GM confident that Malibu will beat sales of Sonata, SM6

GM Korea President and CEO James Kim poses with the all-new Malibu sedan during a launch event at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro, southwestern Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of GM Korea

By Jhoo Dong-chan

The U.S. automaker General Motors (GM) Chevrolet Division has introduced the all-new Malibu sedan, aiming to top the sales in Korea’s mid-size sedan market.

“The Malibu is all new from the ground up ― including its design, power train, chassis and safety systems ― to far exceed the expectations of midsize sedan buyers,” GM Korea President and CEO James Kim said during its introduction at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro, southwestern Seoul, Wednesday. “It will change the market with its incomparable value and aggressive pricing.”

A GM Korea official also expressed his confidence in the Malibu, saying it will be No. 1 in the nation’s mid-sized sedan market.

“I am confident that our new Malibu will top its class in sales,” said Dale Sullivan, GM Korea vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing (VSSM). “There are strong competitors in the class such as the Hyundai Sonata and the Renault Samsung SM6. But the all-new Malibu will beat them all in sales.”

Built on an entirely new body, the new Malibu is six cm longer and has a wheelbase that is 9.3 cm longer than the previous model. An official said this makes it the most spacious and longest sedan in its class.

Its sleek and sporty exterior incorporated with slim headlamps and the brand-signature dual-port grille is aimed not only at traditional customers who want a family car but also young motorists who like the new design.

“The all-new Malibu has an assertive stance with dramatic, low and sleek proportions, uniquely sculpted surfaces and contemporary technologies, creating a new paradigm for car design,” said GM Korea Design Director Stuart Norris. “It advances Chevrolet’s global design language and will captivate consumers across Korea.”

Underneath its sleek exterior, the all new Malibu mounts two types of turbocharged engines ― the 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter direct-injection gasoline engines.

Generating a maximum of 166 horsepower with 25.5 kg-m torque, the 1.5-liter engine offers improved fuel efficiency of 13 kilometers per liter in combination with standard stop/start technology. This is the best fuel economy among competing turbo models, an official added.

The 2.0-liter turbo engine produces 253 horsepower and 36.0 kg-m of maximum torque. It is paired with an electronically controlled transmission that has a wider gear range and tighter gear ratios, making the Malibu the most powerful and responsive sedan in its price range.

The price for the all-new Malibu starts at 23.1 million won ($20,143).