Chevrolet Malibu EV Electric Version of Chevrolet s Popular Sedan
General Motors to Axe Chevrolet Malibu in 2024, Replace With EV: Report
General Motors introduced the current generation of Malibu in late 2015 as a 2016 model, and it lived up to its predecessor's legacy by earning its keep in sales and doing little else. But with Chevrolet walking its sedans off the plank and the Malibu's sales plunging for two straight years despite a 2019 refresh, the model's future is looking grim at best. According to a report by Automotive News, the American automaker reportedly still has plans for the midsize sedan.
The Chevrolet Malibu will allegedly remain a part of GM's portfolio until 2024. To shore up the aging model's appeal, GM may reportedly give the model a second facelift in 2022, which could portend keeping the Malibu around even longer.
Whenever the Malibu does go, its place in Chevrolet's lineup will reportedly be filled by some sort of electric vehicle (EV), whose name and body style are not known as of this time. Considering AN's anonymous sources and the fact that this is still five years away, you should take this with a grain of salt.
Considering the midsize hole the Malibu's discontinuation will leave in the Chevrolet roster, GM's planned introduction of 20 EVs by 2023, and the market's insatiable demand for crossovers, it wouldn't be outlandish to imagine the Malibu's successor to be a midsize electric crossover. This hypothetical electric crossover could have styling reminiscent of the Bolt-based crossover allegedly launching next year, potentially under the name Bolt EUV.
The Drive contacted GM about its plans for the future of the Malibu, and we will update when we receive comment.
2026 Chevrolet Malibu Makes an Electrifying Scripted Return With CGI-Infused Coupe Looks
Photo: Instagram | vburlapp
While certain car manufacturers gave up on the mid-size sedan segment, others remain committed to this class. GM's Chevrolet is on the list, and the model in question is called the
Malibu.
Launched in 2015 and facelifted three years later, the ninth-generation Chevrolet Malibu is an old product. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean it's not popular, as the bowtie brand managed to shift over 130,000 copies last year and more than 115,000 the year before,
datapublished by GoodCarBadCar reveals.
Obviously, the
mid-size sedansegment still has a future in North America, so Chevy is reportedly planning a new generation Malibu. The next one will reportedly share many components with the Trax, Trailblazer, Buick Encore GX, and Envista, as it is rumored to utilize the same VSS-F construction. It's too early to speak about the details, including the powertrain family, but the model might not be far away.
If the latest reports are accurate, then the all-new Chevrolet Malibu might celebrate its unveiling in 2025. It might launch either as a 2025 or a 2026 model in our market, depending on when it will be presented. The current one has an MSRP of $25,000 and comes with a 1.5L turbo-four making 160 hp (162 ps/119
kW) at 5,700 rpm and 184 pound-feet (250 Nm) of torque from 2,500 to 3,000 rpm and mated to a
CVT.
Photo: Chevrolet
Nevertheless, despite being around a year or so away from showing its redesigned face, the next-generation Chevrolet Malibu has already been rendered. In fact, we've seen several
unofficial takeson the bowtie brand's upcoming mid-size sedan these past few months, and that list has now grown to include the virtual model shared in the image gallery above, which came from vburlapp on social media.
The styling differences are obvious, as this CGI-infused machine does not look anything like its predecessor. It has a very sporty profile with a sloping roofline that makes it look more like a four-door coupe than a traditional sedan. The face is on the futuristic side, with its slender LED headlights, minimalist grille decorated by the corporate logo, and aggressive bumper with multiple air intakes.
The rendering artist behind this digital illustration has gone the extra mile by also imagining this hypothetical next-gen Chevy Malibu with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. We can see it being digitally charged via the socket mounted on the right rear quarter panel.
We cannot say that we're fans of this rendering, but then again, we don't hate it either. If anything, we think the car world needs more traditional models, regardless of whether they're partially electrified or not, and we're excited by the rumor that the GM-owned company will keep
the Malibuaround for at least another generation.
GMs new EV sedan concept could be a potential electric Chevy Malibu replacement
Is an electric Malibu in the works from Chevrolet? A new EV sedan concept from GM could give us a glimpse into what an electric Chevy Malibu may look like or the electric sedan slated to replace it.
The new Chevy electric sedan that could replace the Malibu
General Motors revealed a new Chevy EV sedan concept, the FNR-XE, during its China Tech Vision Day 2022 event based on GMs Ultium platform.
In fact, GM debuted four new EV models based on the platform, but the other three we have already been introduced to including the Cadillac Lyriq, GMC Hummer EV, and the Buick Electra-X.
GM said at the event:
From fuel to electric, from horsepower to computing power, new technology has become a new engine to drive the upgrading of automobile products and promote the leapfrog development of the automobile industry.
The Chevy FNR-XE is a pure electric vehicle concept revealed in China but could make its way to the US. GMs president Mark Reuss says it will enter the same mid-size segment as the current Chevy Malibu, noting well see the desirability when asked if Chevy would offer the electric sedan in the US.
Chevy has several highly anticipated EV releases coming over the next few years, with the Blazer EV, Silverado EV, and Equinox EV. There have also been reports of the company spinning off brands such as Corvette, Camaro, and Escalade with several electric models in each.
Will an electric Chevy malibu work its way into the lineup? If so, it likely wont be until at least 2025 because the FNR-XE concept is set to debut in China in 2024.
Electreks Take
Although SUVs have been outpacing cars in sales, there will always be a market for smaller D-segment vehicles like the Malibu.
GM is going all in on electric vehicles, and Chevy is slated to play a significant role. The automaker has almost all of the segments covered with the Bolt EV (which just won Electreks Vehicle of the Year) and EUV, the upcoming Equinox EV, Blazer EV, and Silverado EV, but a family sedan could complete the portfolio.
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