Vehicle Profile: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Lineup

Redesigned Malibu offers class-leading safety and fuel efficiency

The Chevy Malibu, one of America’s best-selling sedans, has always had a special place in our heart. For 2013 the Chevrolet Malibu is back, and shows off a fully redesign model that is focused on advanced technology, sophisticated looks, outstanding ride performance and class-leading safety and fuel efficiency. MSRP for the 2013 Malibu is $22,390.

Trims and Options

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu will be available in three trims: LS, LT and LTZ trims.

On top of these trims, for 2013 Chevrolet will also introduce the Malibu Eco model, which features a wider track and a shorter wheelbase.

The Malibu Eco features eAssist™ light electrification technology , which equips the vehicle with an onboard air-cooled lithium-ion battery and 15-kilowatt motor-generator that optimizes engine efficiency and boosts fuel economy.

One great feature of the eAssist system is that it equips your 2013 Malibu Eco with regenerative braking (which charges the battery by using electricity generated by braking). The eAssist system also powers the Malibu to receive up to 15 hp of electric power assistance during heavy acceleration; fuel cut-off during certain types of deceleration; automatic engine start/stop technology, and the ability to use electricity instead of gasoline to maintain power when stopped at traffic lights and similar situations.

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco sports one of the best fuel economies of all the non-hybrid midsize sedans, pushing an EPA estimated 25 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. The Malibu Eco powertrain also includes a direct-injected, 2.4-liter Ecotec inline four-cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) that is able to provide the vehicle with a total output of 182 hp and 172 lb/ft of torque.  All 2013 Malibu Eco models will come standard equipped with a next-generation six-speed automatic transmission specially designed and optimized for seamless operation with eAssist.

All other 2013 Malibu trims will come standard with a 2.5-liter direct-injected Ecotec inline four-cylinder with VVT, able to produce 197 hp and 191 lb/ft of torque though a next-generation six-speed automatic transmission. This powerful combination also delivers excellent fuel efficiency for the Malibu, pushing EPA-estimated figures of 22 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.

Want more power? No problem,  for 2013, Chevrolet will offer its first-ever turbocharged engine on a Malibu in the form of an all-new 2.0-liter Ecotec four-cylinder capable of generating an insane 259 hp and 260 lb/ft of torque. The turbo engine will be available for LT and LTZ trims.

Features

To match its strong drivetrain options, the 2013 Malibu was engineered to have best-in-class handling performance on par with pricier European sport sedans. With a stiff body structure, independent front and rear suspension, precise electric rack-and-pinion steering, four-channel antilock brakes with ventilated front disc rotors and dual piston front brakes, Traction Control and Electronic Stability Control, the 2013 Malibu is an absolute thrill on winding country roads.

The all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu will also offer Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system. This system will equipt your Malibu with voice recognition and online services like Pandora Internet Radio and Stitcher SmartRadio, along with Bluetooth streaming audio and Gracenote playlists and album art. Standard hands-free phone via Bluetooth works with compatible smartphones. Chevrolet’ s MyLink infotainment system also offers high-resolution display, and it controls your Malibu’s stereo, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, CD and MP3 functions.

Exterior

Take one look at the 2013 Chevy Malibu and you will notice some semblance to Chevy’s  Camaro and Corvette. The 2013 Malibu was redesigned to feature a new sleeker and more muscular appearance/ It features a bold dual-port grille, Camaro-inspired dual-element tail lamps (LED standard on LTZ), chrome-tipped dual exhaust, 18-inch alloy wheels, broader shoulders, a wider stance and an integrated rear spoiler.

Not only is the Malibu exterior sporty, it’s also very aerodynamic. The redesigned exterior is able to cut through the wind at 0.29 coefficient of drag (Cd), one of the most aerodynamically efficient profiles in its segment. The Malibu Eco also features electronically controlled aero shutters through the lower grille opening that close to improve aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. All of these aerodynamic enhancements also help provide a much quieter cabin as it reduces interior wind noise, especially at freeway speeds.

Interior

The all-new 2013 Malibu offers all occupants more interior space, high-quality materials, advanced technologies and European-influenced ride and handling traits. It features a spacious 16.3 cubic foot trunk and adds nearly four additional cubic feet of interior volume from its predecessors. The 2013 Malibu dual-cockpit design opens up shoulder and hip room to make even the longest road trips more comfortable.

Tasteful chrome accents and wood trim, available leather upholstery, heated front seats and French contrast stitching and ice blue illumination at night give the Malibu a refined and sophisticated feel usually reserved for much more expensive luxury sedans. Clever interior innovations abound in the 2013 Malibu, including a seven-inch touch-screen radio display face that articulates up and down to uncover a six-inch deep storage space (Eco, LT and LTZ models).

