2012 Holden Malibu revealed in leaked Chevrolet image

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By Brett Davis | April 15th, 2011

Chevrolet has ‘accidentally’ leaked images of the new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, a global car that will be unveiled at Auto Shanghai 2011 motor show next week. The car has also been confirmed to go on sale in Australia from 2012, rebadged as the Holden Malibu.

From the image we can see that the new car will be quite handsome, showcasing proportionate and consistent body contours and details without being boring. The front end is distinctively Chevrolet, with a large badge dominating the front fascia and a mesh-style chrome grille.

Underneath, the Chevrolet Malibu shares the Epsilon II platform with the Opel Insignia and the Buick Regal. Specific engine details are yet to be confirmed.

Inside, the Malibu will be kitted out with an interesting infotainment LCD screen that is mounted on a hinge, allowing the face to open up a 15cm-deep storage compartment.

Look out for our full coverage on Auto Shanghai 2011 unveiling for more information. The show starts on April 19.

Me

“…without being boring.”

I was going to disagree, but then I realised we are all entitled to our own opinion, no matter how very wrong it may be.

andronicus

Well said…but…..there comes a time and place for an overriding opinion to be made and that is where the beauty of internet comments forums come in…

This car promised so much with the interesting teaser of the rear brake lights but yet again GM fails to deliver on its potential with a boring, boring front end and conservatively styled Epica mark II.

Am a bit of a fan of the hinged LCD screen for extra storage space but thats about where the praise runs out. Hell, even look at those AC vents, i am falling asleep as i type….

Wd

Is the hinged 15cm compartment somewhere for American’s to secretly stash their revolvers?

Ima Hogg

I hate it. I hope it is better in the flesh
Chili Dog

Why is there an Atari Lynx stuck in the dash?

andronicus

How does this comment get any thumbs down!!!??

Well done on the obscure 80′s gaming reference.

Rob

Yes the atari lynx dash influence is obvious as is the mid 90s air vent motif and a watered down Opel insignia exterior….I don’t know why these American styles sedans are released he when the European counterpart exteriors and interiors are years ahead. Fair enough they need to cut costs but can’t they just use the same slick, current contemporary designs that opal use and just build them locally….I don’t understand…what ‘global’ market are they catering for?

andronicus

Holden doesnt need to try when they know they can badge anything with the lion and a vast majority of the AU public will purchase it.

Scott

Not sure how real the pic is, there’s 4 different reflections in the paint….

Road Warrior

I think you will find its a CGI.

Oosh

I wonder if the front-end will be Commodor-o-fied link the Cruze has? We can only hope.
Doctor

Football, meat pies, kangaroos and …….
Mark

Epica Part II but with a worse name.
Clint W

WOW it has a LCD screen on hinges, Im sure it will be another unreliable overseas GM product….
Richo

Are all the Holden haters finnished so we can actually have some realistic discussion on the article? k thanks cheers

Sumpguard

What he said. I like it.

Richo

This is a very important car for Holden, Epica was supposed to go head to head with Camry on sales, and it was a failure. The car itself wasn’t as terrible as people make out, but it was also a long way from class leading.

Importantly for Holden the Chevy Malibu has gone head to head with Camry for years and years in the US and the record is very strong, the Malibu was just about the only decent product the US arm of GM has sold in the last 5 years, Holden will be very keen to see that success translate to Australia that is for sure.

The good news is that its nothing to do with Daewoo, so the Holden haters immediately loose 98% of their boring, predictable old arguments, its potentially quite a good looking car (judgement reserved untill I see it in the flesh) so all the ingrediants are there for success, including ofcourse that Holden badge which many aussie families find familiar
http://Tesla Onepoppa

The problem of an essentially American car which they want to sell world wide is that it is unlikely to offer a diesel. Cruze gets one because they hope to sell significant numbers in Europe and without a diesel this would not be possible. But this car is larger and therefore more of a niche product in Europe, so it may just use the American mechanics which won’t include an oil burner.

If that is the case Ford Australia will get some joy out of the Mondeo, whuich is finally starting to sell.

matt

american diesels…. *cough* jeep/chrysler/dodge…. they do happen..

john

It’s just the North American version of the Opel Insignia.

Where is it going to be made ? I suspect China.

Richo

It uses the same platform as the Opel Insignia, but it is NOT the same car, for example, the Lamborghini Gallardo and Audi R8 both share the same platform, but I doubt anyone is going to try and argue that they are the same car.

And it will be built in the US.

