USA - 51 Years, 10 Million produced, That will be the everlasting Chevrolet Malibu, Mid-sized car.

Venerable sedan’s 51-year legacy strongest in U.S., China and Korea

Fifty-one years after it was introduced as Chevrolet’s first midsize car, production of the venerable Malibu sedan has crossed the 10-million mark.

Chevrolet celebrated the sales achievement today for the global sedan in the United States, China and Korea, which collectively account for more than 90 percent of sales. The Malibu is sold in more than 25 markets around the world.

“The Chevy Malibu joins an exclusive club of vehicles that have achieved this extraordinary milestone and we acknowledge it today by honoring the common thread linking every one produced: The customer,” said Alan Batey, president, global Chevrolet. 

“Some people are buying their very first Malibu today and others may have driven a Malibu from a different generation as their first car. It is a car that has resonated with customers for more than half a century.”

Chevrolet’s interaction with customers has evolved since the Malibu was introduced in 1964. Back then, an owner’s manual and a personal relationship with the dealer defined conventional customer service. By the 1990s, a toll-free line to call centers provided answers to many customer questions.

Today, customers can communicate with Chevrolet any time of day or night all around the world through in-vehicle technologies such as OnStar and social media, where teams of specialists complement the ownership experience with support and information.

“The immediacy of socially driven technologies is fundamentally changing ownership experiences and what owners expect from the manufacturer,” said Batey. “It’s a whole new world of customer interaction and Chevrolet is working hard to lead the way.”

Malibu’s 10-millionth milestone comes as the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu enters production. The ninth-generation sedan is completely restyled and is the most fuel-efficient, connected and technologically advanced Malibu ever – and many of its new and enhanced features, like its Teen Driver system which encourages safe driving habits for teens, were influenced by the voice of customers.

Longer and lighter, the new Malibu offers more interior space. Its wheelbase has been stretched nearly four inches (101 mm), and it is nearly 300 pounds (136 kg) lighter than the previous model.

The 2016 Malibu reaches an exceptional level of fuel efficiency with an all-new, available hybrid powertrain that uses technology from the Chevrolet Volt. It helps offer a General Motors-estimated 48 mpg city, 45 mpg highway – and 47 mpg combined, unsurpassed in the segment.

The Malibu’s standard 1.5L turbo powertrain is projected to offer 37 mpg highway. It also features a fuel-saving stop/start technology that enhances efficiency in stop-and-go driving.

Additional features include new Chevrolet MyLink with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility; and the all-new Teen Driver feature, which allows parents to view their kids’ driving statistics, such as maximum speed, warning alerts and more.

Malibu through the years

Named after the California city famous for its beaches, the 1964 Chevrolet Malibu was the top-line model of an all-new vehicle line touted as a premium choice for families that needed space and efficiency for long commutes.

Chevrolet called the Malibu an “intermediate” car – positioned between the full-size series and the compact Chevy II, It represented the birth of the mainstream midsize segment, which has grown to be the highest-volume segment in the industry. 

Customers snapped up more than 370,000 in the first year from a lineup that also included the entry-level 300 and Chevelle models, and a range of body styles that included coupes, sedans, wagons and convertibles. The lineup also included the Malibu SS muscle car.

Sales of Chevy’s upstart intermediate range topped 503,000 by 1969 – with the popular Malibu two-door sport coupe accounting for 300,000 of them.

Malibu rolled through the 1970s as one of the best-selling cars of the decade. It was retired in 1983, after its fourth generation. It returned in 1997 as a modern, front-drive sedan and was named Motor Trend Car of the Year. 

In the nearly 20 years since, it has evolved and offers the latest in efficiency-enhancing technologies, safety features and, more recently, the connectivity features that have become increasingly important to customers.

The 2016 Malibu is built at the GM Fairfax Assembly facility, in Kansas City, Kan.

USA - Chevy introduces the All-New 2016 Malibu, and offers a Hybrid version to compliment the range.

