Holden Malibu News

The new-car market is set to break two records. It’s on track to become the biggest June to date

The new Chevrolet Malibu unveiled at the New York motor show overnight has internet forums buzzing with speculation that it’s a pointer to the next Holden Commodore.However, well placed sources have told News Corp Australia that Holden is still on track to source the Commodore’s replacement from another part of the General Motors world: the Opel brand in Germany.The new Chevrolet Malibu is about the same size as the Holden Commodore’s successor, and shares the same sleek hoop-shaped roof and sports-sedan design.But the similarities end there, even though more than half of Holden’s current line-up is shared with Chevrolet vehicles.When contacted for this story Holden refused to comment on the first ever imported Commodore due in 2018.However, the new Commodore is widely tipped to be front-wheel-drive like a Toyota Camry, not rear-wheel-drive as with every large Holden sedan since the first model in 1948.The new Commodore is widely tipped to be front-wheel-drive like a Toyota Camry.The new Commodore will do more than share its DNA with the next generation Opel Insignia, it will in effect be an Opel Insignia with a Holden badge, albeit with Australian input.Holden is on the record as stating that about one-in-three of all its future vehicles will be sourced from Opel in Germany.When the Opel Insignia eventually replaces the homegrown hero, it means the Commodore will have come full circle.The first Commodore sold in 1978 was a derivative of Opel’s European family sedan at the time.The Australian-made Commodore is due to reach the end of the line in late 2017.

Paramount pictures is using the 2014 Super Bowl to give us our first taste of the upcoming film Transformers: Age of Extinction.The upcoming fourth instalment of the Transformers franchise brings a new cast led by Mark Wahlberg, and new Tranformers too in the form of Dinobots.The General Motors tie up continues too with the sometimes-Camaro Bumblebee, but the only products visible in this clip are a Chevrolet version of the Holden Malibu and a Chevrolet Sonic (Holden Barina).We also know that Autobot head-honcho Optimus Prime will transform (he, he) from a Peterbilt to a Western Star for the film, which arrives in cinemas mid-year. Watch the desktop version of the Transformers: Age of Extinction Super Bowl teaser here. This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn

Holden's new new mid-sized hopeful, the Malibu, is battling to overcome the lacklustre start of its US twin. The American Malibu has just been rushed through an early update to add some kerb appeal and extra rear-seat space, setting the scene for a troubled touchdown for the car that now sits between the locally-made Cruze and Commodore. But Holden says it's not worried about the Malibu, for a very simple reason. "We actually have a different version of the car," the executive director of sales and marketing at Holden, Phil Brook, tells Carsguide. "Our car was designed to be a Holden from day one. We see a bit of an opportunity for it. We're happy with the way it looks, from front to rear." The Malibu for Australia is coming from Korea, where Holden designers Justin Thompson - the bodywork expert who also led the VF Commodore work - and interior specialist Yan-hong Huang were involved from the start. Holden has also done a lot of tweaking to the way the car drives, from its electric power steering to the suspension, engine response and noise suppression. "In the 'states, they had issues with two key things - the frontal look and rear-seat space," says Brook. "They had downsized the car. And this was the core, bread-and-butter Chevy." He says Holden is not expecting complaints about cabin space because people who want more have an obvious choice. "You know what it is. For us, we have the Commodore," he says. But what about the negative feedback from the American situation? "It hasn't been an issue outside the 'states. We don't see it as a problem. There is a different lineup and a different requirement here. "We've had a lot of input, from day one." But it's true that Holden has struggled with mid-sized cars in the past, from the miserable Epica that was parked back in 2011 back through the over-priced European Vectra to the re-badged Toyota Camry called the Apollo. And the situation in the USA paints the Malibu as a loser even before it gets on the road in Australia. "We argue that it's not a failure. It's done well in the 'states," Brooks says. "But is there an opportunity to do better? Yes." "It's a big, big change (locally). There is no comparison between this car and what we've done in the past." This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover  

