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The 'Chevrolet Malibu' (named after Malibu, California) is a mid-size car produced in the United States by General Motors. It is marketed in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Israel. The current vehicle has been saddled with limited size in contrast to its Japanese competitors, due mainly to the need to keep it smaller than the larger Impala model. Both models will grow in the future making the Malibu the standalone Chevrolet competitor for models like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

Contents

First Generation 1964-1972

Second Generation 1973-1977

Third Generation 1978-1983

Engines

G platform

Scale models

Fourth Generation 1997-2003

Engines

Trivia

Fifth Generation 2004-2007

Engines

SS

Sixth Generation 2008-future

References

External links

First Generation 1964-1972

The first Malibu was the mid-range Chevrolet Chevelle from 1964 to 1972, the SS being the top of the line. 1964 was the first production year of the Chevelle Malibu).

Second Generation 1973-1977

The Malibu was restyled for the 1973 model year. Models included the base 'Chevelle Deluxe', mid-range 'Malibu' and the top-line 'Laguna'.
For 1974, the Deluxe was dropped, and the Malibu became the entry-level Chevelle. The Laguna trim package was replaced with the Malibu Classic. The Laguna S-3 model was introduced to replace the SS, and continued through 1976.

Third Generation 1978-1983

For the 1978 model year, the Malibu name replaced the Chevelle name. This was a downsized version compared to previous mid-sized Chevrolets. Only two trim levels were offered - Malibu and Malibu Classic. The Malibu Classic Landau series had a two tone paint job on the upper and lower body sections, and a vinyl top.
A very rare 1980 Malibu M80 was a dealer package for only North and South Carolina in an effort to revive the muscle car era. It was however mostly aimed at Nascar fans who regularly traveled to Darlington Raceway. To this day, its unknown how many are left or were actually produced. There was no factory Malibu SS option available from 1978-83. The SS only came in the El Camino.
Three bodystyles were produced (station wagon, sedan, and coupe); the sedan initially had a six-window roofline with a farly typical notchback rear window, which was revised for 1981 to a four-window profile and "formal" upright roofline. The 2-door coupe was last produced in 1981. In recent years, the coupe has been sought after by drag racers and usually spotted as street machines.
The 4-door Malibu was also used in fleets, especially for law enforcement usage. After the Chevrolet Nova ceased production in 1979, the mid-size '9C1' police option (not to be confused with the full-size Chevrolet Impala '9C1' which was also available) was transferred to the Malibu, filling a void for mid-sized police vehicles.
General Motors Canada also produced a special order of Malibu sedans in 1981 for the Iraqi government, although the order was ultimately rejected, reportedly due to the inability of the local drivers to shift a manual transmission. The real reason was the escalating hostilities between Iraq and Iran, which required diversion of funds to support the Iraqi war effort. These "Iraqi Taxi" Malibus were auctioned off to the public at a greatly reduced price of about $6800.00Cdn., since they carried the unusual combination of the smallest 229 cu.in. 110h.p. V6 engine with a 3-speed manual transmission. All of the cars were equipped with air conditioning, heavy duty cooling and had 14 inch stamped steel wheels with trim rings and "baby moon" center caps. They were sold all across Canada, and later acquired a 'celebrity' status.
In Mexico, General Motors produced this generation in the Ramos Arizpe plant, and was selled during three years (1979 to 81). Mexican versions came in three trim levels (Chevelle, Malibu and Malibu Classic) and two body styles (Sedan & Coupe) with the 250 c.i. l6 as basic engine and the 350 c.i. 260 HP V8 as the optional, this engine was standard on Malibu Classic models, during the three years of selling. This was possible because the mexican regulations about emissions were more flexible than in the U.S.A.