New hybrid sedan projected to offer segment unsurpassed 47 MPG combined

Chevrolet today introduced the all-new 2016 Malibu – a completely restyled midsize sedan engineered to offer more efficiency, connectivity and advanced safety features than ever.

An all-new hybrid powertrain, which leverages technology from the Chevrolet Volt, will help offer a GM-estimated 48 mpg city, 45 mpg highway – and 47 mpg combined, unsurpassed in the segment. The Malibu’s standard 1.5L turbo powertrain is projected to offer 37 mpg highway.

The 2016 Malibu is also longer and lighter, with more interior space and improved fuel efficiency. Its wheelbase has been stretched close to four inches (101 mm), and it is nearly 300 pounds (136 kg) lighter than the current model.

“Midsize customers tell us they want great fuel economy, connected technologies, wrapped in a gorgeous exterior. This is exactly what the 2016 Malibu was engineered to do,” said Jesse Ortega, Malibu chief engineer.

The 2016 Malibu goes on sale in the fourth quarter of 2015. Additional vehicle highlights:

• Available segment-exclusive OnStar 4G LTE in-vehicle connectivity as well as available wireless phone charging
• Agile, sophisticated and sleek exterior design incorporates sophisticated details that advance Chevrolet’s signature cues
• Standard preventive safety technologies include 10 standard air bags, with available features such as Forward Collision Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Automatic Parking Assist is also available
• All-new Teen Driver feature, which allows parents to view their kids’ driving statistics, such as maximum speed, warning alerts and more
• All-new, power-dense Ecotec 1.5L turbo engine with fuel-saving stop/start technology is standard, offering a GM-estimated 160 hp (119 kW)
• High-output 2.0L turbo with GM-estimated 250 hp (186 kW) is available and is mated with a new eight-speed automatic transmission.

The new Malibu will be offered in L, LS, LT and Premier trims, as well as the Hybrid model. The Premier trim, Chevrolet’s new uplevel designation, debuts in the 2016 Malibu. Additional model and trim details will be announced closer to the start of production.

Malibu Hybrid technology

The 2016 Malibu introduces new strong hybrid technology that leverages components and knowledge directly from the plug-in Chevrolet Volt. The Malibu Hybrid offers a GM-estimated 48 mpg city, 45 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined – while maintaining the styling, comfort, driving dynamics and connectivity as gas-only models.

An all-new, direct-injection 1.8L four-cylinder engine mated to a two-motor drive unit, slightly modified from the 2016 Chevrolet Volt drive unit, powers the Malibu Hybrid. The drive unit provides additional power to assist the engine during acceleration, for 182 horsepower (136 kW) of total system power.

The engine also features Chevrolet’s first application of Exhaust Gas Heat Recovery, or EGHR, technology, which uses exhaust heat to warm the engine and cabin.  EGHR improves engine warm up and ensures consistent fuel economy performance in cold weather. Additional fuel economy benefits come from Exhaust Gas Recirculation, or EGR.

An 80-cell, 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides electric power to the hybrid system. It can power the Malibu Hybrid up to 55 miles per hour (88 km/h) on electricity alone. The gasoline-powered engine automatically comes on at higher speeds and high loads to provide additional power.

In addition to the drive unit, the Malibu Hybrid also shares the 2016 Volt’s blended regenerative braking system, which provides maximum kinetic energy recovery during braking to be stored into the battery system to help maintain charge, and drive unit power electronics.

Turbocharged performance and efficiency

An all-new, Ecotec 1.5L turbo is the standard engine in the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, offering a GM-estimated 37 mpg on the highway. It is part of a new global family of small-displacement gas engines designed with greater power density to deliver confident performance with excellent efficiency.

The new 1.5L turbo employs the stop/start technology introduced on the 2014 Malibu, which enhances efficiency in stop-and-go driving, contributing to a GM-estimated 27 mpg in city driving – an 8-percent increase over the current model. On the highway, 1.5L-equipped models also feature active grille shutters that reduce aerodynamic drag to optimize efficiency.