Holden’s great four-cylinder hope has hit a hurdle before it has even arrived in showrooms. The new Holden Malibu mid-size sedan is a gas-guzzler compared to its four-cylinder rivals -- and even uses almost as much fuel as a Commodore V6. The issue is so sensitive that Holden has prepared its dealers with a sales kit that encourages them to highlight other features of the Malibu, such as the standard rear-view camera across the range, rather than the poor fuel economy. The Malibu was supposed to mark a return to form for Holden in the mid-size sedan class after lacklustre sales of the Epica, a rebadged and remodeled Daewoo. But the new Malibu has received a lukewarm response in North America and General Motors has admitted it fast-tracked a mid-life update. Holden, which sources the Malibu from South Korea, will not get the update until much later, and is instead releasing the model that is about to be superseded in the next 12 months. With an official combined cycle fuel consumption rating of 8.0L/100km the Holden Malibu uses more fuel than the Toyota Camry, Mazda6 and Hyundai i40. Only the Honda Accord (8.8L/100km) and the Ford Mondeo (9.5L/100km) are thirstier. The new Commodore V6 is said to use marginally more than the Malibu’s 8.0L/100km. The current VE Commodore V6 uses 8.9L/100km. In an embarrassing double-whammy, the Holden Malibu also has the least power among most of its peers, with just 123kW from its 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine. All its rivals except the Ford Mondeo have more than 130kW of power. The new Holden Malibu is due on sale next month priced from about $28,990 plus on-road costs. It will be available in two model grades with a choice of a 2.4-litre petrol engine or a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine. This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling  

The Malibu -- a replacement for the practical but unloved Epica -- will be available with a choice of 2.4-litre petrol or 2.0-litre turbo diesel engines. It also gets a premium audio system with Both engines will be paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with Active Select. It will also feature Holden MyLink technology when the mid-sized sedan is launched next year. Holden's Mike Devereux said Malibu is a stylish and aspirational new global model that will introduce a true mid-size contender to the Holden range with the latest in infotainment technology. "Malibu is a strong example of the exciting new generation of products coming from General Motors," Mr Devereux said. "It's a genuine premium sedan with strong visual appeal, mid-size interior packaging, Holden-tuned ride and handling and a surprising list of standard features. "And the addition of Holden MyLink ensures it will offer customers a truly compelling package." "Holden MyLink is very smart technology and Malibu will be among the first cars in our portfolio to get it. MyLink elevates wireless connectivity to a completely new level by enabling customers to control certain smartphone apps through Malibu's touchscreen. Malibu will compete against the likes of Camry, Mondeo and the Mazda6. "Our team has created a unique suspension tune for Australia and developed Malibu's transmission calibrations for multiple GM markets like Australia, Europe and North America," Mr Devereux said. "It's thanks to our vast technical expertise as a mature manufacturing, engineering and design centre that Holden is able to fine-tune the products we sell locally and provide our input for significant global programs like Malibu." Holden will announce full Malibu specification, pricing and model line-up closer to its launch in the second quarter of 2013.  