Safety

On top of all the incredible features mentioned above, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is also an extremely safe vehicle. In fact, the 2013 Malibu Eco is the first all-new 2013 midsize car to receive dual honors for safety with a “5-Star Overall Vehicle Score” from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the prestigious 2012 “Top Safety Pick” from the Insurance institute for Highway Safety.

Conclusion

The 2013 redesigned Chevrolet Malibu completely blows previous Malibu models out of the water. It offers a fantastic combination of a powerful look, an upscale interior and it is loaded with technology and safety features. With a redesign as good as this we can bet on one thing: the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is sure to find its way into many American garages.

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Chevrolet Test Track to open at Walt Disney World Dec. 6

Redesigned ride replaces GM Test Track attraction

Boy I absolutely love theme parks!

I have to say that after years of being a theme park geek, I can finally admit that I am, and have always been, “that guy” at the adventure park.

So who exactly is “that guy”? You know the one: It is the first person into the park and the last person out, the guy who needs to get a million souvenirs and try all the food places available. The guy who must ride every single ride in the park (yes, even the kiddie ones) just because he doesn’t want to waste any possibility of fun available to him, and the guy who will not hesitate to jump in the water park, despite several hygiene warnings from family and friends alike. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, as much as I hate to admit it, I am “that guy”.

However, just like there are people like myself who can’t get enough of what a theme park has to offer, there are people who absolutely loathe them, and if you were at least a car fan in Disney World, GM had you covered.

Since 1999, car nuts stranded at Walt Disney World knew they could find relief from the Small Worlds and Magic Kingdoms at Epcot's GM Test Track. Sadly for those people however, the sanctuary protecting them from magical happy people disappeared when the ride was shut down this past April.

Fortunately, GM and Disney have revealed that the attraction is making a grand comeback, and that a team of GM designers and Disney Imagineers (Imagination + Engineer, you get the idea) have been laboring to redesign and rebuild the ride as the new Chevrolet Test Track. The new and improved Chevrolet Test Track is set to open on December 6^th.

As you could have guessed by the name change, the new Test Track will focus exclusively on Chevrolet vehicles.

Under the new concept, ride goers will be able to create their own virtual concept car that will then come along for the ride. Users can customize and tweak their concept car as they wish by choosing between 4 different performance attributes to give specific strengths to the vehicle: capability, efficiency, responsiveness and speed.

After designing a rough version your own vehicle, the use of special software and a little “Disney magic” fills in the gaps and turn your design into a brand new Chevrolet concept car.

Fans of the original GM Test Track will be happy to find out that the ride remains mostly unchanged, taking guests up to speeds of 65 mph. The scenery, however, has received a substantial makeover, upgrading their old ‘Crash Dummy’ style carts to vehicles decorated with fluorescent paint and a prominent Chevy logo. The ride will also feature glowing panels around the track, giving it a futuristic, virtual-reality feel.

Once the track portion ends, guests will see how their virtual car performed in a series of equally virtual tests that occurred during the ride. Attendees can pit their concepts against each other on video game-like simulation tables and create digital advertisements for their fantasy rides.

Those curious about the revamped attraction or eager to try their hand as a car designer will have to wait until the Chevrolet Test Track grand reopening on Dec. 6. Details can be found at the Walt Disney World Web site (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/attractions/test-track/)

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Production Chevrolet Spark EV to debut in LA

It's been a little over a year since General Motors announce that an all-electric version of the Chevrolet Spark would be heading to the United States. Fast forward to present time and GM has given confirmation that EV version of the Chevy Spark will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this month.

When speaking of the EV Spark, Chevrolet officials said the car "will offer consumers the same package that has made the gasoline-powered model so popular while delivering the technology and performance of pure electric power."

Chevrolet says the Spark EV has an oil-cooled electric motor that is able to produce 130 horsepower, an astonishing increase from the 84 horsepower produced by the gas-powered version. The Spark EV will also see its torque skyrocket to 400 pound-feet, which is more than a Porsche 911, and which according to Chevrolet, will help the car go from zero to 60 in less than eight seconds.

The Spark EV’s increase in power comes from a 20-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, which will be covered by an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty, and is produced by A123 Systems.

Although Chevy didn’t say much about the Spark EVs range, it did say it would be among the best in its class, rivaling competitors such as the Fiat 500 EV, Mitsubishi i, and Scion iQ EV.

Spark EV owners can expect to charge their battery up to 80% capacity in about 20 minutes by using DC fast charging. The Spark EV can be fully charged in less than seven hours by using a 240-volt outlet, and it uses a standard 120-volt charge cord as standard equipment.

One awesome feature for Spark Ev owners is that you Spark owners will be able to track the car's charging via a smartphone app that works in conjunction with OnStar.