Shak

And also initially China, there are also rumours that Oshawa in Canada will start production next year, but they are just rumours.

http://Tesla Onepoppa

The Insignia is already produced in the USA, with some changes particularly in the front end, as the Buick Regal.
Golfschwein

Good proportions.
vinnieboiblue

I think you all forget, this is not the American completely. Each market has details for that specific market. I would wait til the final product hits our shores before making judgment. Also remember this segment is filled with boring cars to begin with. Hyundai, took Camry’s design an gave it more flair. So til we see what America’s Malibu looks like I am just waiting to make my comment on it.
MB

I quite like the current Malibu, stylewise, for a Chevrolet. This looks a bit much like an overstuffed Cruze for my liking. Also, if I can find a bookie to take the bet, I\’ll back any 3 year old against that flip-up screen.

Jonty

A 3 year old in the front seat…wow.

kris

I can see a Holden badge there!
Andrew M

Lets hope the Holden version doesnt get red backlight and keeps the calmer green/blue
azza85

So it\’s going to be made in the US, won\’t that mean Holden will have to jack up the price? This isn\’t a Daewoo rebadge after all.
Patrick

If it looks half as good on the road as it does in this picture then Holden is onto another winner !

By this time next year we will have the all-new Barina, Cruze hatch, Malibu, and Colorado, plus a full size SUV off the Colorado platform and the Volt EV are in the wings, when anybodys guess…
rentakeyboard

Im sure i read somewhere that this car goes into production alongside Buick Lacrosse (Daewoo Alpeon)
in Korea in Sep this year!!!!.
I would think the fact that this will gain a Cruze/Cdore like grille for Oz is a given.
Smoothcall

Why? Have you seen the USD recently? Seen the price of cars in the US recently?
Mark

I’m not so sure that Volt EV will be introducing to our maket next year, it dosenot sell that good in US home market.
And in Asian Pacific area, Malibu will have two initial production facilities one in S.Korea GM
Daewoo factory, and another one is in SAIC GM (Shanghai Auto Industy Coporation). The production in shanghai will only service Chinses domestic market, but still uncertain in this stage whether Malibu gonna carry a Buick or Chevy Badge for Chinese maket( main reason is in chinese customer love Buick since it’s the first GM car in china). But for Aus, it’s definitely gonna be a import from Korea with a Holden name on it.
In Australia, Malibu is focusing the market between Cruze and Commo, direct comeption is the road leader Toyota Camry. I have strong feeling that Holden will introducing us a very good price , since our dollar value is very strong against all the major currencies, and korean made Holden are slowly gaining maket’s welcome. Afterall , in these days , it’s really hard for a car company to build a bad car, for Australian , car price is the key to success , see how Great wall’s last year results and you will say VW and other overpriced car here , wake up.
Goodfa

If it is priced right and is not a gutless slug like the petrol Cruze it will be a success.
Eloeu

Holden has probably forgot that Toyota will make a new Camry..
The current Camry is having its 5th birthday and still sells like hot cakes..

I want to see how well this will sell after 5yrs with the same model..
LN

The front end reminds me of the Cruze a lot.

Plus, if the marketing people at Holden are that smart, I doubt they would have the name Malibu next that Holden name…

You cant imagine an Aussie bloke saying “Yeah I drive a Malibu mate.”

Ford

You cant imagein Aussie blokes buying the Daewoo’s that Holden offers but they still do.

matt

yes ford, just like the kia festiva was the best seller in its class in the day….

Octavian

Why can’t Holden, or even Ford Australia for that matter, design more BMW or Audi-like cars, this sucks.

Chubba

BMW sucks, Mercedez rules!

Pauly

It’s not bad, however if it ends up being produced in Koria for the Australian market, I can already see all the car reviews comparing the:

- Kia Optima
- Hyundai i45
- Holden Malibu

Out of those, The Kia in my mind is the better buy. However I will leave judgement until we get Aussie details (maybe at the Melbourne Motorshow?)
Pauly

Holden are going to be on a run though and I can see next years Sydney Motorshow being quite full.

- Holden Malibu
- Holden Volt
- Holden Cruze hatch (November this year… But it’s close enough to 2012)
- Holden Collorado
- Fresh rumors for the VF Commodore too?
RickyC

The front looks very similar to the existing Malibu that’s been around since 2008…

http://caradvice bluey of toorak

Have you seen any BMW or MB lately? Why is it that only these marques are allowed to evolve a look over many years and models without the constant ‘it looks similar to ….’

Ryan

The new name is crap but the car itself looks promising. The current rebadged Daewoo Tosca is a hopeless mess of old tech, rubbish power trains (the diesel only slightly better) and an interior that has more plastic than Howards Storage World.

I’m hopeful the replacement car will be better in terms of quality, comfort and tech but unless they change the name for the local market, I don’t think it’ll be a big sales success.
Mark

I drove one in the US recently and was pleasantly surprised. Had plenty of room, nimble and had enough power for the job. Build quality was pretty good too. At the time I thought it would make a good car for that ‘middle ground’ in the Australian market (ie bigger than a Corolla but cheaper than a Commodore/Falcon)