The arrival of the Malibu mid-sized sedan sets the stage for a sibling spat between it and the GM-owned Opel Insignia. The Australian arm of GM has a handful of Malibu medium sedans now on the road for local suspension and steering calibration in the lead-up to going on sale here next year.  Holden says its engineering team will be putting together the local chassis tune, as well as completing calibration work on the transmission for the Australian and overseas markets, something the Melbourne-based engineering team has done for a number of global GM products prior to Malibu. "The suspension and steering tune is for us in Australia only, the transmission calibration is being used elsewhere, we tend to do unique suspension work, some of the dynamics and handling are for the local market," Holden spokeswoman Kate Lonsdale says.  "It's going to compete in a quite different market segment (to the Insignia), similar in size but I they will be quite different offerings." The development work on the Malibu likely to go on sale mid next year and seen as a direct competitor for the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord Euro is being done at the company's Lang Lang proving ground as well as on public roads in Victoria. Holden integration and safety director Ian Butler says the local tailoring-to-taste of the Malibu by Holden's engineers was of considerable benefit. "Our engineers have paid close attention to the vehicles driving dynamics, ride and handling, suspension and comfort so Malibu will be sure to meet the discerning needs of drivers in this competitive segment," he says. "This is a fantastic global car but of course we want to make sure that it goes on sale with plenty of Holden input to ensure it suits Australia's unique and varied road conditions." The Malibu is seen by many as more of a threat to Commodore, being just 38mm shorter in overall length, 45mm narrower but sitting on a 177mm shorter in wheelbase, the Malibu is already on offer in the US with a petrol-electric mild-hybrid version as well as several four-cylinder powerplants. The US-built medium sedan is part of Holden's 2012 "product renaissance" which includes the new Colorado, the dedicated LPG Commodore and Volt electric range-extender vehicle.  Opel's Michelle Lang says the Insignia will sit on a chassis that carries over its European suspension and steering tune, which will appeal to Australian driver tastes. "We are taking the Euro-spec suspension, in terms of what is standard and optional features will be as per our requirements locally, but we're not doing any tuning locally," he says.  Ms Lang says the Opel brand is not being positioned as purely premium in the lead up to going on sale in September. "We're not premium, that's not where we're positioning ourselves, we're high-quality German engineered and designed. The Insignia will be a highly-specified vehicle."

... that will go on sale in Australia late next year. Engineers from Holden's Powertrain Engineering team are currently calibrating the Malibu for GM's global markets, where it will play an important role in the Chevrolet portfolio.The Malibu is being calibrated at Holden's Lang Lang Proving Ground in Victoria and is also being evaluated on public roads. It has been pictured at the coastal resort town of Phillip Island.Holden's work forms part of GM's global workshare strategy, which uses the available resources and skills of the company's engineers from around the world to perform development work on future model cars. It will see the team continue to work on Malibu until the end of 2012.This new model will bring the Malibu nameplate to Australia for the first time with a line-up of fuel efficient and responsive four-cylinder engines. Outside Australia, it will be sold under the Chevrolet name in nearly 100 countries around the world.

China is clearly on top of the car world in 2011.

It's called the Malibu and it will be ready for local roads in the second half of 2012. The all-new Malibu is being previewed at the Shanghai and New York motor shows this month and will be a global model for General Motors, wearing a Chevrolet badge in most countries except Australia. But the car has a local connection as its design - only a hint is provided in a teaser picture from GM this week of the LTZ model - is deliberately linked to the shape and style of the successful Chevrolet Camaro that was designed at Fishermans Bend for production in the USA. The Malibu name has a long history in the USA that tracks back to 1964, and the new car will be the eighth generation. But it's the first Malibu with a global role, as it will be sold in around 100 countries and built at two factories in the USA, one in China and one in Korea. It is expected to come with similar engines to Holden's Cruze - including a 2.4-litre four and a turbocharged 2.0-litre unit - and information from the USA points to chassis development by Opel in Europe. But Holden says it's too early to go into details for the Australian car. "It's a fair way in the future," says Holden spokesman, Jonathon Rose. But he confirms Malibu is coming and the global impact of the car. "It's a global car. It doesn't matter where it's built, it's the same car. And world class," he says. "They will be built all over the world. They will be built in the USA and they will be built in Korea. Our choice will be between the USA and Korea. It's still to be determined." The Malibu will the third mid-sized nameplate in Holden dealerships in recent years, following Vectra from Europe and the Korean-built Epica. The Epica has been a relative failure for Holden, with only 180 sales in the first two months of this year compared to 2116 for the class leading Toyota Camry and 854 for the Subaru Liberty. Still, the result is better than the 166 Epica sales in January and February 2010.