include custom HID headlamps (both low and hi beams) and custom "Altezza" style taillights, and a custom bodykit. Chevrolet never intended to build the Cruiser as a model you could buy from your local dealer (minus bodykit, lights, wheels and interior), but to show the younger people that purchased the car, or were looking to purchase the car, that one could modify the car to any flavour they wanted.

[edit] Fifth Generation 2004-2008

The Malibu name was moved to the new Epsilon platform based on the 2002 Opel Vectra C for 2004, but the previous car remained in production as the Chevrolet Classic for car rental and fleet use, which was discontinued in 2006. The Epsilon-based Malibu comes in two bodystyles, a standard 4-door sedan and a 5-door Malibu Maxx station wagon.

Base power comes from a 2.2 L Ecotec L61 I4 which produces 145 hp (108 kW). LS and LT trims originally had a 3.5 L 200 hp (149 kW) High Value LX9 V6 while both sedan and Maxx SS models are powered by the 3.9 L 240 hp (179 kW) High Value LZ9 V6. For 2007, the LX9 was replaced with the LZ4 V6, which in the Malibu produces 217 hp (162 kW). A remote starter is also available, which was introduced on several other GM vehicles for 2004.

This generation of Malibu remained available for fleet orders for the 2008 model year. GM refers to these models as the Malibu Classic. The cars themselves bear Malibu badges, unlike the 2004-05 Classic. The Malibu Maxx was discontinued for 2008.

The Malibu is manufactured at GM's Fairfax #2 factory in Kansas City, Kansas.

[edit] Engines

[edit] SS

A special SS trim was available on the Malibu and Malibu Maxx with the 3.9 L LZ9 V6.

[edit] Sixth Generation 2008-present

The Malibu is redesigned for the 2008 model year. It is built on a revised version of the long-wheelbase Epsilon platform shared with the Saturn Aura and Pontiac G6. It is assembled in Kansas City and also at Lake Orion, Michigan alongside the Pontiac G6.^[2] Overall it is three inches (76 mm) longer with a wheelbase that is six inches (152 mm) longer. Interior room remains mid-size like the previous Malibu's, and has been decreased from Template:Convert/cuft to Template:Convert/cuft despite having a longer wheelbase, although front legroom has increased from 41.9 in (1,064 mm) to 42.4 in (1,077 mm). Rear legroom has decreased from 38.5 in (978 mm) to 37.6 in (955 mm).^[3] The interior design has also been completely reworked, with a selection of two-tone color combinations(brick and tan two tone), telescoping steering wheel, higher-quality materials and a twin-cowl dash design reminiscent of classic Corvettes.

The 2008 Malibu offers a 169 hp (126 kW), 2.4 L inline-4 as the base engine, and a 252 hp (188 kW), 3.6 L V6 as an option. These engines have aluminum blocks and heads, dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, twin balance shafts, and variable valve timing. Like the 2007 model, the 2008 Malibu is available in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels, however the 4-cylinder engine will now be available on the LTZ, and on that trim level it is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The V6 models all come with a six-speed automatic, however the 4-cylinder LS and LT models continue to use a four-speed automatic.^[4] Like all front-wheel drive Malibus, there is no manual transmission offered in 2008 and Chevrolet will no longer offer the Malibu Maxx station wagon. A BAS mild hybrid, with the base inline-4 like the Saturn Aura Green Line, will be available offering an increased EPA fuel economy of 24/32 MPG.

Onstar is now standard on all Malibu models. Six air bags are also now standard: two dual-stage front bags, two side-impact curtain air bags protecting the heads of both front and rear passengers, and two side-impact thorax bags mounted in the front seats. Traction control, electronic tire pressure monitoring system, four wheel disc brakes, antilock brakes, and daytime running lamps are now all standard included safety features on all Malibus. And GM's StabiliTrak brand electronic stability control is standard on all models except the very base LS model.

The new model has won critical praise from newspapers, magazines and other media outlets, with the New York Times referring to it as being "like a super Accord, but from GM" and Car and Driver magazine declaring, "Camry, Beware." It also garnered high praise from MotorTrend magazine, being rated higher than the Honda Accord in the magazine's 2008 Car of The Year competition. Initial sales results have been positive with the Malibu joining the Cadillac CTS and Buick Enclave on a list of GM vehicles whose sales have exceeded production.

Additionally, in January 2008, the new Malibu received the prestigious North American Car of the Year Award at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in voting among a panel comprised of fifty prominent automotive journalists in a very competitive field of entries including the 2008 Cadillac CTS and the 2008 Honda Accord. The Malibu's win marks the second straight year that a car built on GM's Epsilon platform has won the North American COTY Award with the 2007 North American COTY Award having gone to the 2007 Saturn Aura.

[edit] References

1. ^ 2008 Chevrolet Malibu | New Chevy Sedans — Yahoo! Autos
2. ^ The Oakland Press: Business
3. ^ 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Specs - Specifications for Chevrolet Malibu - CarGurus
4. ^ 2008 Chevrolet Malibu - Auto Shows - Car and Driver December 2006

[edit] External links

• The official website of the Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx
• Automotive History Online Chevrolet Malibu history & photos
• Online Chevelle Malibu Information & Resource Portal
• Chevrolet Malibu Information Chevrolet Malibu Information
• CNN Money: Chevy Malibu Wins Car of the Year

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