The Malibu’s more-efficient standard engine delivers a GM-estimated 160 horsepower (119 kW) and 184 lb-ft of torque (250 Nm). The torque is comparable to the current model’s standard 2.5L naturally aspirated engine in a vehicle package that’s nearly 300 pounds lighter. 

A higher-output 2.0L turbocharged engine is available, offering a GM-estimated 250 horsepower (186 kW) and 258 lb-ft of torque (350 Nm), for a higher degree of performance – but not at the expense of good efficiency. Malibu 2.0T models are GM-estimated at 22 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway.

An all-new, GM-developed eight-speed automatic transmission – the first eight-speed automatic in a GM front-wheel-drive vehicle – contributes to the 2.0T’s balance of performance and efficiency. The 1.5L turbo engine is matched with a six-speed automatic.

Teen Driver and an expanded range of safety features

Teen Driver, a standard feature on most trim levels of the next-generation Malibu, supports safe driving habits by muting the audio or any device paired with the vehicle when front-seat occupants aren’t wearing their safety belts. Teen Driver also provides audible and visual warnings when the vehicle is traveling over predetermined speeds.

To use Teen Driver, a parent enables the feature with a PIN in the Settings menu of the Malibu’s MyLink system, which allows them to register their teen’s key fob. The system’s settings are turned on only to registered key fobs.

Chevrolet is the first in the industry with a built-in system that lets parents view on a display how their teenager drove the vehicle. Maximum speed reached, distance driven and number of times active safety features were engaged are among the parameters that can be confirmed.

Teen Driver complements a roster of standard and available safety features, including a rear-view camera system standard on LS, LT, Hybrid and Premier models.

• Ten air bags, including front-seat knee air bags, head-curtain side-impact air bags and seat-mounted side air bags, are also standard.
• Rear-view camera system is standard on LS, LT, Hybrid and Premier models.

Available active safety features include:

• Front Pedestrian Alert that uses a forward-looking camera to help avoid or reduce the harm caused by crashes with pedestrians ahead of the vehicle. The system can apply automatic last-second braking
• New Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert
• New Forward Collision Alert with Following Distance Indicator
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Front and Rear Park Assist
• Intellibeam, which automatically switches the headlamps to high beam for better road illumination and improved visibility
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Automatic Braking
• Automatic Parking Assist.

Sleeker design with lighter, stronger body structure

With a wheelbase stretching 3.6 inches (91 mm) longer than the current Malibu, along with a 2.3-inch (58 mm) longer overall length and the same overall width, the 2016 Malibu strikes  a sleeker-looking proportion. The added wheelbase helps provide better in-cabin comfort and functionality.

With styling influenced by the 2014 Impala, the all-new Malibu advances Chevrolet’s global design language with features such as slim, sweeping headlamps and a progressive take on the brand’s characteristic dual-port grille. Three body-side creases also add drama to the design and help distinguish the Malibu as a contemporary Chevy.

The hood and the cowl – the area where the windshield meets the hood – are lower than the current model and contribute to the Malibu’s greater aerodynamic performance, as do active grille shutters on LS and LT models.

Premium design cues are incorporated on all models, with contemporary lighting technology featured across the lineup, including light-emitting diode (LED) daytime running lamps on LT and Premier models. The Malibu Premier also receives LED taillamps.

Beneath the new Malibu’s athletic-looking skin is a stronger, lighter body structure that contributes to its efficiency and driving dynamics. Greater use of high-strength steels enabled engineers to design the body structure with thinner components in some areas, delivering comparable crash performance with lower weight. The all-new body structure accounts for more than one-third of the Malibu’s nearly 300-pound weight reduction.

Roomier, more comfortable and more connected interior

The longer wheelbase allows a more open execution of Chevrolet’s signature dual-cockpit interior. Rear legroom improves by 1.3 inches (33 mm).

