Detroit Auto Show: All-New 2004 Malibu: A Fresh Look at Mid-Size Cars

January 7, 2003

DETROIT - The all-new 2004 Chevrolet Malibu features dynamic styling and well-appointed features that will set it apart from the current pack of mid-size sedans, giving Chevy a strong new entry in the fiercely competitive mid-size segment.

"The 2004 Malibu is a fun, versatile mid-size sedan that adapts to an individual's personal needs," said Ed Schoener, Malibu marketing director. "Its styling is expressive and it has great ride and handling thanks to GM's 'Epsilon' global architecture. Malibu will be an affordable, formidable competitor in mid-size cars, the largest single passenger-car segment in the U.S."

The all-new 2004 Malibu sedan will be available in three trim levels - standard, LS and LT - offering buyers more choices. It will be manufactured at General Motors' Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas. Start of production is targeted for the third quarter of 2003.

Personalized fit Malibu has the ability to adapt to individual driver comfort and needs. The personalized fit package allows drivers of all sizes to tailor the position of the seat, steering wheel and pedals to their exact comfort.

Power driver seat height adjuster, tilt/telescopic steering wheel and adjustable brake and accelerator pedals can be adjusted to fit varying needs. No other mid-size sedan offers all these features together.

A segment-first factory-installed remote vehicle-start package allows the driver to start the car from inside the house on cold winter mornings or sweltering summer afternoons. The system is targeted to work from approximately 200 feet.

An enduring design Malibu's styling is expressive. Up front, the contemporary look is distinctively Chevrolet with the chrome front bar and gold bowtie. Along the sides there are unique feature lines above the wheels, and badging has been eliminated for a clean, sleek appearance.

The Malibu has a substantial profile with a wider stance, shorter overhangs and jeweled lighting that adds to its casual elegance. Malibu is the first passenger car in the Chevrolet lineup to bear Chevy's new, next-generation family-look.

The new Malibu is more spacious on the inside with 101 cubic feet of interior space. The interior environment is warm and inviting with attention to detail and overall quality.

A soft, durable Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO) material that resists fading and sun damage is used on the instrument panel, door trim and console armrest. Leather seats with long-lasting Ultra Lux inserts and heated seats are available.

A fold-flat front passenger seat and a fold-down 60/40-rear seat allow the interior to be tailored to fit varying needs.

Structural stiffness The Malibu represents the first North American application of GM's "Epsilon" global architecture - the foundation for the new Opel Vectra and Saab 9-3. The main characteristics of the Epsilon architecture accounts, in part, for the European flair in Malibu's ride and handling.

The Epsilon body structure gives Malibu a high degree of structural stiffness, greatly enhancing both vehicle handling and interior acoustics. In fact, Malibu's rigid body structure, at 27 Hz, is on par with most luxury cars. A four-point isolated front cradle with tuned bushings - also usually found only on high-end luxury vehicles - and an independent front and rear suspension further contribute to Malibu's sure handling and quiet ride. Rounding out the package is an independent front suspension with McPherson struts and a four-link independent rear suspension.

"Part of the beauty of the Epsilon architecture is that it's flexible enough to be 'tuned' to various models and markets," said Gene Stefanyshyn, mid-size vehicle line executive. "For the Malibu, we were able to work within that flexibility to come up with a chassis tuned for American roads that also delivers the kind of stringent performance, durability and refinement objectives more often associated with European and Japanese cars."

The vibration-reducing properties of the Epsilon architecture itself provide Malibu with superb acoustical characteristics for a quiet interior. Noise-elimination features include a cast foam-rubber barrier covering the dash panel, a modular noise-dampening plate in the dash panel, a compression-molded fiberglass-composite hood insulator, and front and rear "glove-fit" carpet floor modules typically found only on luxury cars.

All Malibu models will be equipped with the electric variable-assist power steering that increases its nimbleness and excellent on-center feel.

Two powertrains The standard engine will be the Ecotec 2.2-liter, dual-overhead-cam (DOHC) four-cylinder engine that produces an impressive 140 horsepower and 150 lbs.-ft. of torque and delivers the best fuel economy in the class.

For enhanced performance, a new 3500 V-6 is available. The V-6 produces 200 horsepower and 210 lbs.-ft. of torque. The new 3500 V-6 engine brings a host of refinements aimed at achieving enhanced quality, reliability, dependability and outstanding low-emissions performance.

Both engines are mated to a four-speed electronically controlled automatic overdrive transmission (Hydra-Matic 4T45-E). The transmission's gears and bearings have been upgraded for higher speed and higher torque capacity.

Comprehensive safety package The 2004 Malibu sedan is designed to be among the safest mid-size passenger cars on the market. It is designed to achieve frontal and side impact ratings that are among the best of any cars in the mid-size segment.

The Malibu sedan provides passengers with segment-leading side impact protection. The vehicle is strengthened by the use of high-strength, dual-phase steel in strategic areas that improves structural integrity and provides excellent impact protection. For example, the rocker is reinforced with high-strength, dual-phase steel inner and steel outer welded together to form a rigid beam.

For occupant protection, the Malibu has dual-stage air bags and is equipped with the first passenger car application of a capacitance-based Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to suppress air-bag deployment if a child or small adult (5th percentile female) is in the front passenger seat. Even with PODS, children should continue to ride restrained in the rear seat.

Three-point safety belts for all occupants are standard equipment. The safety belts have load-limiting retractors with pretensioners for both the driver and front seat passenger. A LATCH (Lower Anchors & Tethers for CHildren) child seat attachment system in all three rear-seat positions is also standard.

Optional side roof air bags add to the comprehensive safety package. The air bags act like a protective curtain when deployed, unfolding from the roof rail between the A-pillar and rear window header.