2012 Holden Malibu on sale in Australia late next year

The all-new 2012 Holden Malibu mid-sized sedan has been previewed in the form of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu at both the 2011 New York International Auto Show and Auto Shanghai 2011.

Holden executive director of sales, marketing and aftersales, John Elsworth, today confirmed the Holden Malibu would go on sale in Australia “late next year”, filling the gap between the locally manufactured Cruze and Commodore.

General Motors says the Malibu will be powered by a range of “fuel efficient and powerful” four-cylinder engines.

Among those will be a brand new 2.5-litre direct injection petrol unit with 141kW of power and 245Nm of torque. The engine will be mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that has been tuned to enhance powertrain efficiency.

GM engineers say they benchmarked the Malibu’s ride and handling against more expensive sports cars in their attempt to make it smooth, precise and dynamic on country roads and freeways all around the world.

It will feature MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, as well as ventilated front disc brakes with dual piston aluminium calipers, which GM says should make it the segment leader in stopping distance.

Chassis control safety technology includes ABS, traction control, ESC, EBD, brake assist, corner brake control, hydraulic brake fade assist and drag torque control.

Other standard safety features in North America will include dual front, side, knee and roof rail airbags with rollover protection. Optional features include second-row side airbags (taking the maximum number to 10), lane departure warning with forward collision alert and a rear-view camera.

US customers will have four interior colours to choose from, while the insert materials on the centre console, doors and steering wheel can also be personalised in either chrome, metal or wood. Soft-touch surfaces and ice blue ambient lighting promise to create a high quality cabin feel.

The seven-inch colour touchscreen will incorporate Bluetooth wireless audio streaming as well as a range of other functions controlled by the MyLink infotainment system. Behind the screen is a 15cm bin to store phones and other wireless devices.

The new Malibu has a wider stance than the outgoing model, sporting broader shoulders and a shorter wheelbase for a significantly more aggressive appearance. LED taillights and alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 19 inches add to the Camaro-inspired exterior package.

Production of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu will begin early next year. More details of the 2012 Holden Malibu will be revealed closer to the vehicle’s launch.

Volt named Car of the Year

Ahead of its Australian launch as the Holden Volt in 2012, the Chevrolet Volt has been named 2011 Car of the Year by esteemed US motoring publications Motor Trend and AUTOMOBILE.

Holden’s Energy and Environment Director Richard Marshall said the accolades reinforced that Volt would have a significant impact when launched in Australia.

“We committed in 2008 to bring Volt to Australia, recognising then, that this vehicle represented game-changing technology for the auto industry,” Mr Marshall said.

“When it arrives locally, Volt will make driving more economical, better for the environment and will change the way we think about alternative transport solutions.”

The editors of AUTOMOBILE praised Volt, saying it was: “the most sophisticated, most important vehicle on the road today”, while Motor Trend said: “[Volt] is a fully functional, no-compromise compact automobile that offers consumers real benefits in terms of lower running costs.”

Many of these benefits are due to the Volt’s groundbreaking propulsion system. As the world’s first electric vehicle with extended range capability, the Chevrolet Volt has a total driving range of about 550 kilometres depending on driving style and conditions.

For the first 40 to 80 kilometres, the Volt drives on electric-only power using electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the battery runs low, a petrol powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range more than 480 kilometres on a full tank.

GM estimates that compared to similar sized petrol-powered vehicles, Volt will save motorists up to 1892 litres of fuel a year. This is based on US research that identifies 75 per cent of commuters travel an average daily distance of fewer than 64 kilometres.

GM also calculates that charging the vehicle at night through a standard power outlet will use less electricity annually than an average household refrigerator.

Mr Marshall said Volt would be an integral part of Holden’s Ecoline range of vehicles - which offered consumers a range of affordable, efficient and alternative fuel solutions to tackle rising fuel costs and Australia’s dependence on foreign oil.

“Holden is committed to developing sustainable and cost-saving transport solutions,” he said.

“These two internationally significant awards further highlight the benefits of Volt and we’re excited to be working on the up-coming Australian launch of this important vehicle.”