Engines

Year Model Available Engines

'78' = 200 V6 (95 HP), 231 (3.8L) V6 (105 HP), 305 V8 (140 HP), 350 V8 (165 HP)

'79' = 200 V6 (95 HP), 231 (3.8L) V6 (105 HP), 267 V8 (125 HP), 305 V8 (140 HP), 350 V8 (165)HP

'80' = 229 V6 (110 HP), 231 (3.8L) V6 (105 HP), 267 V8 (115 HP), 305 V8 (140 HP), 350 V8 (170 HP)

'81' = 229 V6 (110 HP), 231 (3.8L) V6 (105 HP), 267 V8 (115 HP), 305 V8 (140 HP), 350 V8 (170 HP)

'82' = 229 V6 (110 HP), 231 (3.8L) V6 (105 HP), 4.3L V6 Diesel (85 HP), 305 V8, 350 V8 Diesel (105 HP)

'83' = 229 V6 (110 HP), 231 (3.8L) V6 (105 HP), 4.3L V6 Diesel (85 HP), 305 V8, 350 V8 Diesel (105 HP)

G platform

The 1982 Malibu, facelifted with more squared-off front styling marked by quad headlights with long, thin turn signals beneath them, shared GM's redesignated rear-wheel drive G platform with cars like the Pontiac Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Buick Regal. 1982 was the final year that a Malibu Classic was marketed; Malibus were produced as 4-door sedans (and station wagons, which retained the full option list as the new FWD A-body wagons would not appear until 1984) until 1983 when it was replaced by the front-wheel drive Chevrolet Celebrity. Although the sedan and wagon were phased out, the El Camino remained in production until 1987.

Scale models

GM commissioned a 1/25 scale plastic promo of the El Camino from MPC, which was updated annually from 1978 to at least 1982, Kit versions of it were also made, and the tooling was later modified to an El Camino SS.
Monogram also produced a '78 El Camino in their then-usual, slightly larger 1/24 scale, as well as a '79 police package sedan as a simplified 1/32 scale snap-together kit. Both have been reissued multiple times.

Fourth Generation 1997-2003

A new front-wheel drive Malibu was introduced in 1997 on an extended wheelbase version of the GM N platform with the Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Achieva, Oldsmobile Alero and Pontiac Grand Am. All N-body Malibus were produced at the Oklahoma City Assembly plant (after 2003 it was retooled to build the GMT360 SUVs) and the Wilmington Assembly plant (after 1999), before moving production to Lansing, Michigan. The Wilmington plant was then retooled to build the Saturn L-Series in 1999. The Oldsmobile Cutlass was a clone of the Malibu as a stopgap vehicle before the Oldsmobile Alero. The Malibu replaced the compact Chevrolet Corsica. Power came from a 2.4 L 150 hp (112 kW) I4 or 3.1 L 155 hp (116 kW) V6. The Malibu was ''Motor Trend'' magazine's Car of the Year for 1997.
1997 to 1999 Malibus had a front grille with the Malibu logo in silver in the center; 2000 to 2003 models, including the Classic, had the blue Chevrolet emblem on the front grille. 1997 to 1999 LS models were sometimes equipped with special gold-colored badges (the rear Malibu lettering and logo).
Many technical problems plagued this generation of Malibus, such as fuel pump failures, air conditioning component problems, and transmission failures. GM has been criticized because of their failure to aid owners in paying for costly repair of their Malibus. GM, to date, has offered no recall.
The 3.1 L V6 was updated in 2000 with a new power rating of 170 hp (127 kW), and the 4-cylinder was dropped. Although the N-body Malibu remained in production until 2005, the 4-cylinder was reintroduced in 2004 where the Ecotec was an option.

Engines

★ 1997-2003 3.1 L LG8 V6

★ 1997-1999 2.4 L LD9 I4

Trivia

Although not officially imported to Chile, Malibus are part of the Presidential Escort of the country.

