Those wishing for a Prius-beater will be left sorely disappointed – the Malibu Hybrid’s electric drivetrain combined with a 2.4L 4-cyl engine delivers only 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. To give you an idea of just how weak this is, Chevy’s own estimates claim it is only 2mpg better than the non-hybrid model. Of course, the car is covered in hybrid badges so everyone still thinks you care about the environment.
The Malibu hybrid works primarily by using regenerative braking and shutting off the engine when the car is stopped, but it does have the benefit of powering all vehicle accessories with the engine off and boosting peak power. GM plans to build the Malibu hybrid in October with sales beginning soon after.
Click ahead for more pictures.
Previous: GM is getting serious about its green credentials, with planned hybrid versions of the Cadillac Escalade as well as the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe line of SUVs, Saturn VUE and Mass Transit Buses that have already been put into production. Now comes details about its next hybrid model, the new Chevrolet Malibu, which according to Jalopnik has been redesigned for the 2008 model year.
The new Malibu is expected to share its electric-hybrid drivetrain with sister model, the Saturn Aura Hybrid. The car was spotted around the streets of Detroit sporting new hybrid badges on its flanks and revised rear-end.
Due to go sale in the coming months, GM’s new mid-sized sedan will go head-to-head with the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord and is packing a new 252hp 3.6L V6 powerplant mated to a six-speed auto. The hybrid model should follow soon after, but in the meantime head over to The GM Source to see the spy images of it.