The cabin’s open, expansive feel is reinforced with a greater emphasis on comfort, convenience and connectivity, allowing the Malibu to keep pace with customers’ connected lives. Highlights include:

• Chevrolet MyLink with a seven-inch-diagonal color capacitive touch screen is standard on LS, LT and Hybrid models
• Chevrolet MyLink with an eight-inch-diagonal capacitive touch screen is available on LT and Hybrid models and standard on Premier model
• Chevrolet MyLink with navigation is available with the eight-inch MyLink system and features three-dimensional map views for most major U.S. cities and attractions
• All-new Teen Driver feature is supported by the eight-inch MyLink system, allowing parents to restrict certain vehicle functions to support safer driving and to view their kids’ driving statistics such as maximum speed, warning alerts and more
• OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot is standard on all models with a three-month/3GB data trial (whichever comes first)
• Wireless phone charging available on LT and Hybrid and standard on Premier
• Dual rear-seat USB ports and a 110-volt power outlet is optional on LT and standard on Premier trim.

The instrument panel “center stack” is all-new, with greater delineation between the infotainment system and climate system controls for easier, at-a-glance operation. The Malibu’s interior is also features:

• Galvano (satin) chrome accents on the instrument panel and center console
• Dedicated storage slot for mobile phones, which incorporates wireless charging, if equipped
• Perforated leather-appointed seating surfaces available on LT and Hybrid and standard on Premier
• Ventilated seats – a first for Malibu – are standard on Premier.

Manufacturing

The 2016 Malibu will be built from globally sourced parts at GM’s Fairfax Assembly Plant, in Kansas City, Kansas. The plant received a $600 million investment in paint shop and tooling upgrades in 2013.

FAST FACT: The 2016 Malibu represents the ninth generation of Chevrolet’s signature midsize sedan. It was introduced in 1964.

Volvo XC90 to be cleanest SUV available.

• All-wheel drive, seven seats and ultra-low emissions of around 60g/km
• Up to 400 hp and 640 Nm of torque
• New Volvo-developed Twin Engine technology

Volvo Cars’ all-new XC90 will offer an unrivalled combination of power and clean operation when it is launched later this year. The all-wheel drive seven seater offers drivers up to 400 horsepower but with carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions of around 60 g/km (NEDC driving cycle). There has never been an SUV offering this level of power this cleanly.

“There are no compromises when you drive an all-new XC90,” said Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development of Volvo Car Group. “In the past you could either have power or low CO₂emissions. But with the all-new XC90 you can have both.”

The new XC90 offers a range of Drive-E engine options, all of which provide an outstanding combination of performance and fuel-efficiency. The main distinguishing feature of the Drive-E engine range is that they are all four-cylinder engines.

“With our new Drive-E powertrains, we have created a family of intelligent petrol and diesel engines with power curves that give exciting driveability at the same time as delivering world-beating fuel economy,” added Dr. Mertens. “With seven people in the new XC90, carbon dioxide emissions per person and kilometre are outstandingly low."

The CO₂ performance of the all-new XC90 will reinforce Volvo Cars’ leadership when it comes to bringing more environmentally-sound technologies to market. According to figures monitored by European car industry association ACEA, Volvo Car Group delivered an industry-leading reduction of average fleet emissions by 8.4 per cent from 2012 to 2013.

Twin Engine technology

Volvo has made it possible for a four-cylinder engine to provide all the driving pleasure associated with a much larger engine and do so far more efficiently and cleanly. Drive-E engines will over time be introduced across Volvo’s entire range.

For the all-new XC90, the top of the range ‘Twin Engine’ will carry the badge ‘T8’ and be a plug-in electric car, hybrid car and high-performance car rolled into one.

Normal driving is conducted in the default hybrid mode. This utilises a two-litre, four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged Drive-E petrol engine that powers the front wheels and an 80 hp (60 kW) electric motor that drives the rear wheels.

It uses the supercharger to fill in the bottom end of the power range to give the engine a big, naturally-aspirated feel, while the turbocharger kicks in when the airflow builds up. The electric motor on the rear wheels provides immediate torque.