Chevy announced that the new Spark EV will be available for sale or lease in California next summer (summer 2013), with Chevrolet to announce other U.S. markets in the near future.

Also at the Los Angeles Auto Show GM will be showing off an updated version of the Chevrolet MyLink system that will offer higher levels of personalization and improved smartphone integration. The refreshed MyLink system will debut in the 2014 Impala.

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HotWheels and GM Announce Special Edition Camaro

Hot Wheels fans take note, as we have some news for you that will make it cool to bring back your inner child.

General Motors Co. and California-based Mattel Inc.'s Hot Wheels brand have teamed up to create the Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Special Edition, making this the first time that the iconic toy brand has worked with a manufacturer to design and make a working production model.

Chevy’s limited-edition Hot Wheels Camaro has a wide, muscular stance and comes equipped with an exclusive kinetic blue metallic exterior that is accented by the red Hot Wheels flame logo on the front quarter panels and embroidered on the front leather seats.

The special edition Camaro is available as either a coupe or convertible, with your choice between the 2LT (V-6 engine) and 2SS (V-8 engine) trims. The Hot Wheels logo also will be adorned on the front grille, rear deck and on the sill plates in the doors.

The red Hot Wheels flame logo will adorn the full-size version's trunk lid, along with a ghosted flame, inspired by the Hot Wheels logo, which is painted on both the Camaro's rear panels.

The 21-inch wheels of the Hot Wheels Camaro also have the same red stripe that has been a hallmark of the toy car since it first hit retail shelves in 1968.

The Hot Wheels Camaro will retail for about $37,000-$44,000, depending on whether you opt for the six-cylinder engine or the eight-cylinder engine.

The Camaro was one of the first 16 toy vehicles produced by Hot Wheels in 1968. The special edition Camaro has been announce to debut at next week’s 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Hot Wheels also announce that it is planning to produce a replica toy car of the production Hot Wheels Camaro.

The special Hot Wheels Camaro, which has the exterior look of the Camaro ZL1, is slated for production from January to June 2013. Chevy dealers will begin taking orders Nov. 1 and it will be available to buyers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Europe and the Middle East.

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New 2014 Chevrolet Corvette to Debut at Jan. 13 Detroit Auto Show

Chevrolet has made an announcement that will make Corvette fans happy with excitement: Its redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Corvette will debut January 13 during press preview days for the Detroit auto show.

This past Thursday, Chevrolet released an image of the sports car's redesigned Crossed Flags emblem to create buzz for the new Corvette. The new emblem is “much more modern, more technical and more detailed than before” said General Motors design chief, Ed Welburn, in a statement.

General Motors release of the Corvette's new Crossed Flags emblem is the start of a multimedia campaign by Chevrolet, set to generate buzz leading up to the new Corvette’s debut. Chevrolet also launched a dedicated Web site, www.one13thirteen.com, where it will release specific details on the car, as they become available.

Chevy also is releasing information through its social media channels.  It has a Facebook page, www.facebook.com/corvette, as well as a stream on their Twitter account, @Chevrolet, with the hashtag #corvette. Chevy says people who follow the Twitter hashtag #one13thirteen will receive exclusive updates on the redesigned Corvette.

Also on Thursday, GM announced that, starting in February, it will stop Corvette production for six months; in order for them to perform a $131 million upgrade to their assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky. o build the new car. Expect to see production of the 2014 Corvette starting in August or September.

What to Expect?

Details on the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette have been few, however expect the redesigned 2014 Corvette to be slightly shorter and much lighter than the model. Expect the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette to be equipped with an upgraded, more comfortable interior. Only two features from the 2013 model will carry over for 2014, the vehicle’s cabin air filter and the rear latch for the removable roof panel.

One important addition to the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette, known as the C7, is that it will come equipped with a new engine that makes it General Motor’s fifth generation of its small block V8 engine. The new V8 engine was specially designed for the Corvette but GM has revealed plans to also use them in GM's redesigned full-size pickups and SUVs, which are also set to debut at the Detroit auto show. GM has said it will announce specific details on the new small block V8 on October 24. We will keep you posted as details come out!

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2013 Chevrolet Tahoe Vehicle Preview

Introduction

With the rise in demand for smaller cars, full-size SUVs are becoming a rare sight in showrooms. On top of rising costs at the pump, many car buyers are better served by more space- and fuel-efficient crossovers.

However, for those of you that need towing capabilities and a powerful off-roading vehicle, the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe makes perfect sense.

A smaller sibling to the massive Suburban, the Tahoe manages to combine power with comfort, making it perfect for those who take long road trips with their boat/trailer/etc in tow. However, even in every day use, the Tahoe offers a pleasant and comfortable ride, offering drivers a high seating position, excellent outward visibility and a quiet cabin. The 2013 Tahoe can seat up to nine passengers.

