Being one of the most important models Chevrolet has made, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu debuted at the New York Auto Show in the States and the Shanghai Auto Show in China. Well, now it’s time for the European market version to be revealed.
GM will offer the 2013 Malibu in nearly 100 countries across the world and will build it in multiple places, including China. In order to better suit the needs and tastes of customers, the Malibu will come with specific powertrain options in each continent.
If you don’t know already, in U.S., the Malibu will be offered with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline unit matched to a six-speed auto and an electric motor-generator, with a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine to be added to the range in the summer of 2012. A more powerful V6 is also said to be in the cards.
Overseas, in Europe, the mid-size model will come with a base 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline unit that generates 164 horsepower and 2.4-liter turbocharged diesel engine with 169 horsepower. Power will be delivered to the front wheels through a manual gearbox or an automatic.
Considering that consumers on the Old Continent rarely buy big naturally aspirated four-pots or diesels of that displacement outside the entry level crossover market, we’re not really sure these were the best options, as.
As for the safety side, the 2013 Malibu comes standard with 8 airbags, dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags, driver and front-passenger pelvic/thorax side-impact airbags as well as roof rail-airbags with rollover protection.
In Europe, Chevrolet’s newcomer will be the firm’s flagship saloon model when sales start next year. Pricing for the European spec 2013 Chevrolet Malibu was not announced yet, but rumor say that it will be priced around $35,000.
Source: Autoevolution