But at the push of a button the driver can switch to quiet and emission-free city driving on pure electric power where the range will be around 25 miles, and then, when needed, immediately revert back to the combined capacity of the petrol engine and electric motor, with its combined output of around 400 hp and 640 Nm of torque.

Full range of other engine options

The Volvo XC90 range also includes the D5 twin turbo diesel engine with 225 hp, 470 Nm and best in class fuel consumption of around 47mpg (combined), plus the D4 turbo diesel engine with 190 hp, 400 Nm and a fuel consumption of around 56mpg (combined cycle).

Not only is there no compromise in terms of performance or efficiency, but Volvo Cars’ new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) chassis technology also allows for far more flexibility inside the car. Other carmakers have struggled to combine the bulk of a battery pack with a luxurious and spacious interior, something that Volvo has managed to overcome.

“Since our new SPA technology is designed from the start to accommodate electrification technologies, the Twin Engine installation does not compromise luggage or passenger space,” said Dr. Mertens.

Renault launches new Trafic, better looks, better economy, better value.

• This summer will see Renault unveil its Trafic range as it perpetuates the success story of one of its most popular models, with 1.6 million sales since 1980.
• This practical and economical ‘Van à Vivre’ will sport a new look both inside and out, while benefitting from clever smart innovations to facilitate the lives of business customers, as well as a new range of responsive engines.
• The vehicle will be available with a new Renault-developed 1.6 dCi powerplant, including a twin-turbocharged version that boasts fuel consumption of less than six litres per 100km.
• New Trafic is now built at the Sandouville factory, enabling Renault to rely upon no fewer than three production plants in France to manufacture the entirety of its European market-leading range. 

Launched in 1980 to replace the equally illustrious Estafette, Renault Trafic has already achieved more than 1.6 million sales around the world. Moreover, in 2014, the Trafic story will continue with the third generation of the iconic vehicle debuting in some 50 countries globally.

All-New Trafic comes with a completely new exterior design. The front incorporates the bigger, more upright logo that is emblematic of Renault’s new brand identity. Its stance is forceful and dynamic, while its wide, slender headlights give it an expressive look, and the more sloping windscreen results in a clear division with the bonnet. A wide and assertive air intake and a body-coloured trim strip between the two grilles produce a lighter feel. Sharper lines make the vehicle’s silhouette more dynamic than before, whilst the sturdiness that Trafic customers have come to expect have been retained courtesy of a protective, wrap-around front bumper.

With All-New Trafic, Renault has capitalised upon its wealth of experience in the LCV segment to offer a genuine user-friendly van that is modern and comfortable, responding ever-more closely to the needs of customers and actively contributing to the success of their business.

All-New Trafic can be customised as required thanks to the outstanding diversity of its range which features 270 variants, two different heights, two different lengths,  panel van, crew-van, platform cab and passenger versions, not to mention the solutions produced by our approved converters and Renault Tech.

All-New Trafic is both flexible and economical thanks to its new range of downsized, turbochargedengines. They are based upon the latest-generation, Renault-developed 1.6 dCi unit (R9M) and feature advanced technology to combine welcome fuel consumption savings with real driving enjoyment. This range is available in two versions: a single variable geometry turbo which yields 15% better fuel economy 4mpg and the Twin-Turbo version, the fuel economy of which is exceeds 47mpg*. These engines offer brisk pick-up and greater low-end torque for responsive acceleration, even when the vehicle is fully loaded.

All-New Trafic was developed by Renault’s expert LCV engineers to be reliable and robust. It benefits from the knowledge and expertise of some 1,800 men and women at the Sandouville factory, which has hitherto focused on high-end passenger cars. To relocate the van’s production to France, the factory underwent significant transformation work thanks to an investment of more than €230 million.

The Renault brand, Europe’s number one LCV maker since 1998, consequently boasts a particularly competitive production set-up, with three factories in France that are responsible for assembling all the vehicles in its range, namely Kangoo at MCA (Maubeuge), Master at SOVAB (Batilly) and All-New Trafic now at Sandouville.