The 10-day Canadian International Auto Show, which officially opened on Feb. 15, demonstrated that fuel efficiency is once again the main focus of automakers this year. With soaring gas prices, most consumers are shying away from high-power, gas-hungry vehicles. And the manufacturers are adapting to this growing trend.
General Motors has responded by introducing new, fuel efficient, and gas-electric hybrid vehicles under its Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer, and GMC brands. The new Malibu and hybrid Silverado are two exceptional vehicles.
Introduced in late 2007 with a strong punch, the re-designed mid-size Malibu sedan had already been chosen by Car and Driver as one of the top ten cars for 2008. It later won the Best Car of 2008 title from Kelley Blue Book. The Silverado also won the AJAC Award for the best utility vehicle of 2008.
The Malibu competes against Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in the mid-size sedan market. Car awards for this segment have traditionally been dominated by Japanese cars, so the Malibu winning the COTY award for 2008 is a significant break-through for the American auto industry.
The new Malibu combines great performance, remarkable fuel efficiency, and a refined design. The dual-tone leather interior is a drastic improvement over its predecessor.
The Malibu measures 188.3 inches long, 69.9 inches wide, and 57.5 inches tall. Compared to the previous year's model, it is 3 inches longer. The wheelbase has also seen a 6-inch increase, making it longer than Camry's 109.3-inch wheelbase.
In terms of power, the new Malibu is equipped with either a 2.4L inline-4 or a 3.6L V-6 engine, which is coupled to either a 4-speed or a 6-speed automatic transmission. The max power output for the 2.4L engine is rated at 169 hp, while the 3.5L engine is rated at219 hp. The front suspension uses McPherson struts while the rear suspension is multi-link.
A Strong Competitor for Camry and Accord
Chris Hay, VP of Marketing at GM, said in an interview with Epoch Times during the Auto Show, that the Malibu is targeting Camry and Accord buyers.
"Compared to the similarly-priced Camry and Accord, we offer much, much more in standard features. For higher models, we are giving the customers features that are worth much more than the price difference, so we hold a price advantage."
Chris added that after experiencing the quiet ride, customers will immediately realize that this is a vehicle of exceptional quality. Quiet, refined, and put together well, details on the exterior body, and quality build materials are some of the major selling points of this vehicle. There is no doubt that this car has very strong appeal to potential buyers.
"We believe this vehicle has hit its target in terms of customer appeal," added Chris. "It has a very smart look, and it has everything people are looking for in a mid-size sedan. On top of that, it is affordable. So it has a very strong appeal to a wide customer base."
The Best Value for Mid-size Sedan
"We are very excited about the new Malibu," said Chris Hay. "At the same time, we are eager to introduce this car to the Chinese community. We are really hope to get the news about this car out to more people."
"I believe the Malibu and other new Chevy cars are in a very good position in Canada. With the price announcement we made back in the summer, customers are realizing that they don't need to wait for a better deal."
"We have also put a strong focus on the green aspect. The Malibu Hybrid is the best value in the Canadian mid-size hybrid sedan segment."
Tackling the Environmental Issue Challenge with a Multi-faceted Strategy
GM's new Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid is the winner of the AJAC Best Utility Vehicle Award for 2008. Silverado is a 4-door pick up truck with a crew cabin, and is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive models. By using the new 6.0L V8 hybrid engine, its fuel efficiency has been improved by 40 percent for city driving and 25 percent for city/highway driving. This can potentially become the most gas efficient pick up truck.
According to Chris Hay, GM's green-environment strategy has many components. "For example, we have the gas-electric hybrid Malibu, the fuel-cell Equinox, and the full-electrical rechargeable Volt," he said. "We don't bet on one single technology as the solution to our environmental problems. We are working hard to reduce our dependence on gasoline."
Feeds