Fifth Generation 2004-2007

The Malibu name was moved to the new Epsilon platform based on the 2002 Opel Vectra C for 2004, but the previous car remained in production as the Chevrolet Classic for car rental and fleet use, which was discontinued in 2006. The Epsilon-based Malibu comes in two bodystyles, a standard 4-door sedan and a 4-door 'Malibu Maxx' station wagon. This is Chevrolet's first station wagon since the discontinuation of the Chevrolet Caprice wagon in 1996.
This generation of the Malibu initially debuted with a front fascia design featuring a wide grille split horizontally by a prominent chrome bar that ran the entire width of the car, which was intended to make it resemble Chevrolet's trucks. However, for 2006, the front end was updated with more conventional styling: the chrome bar was removed, and the grille itself was made smaller, bearing a resemblance to the grille on the previous Malibu.
Base power comes from a 2.2 L Ecotec L61 I4 which produces 145 hp (108 kW). ''LS'' and ''LT'' trims originally had a 3.5 L 200 hp (149 kW) High Value LX9 V6 while both sedan and Maxx SS models are powered by the 3.9 L 240 hp High Value LZ9 V6. For 2007, the LX9 was replaced with the LZ4 V6, which in the Malibu produces 217 hp (162 kW). A remote starter is also available, which was introduced on several other GM vehicles for 2004.
The Malibu is manufactured at GM's ''Fairfax #2'' factory in Kansas City, Kansas.

Engines

★ 2004-2007 - 2.2 L ''Ecotec'' I4

★ 2004-2006 - 3.5 L ''LX9'' V6

★ 2007 - 3.5 L ''LZ4'' V6

★ 2006-2007 - 3.9 L ''LZ9'' V6 (SS)

SS

A special ''SS'' trim is available on the Malibu and Malibu Maxx with the 3.9 L ''LZ9'' V6.

Sixth Generation 2008-future

The Malibu is redesigned for the 2008 model year. It is built on a revised version of the long-wheelbase Epsilon platform shared with the Saturn Aura and Pontiac G6. Interior room remains a mid-size like the previous Malibu's, and has been decreased from 101 cubic feet to 95 cubic feet, despite having a longer wheelbase. The interior design has also been completely reworked, with a selection of two-tone colour combinations, higher-quality materials and a twin-cowl dash design reminiscent of classic Corvettes.
The 2008 Malibu offers a 169 hp (126 kW), 2.4 L inline-4 as the base engine, and a 252 hp (188 kW), 3.6 L V6 as an option. Like the 2007 model, the 2008 Malibu is available in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels, however the 4-cylinder engine will now be available on the LTZ, and on that trim level it is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The V6 models all come with a six-speed automatic, however the 4-cylinder LS and LT models continue to use a four-speed automatic ^[2]. There is no manual transmission offered in 2008 and Chevrolet will no longer offer the Malibu Maxx station wagon. A Hybrid model (a mild hybrid), with the base inline-4 like the Saturn Aura Green Line, will be introduced. It has an EPA fuel economy of 24/32 MPG.
On December 18, 2006, photos of the next Malibu were accidentally leaked on the internet via the North American International Auto Show website. This was in addition to a preview shot released by GM earlier in the day, however the NAIAS photo showed the entire car, unlike the GM photo which only revealed the grille and headlamps.
^[3]
The 2008 Malibu will be available November 1st 2007 along side the Malibu Hybrid, with the 4-cylinder LTZ model (with the 6-speed automatic) available in early 2008. Starting prices range from $19,995 for the base LS model, to $26,995 for the top-of-the-line LTZ. The Hybrid model will start at $22,790.
^[4]

References

1. http://autos.yahoo.com/chevrolet_malibu_classic/
2. http://www.caranddriver.com/autoshows/12210/2008-chevrolet-malibu.html
3. http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=116643
4. http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=122435

External links

★ The official website of the Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx

★ Automotive History Online - Chevrolet Malibu history & photos

★ Maliburacing.com The 1978-1983 Malibu Performance Site

★ Malibu Club is the Leading N-body and Epsilon Body Member Forum