What's New for 2013

The Chevy monster SUV, The Chevrolet Tahoe, is back for 2013. Expect the Tahoe to remain mostly unchanged from the previous model year.

Under the Hood

All 2013 Chevrolet Tahoes come standard equipped with a 5.3-liter V8, capable of generating 320 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque, and that comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that transmits power through the rear wheels on 2WD models or all four wheels on 4WD models.

Those who opt to buy the 4WD Tahoe will be able to chose from either a traditional two-speed transfer case or a single-speed unit without low-range gearing (not available on LTZ).

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe is available in three trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ.

The standard seating configuration on the 2013 Tahoe seats 8 however there are two other available seating arrangements: a second-row captain's chairs drop the seating count to seven and an available 40/20/40 front bench seat increases it to nine.

The base Tahoe LS comes standard with tri-zone manual climate control, six-way power front seats with lumbar adjustment on the driver’s seat, 17-inch alloy wheels, a 60/40-split second-row seat and 50/50-split removable third-row seat. Other standard features include Bluetooth, OnStar, satellite radio,, a CD player with a six-speaker sound system with, rear audio controls, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio connectivity. The LS model also offers an optional Convenience package which adds on remote ignition, power-adjustable pedals, a rear view camera and rear parking assist.

Those who opt for the LT model will get  most of the above features as well as fog lamps, driver memory functions, tri-zone automatic climate control, a locking rear differential, leather upholstery and a nine-speaker Bose sound system. The LT trim also has a few available options such as a second-row captain's chairs and a Luxury package with heated front and second-row seats, power-folding mirrors and a power rear liftgate. If you want to take this bad boy to the extreme, the LT trim also offers an optional Z71 Off-Road package which adds unique front and rear fascias, specially tuned springs and shocks, skid plates and 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires.

For the 2013 model the LTZ Chevy Tahoe will include the LT Luxury package as standard equipment. Going even further the LTZ model will add an upgraded air suspension, 20-inch wheels, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated 12-way power front seats, power flip-and-fold second-row seats, a navigation system and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with digital music storage. The second-row split bench seat is still optional. LTZ options include power-retractable assist steps and a blind-spot warning system.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Turbo

Who knew sedans could be so much fun?

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu already offers two impressive new powertrains, a 2.5-liter Ecotec I4 and a proven 2.4-liter unit mated with eAssist technology. However Chevy released news that the 2013 Chevy Malibu is now introducing a third powertrain in the form of a turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 able to produce a whopping 259 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. Expect the new 2013 Malibu Turbo to be released in the near future with a starting MSRP of $27,710.

The new 2013 Malibu Turbo is based on the mid-range Malibu LT and it includes great standard features such as new, bigger 18-inch aluminum wheels.  

Inside the 2013 Malibu Turbo the cabin has been upgraded. The interior now offers ice-blue ambient lighting and is now equipped with a dual-zone automatic climate-control system, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat , an enhanced tilt/telescoping steering wheel with integrated audio/cruise controls, remote start, and Chevy’s  MyLink media setup.

Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system  USB Connectivity, Bluetooth technology and a seven-inch color touchscreen.

If the above features aren’t enough, Chevrolet allows 2013 Malibu Turbo drivers to pair the Turbo’s power with a more premium package in the form of the LTZ trim, which adds on a set of LED taillamps and leather-appointed seats with a heated front row. The LTZ trim of the 2013 Chevy Malibu Turbo will go for about $30,925.

Now it’s time to talk about the good stuff, the stuff you want to read, the TURBO!

The 2013 Malibu Turbo comes mated standard to a six-speed automatic transmission, and it delivers masterful performance not just on the road, but on the gas pump as well!

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Turbo can power up from 0-60MPH in just 6.3 seconds, and can reach a top speed of 155 mph.

To top it off the 2013 Malibu Turbo is able to achieve EPA marks of 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway, thanks to different powertrain technologies like an air-to-air intercooler, direct injection, twin-scroll turbocharger, an aluminum cylinder head and aluminum pistons and more.

When asked about the new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Turbo, Mark Meyers, GM’s global vehicle performance manager said: “The all-new turbocharged engine showcases just how capable the new Malibu is, and the turbocharged Malibu is perfect for customers who want a midsize sedan that is fun to drive under a wide range of real-world conditions.”

Conclusion

Well folks, in my opinion, Mr. Meyers hit the nail right on the head. The new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Turbo is going to completely change the way we look at the Malibu. No longer will the Malibu be looked at as boring, it is now a sedan for those that want to enjoy a classy sedan, loads of features and, last but not least, the road.

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