GM Announces a Gasoline-Electric Hybrid Malibu

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GM has announced that a hybrid Malibu is on the way, but dont hold your breath as it wont arrive before 2007. (Photo: General Motors)

Unlike the Malibu there wont be a long wait for GMs new hybrid pickup, which hits the market this month. (Photo: General Motors)

Despite its economy car pretensions, the Malibu HEV may follow a recent trend to use hybrid power for improving performance rather than just saving fuel and cutting emissions. (Photo: General Motors)

By the time the hybrid Malibu becomes available, GM may choose a full-hybrid system for its other hybrid electric vehicles instead of the current mild-hybrid setup being used on its pickup trucks. (Photo: General Motors)

Kansas City Plant Happy with News of the Malibu Hybrid

Following in the tire tracks of Hondas Accord Hybrid, as well as the Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid, all mainstream midsize sedans that have been announced for production, Chevrolet will rework its midsize Malibu with a hybrid-electric powertrain.

Dont expect it this year or next, as Chevy wont be bringing it to market until the 2007 or even the 2008 model year, unlike its new hybrid pickup that comes out this year.

The announcement shouldnt be news, however, as GM stated earlier this year in January a hybrid Malibu would be coming. The formal decision to build it was announced Thursday.

“This is making us viable for the future with a new and exciting product,” commented Fairfax plant manager Paul Marr.

The Kansas City, Kansas facility currently builds the Malibu sedan and Malibu Maxx 5-door.

“Its important to the plant,” Marr added. “Its important to the work force. Its important to the community.”

It seems that Kansas City is becoming a hotbed of hybrid productivity, with the Malibu being the second HEV to be built in the area now that production of Fords Escape Hybrid SUV is already well underway at its Claycomo plant.

The Escape joins GMs hybrid Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups as the only truck-based HEVs on the market. But unlike GMs mild-hybrid trucks, which use electric power only to assist the gasoline engine without the ability to drive the wheels, the Malibu will sport a full-hybrid system designed to switch entirely into electric mode when the speedometer registers under 6 mph.

The Malibu hybrids four-cylinder will displace 2.4-liters and drive the front-wheels via an automatic transmission. But despite its economy car pretensions the new model may follow a recent trend to use hybrid power for improving performance rather than just saving fuel and cutting emissions. Reason for this speculation is that GM has announced only a 10 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over a conventional gasoline-powered base 4-cylinder Malibu, which is EPA rated at 24 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.

Does this mean GM will drop its current mild-hybrid system, usesd in its pickup trucks, in place of a full-hybrid version for all of its HEVs by the time the Malibu is made available? Thats difficult to say, but full-hybrid systems, the type embraced by Toyota, offer many advantages.