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New Models
AUTOS: Malibu Goes Back For Makeover
The newly redesigned 2013 midsize Chevy is getting a mid-cycle redo in response to media criticism and slipping sales.
A new front-fascia design is reportedly part of the 2013 Chevy Malibu makeover. (Photo: Chevrolet)
The recently revamped Chevrolet Malibu is going back for a mid-cycle refresh just a few months after the midsize sedan’s launch, according to General Motors CEO Dan Akerson.
The short turnaround is designed to address slipping sales and critics’ complaints about lackluster performance and bland styling, with Akerson telling Automotive News that the front-end design would be changed during the refresh.
The revamped Malibu is expected to debut sometime late next year.
The move by GM is similar to the action taken by Honda to redo the Civic’s redesign after just 18 months because of criticism of the compact car’s interior and drivability. Despite the complaints, the Civic has been the top-selling compact car of 2012. The reworked Civic was unveiled last week at the ongoing Los Angeles Auto Show.
Generally, redesigned cars go for three model years between updates.
Part of the poor reception for the new Malibu was what critics see as a crucial error by Chevrolet in launching the 2013 model. The first Malibus available this past spring to media reviewers and the public were eAssist versions powered by “mild-hybrid” drivetrains, which were panned for unimpressive performance and modest fuel-mileage gains.
Chevrolet launched the volume-model Malibu in August with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, with plans to add a 2-liter turbocharged sports version.
Among the Malibu’s critics was the influential Consumer Reports magazine, which rated the 2013 Chevy near the bottom of its list of 28 midsize sedans. Among the top recommended sedans in this tough, popular segment were sales leaders Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at
The short turnaround is designed to address slipping sales and critics’ complaints about lackluster performance and bland styling, with Akerson telling Automotive News that the front-end design would be changed during the refresh.
The revamped Malibu is expected to debut sometime late next year.
The move by GM is similar to the action taken by Honda to redo the Civic’s redesign after just 18 months because of criticism of the compact car’s interior and drivability. Despite the complaints, the Civic has been the top-selling compact car of 2012. The reworked Civic was unveiled last week at the ongoing Los Angeles Auto Show.
Generally, redesigned cars go for three model years between updates.
Part of the poor reception for the new Malibu was what critics see as a crucial error by Chevrolet in launching the 2013 model. The first Malibus available this past spring to media reviewers and the public were eAssist versions powered by “mild-hybrid” drivetrains, which were panned for unimpressive performance and modest fuel-mileage gains.
Chevrolet launched the volume-model Malibu in August with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, with plans to add a 2-liter turbocharged sports version.
Among the Malibu’s critics was the influential Consumer Reports magazine, which rated the 2013 Chevy near the bottom of its list of 28 midsize sedans. Among the top recommended sedans in this tough, popular segment were sales leaders Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at
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