2008 Chevy Malibu

General Motors kicked off the third and final day of the North American International Auto Show press preview days. Having won two coveted automotive industry awards for the Chevrolet Silverado and the Saturn Aura, GM also holds the top spot as the largest automaker in the world. If the company continues to unveil stunning new products like the Aura, CTS and Malibu it may well retain that top spot.

The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is the car the company hopes will knock rival Toyota off the midsize segment pedestal. It has grown more than three inches in length and the wheelbase has been lengthened six-inches over the model it replaces. This increase will provide a more spacious cabin with greater occupant comfort.

The redesign of the Chevrolet Malibu carries a ‘dual-port grille’ in the fascia, what the company says will be the new face of Chevrolet, and twin round taillamps. Careful attention has been paid to detail in creating the Malibu’s exterior, which includes smaller panel gaps.

A 2.4 liter four-cylinder Ecotec with a four-speed automatic and an available 3.6 liter V6 powerplants promise to deliver performance and fuel economy benefits. A technically advanced six-speed automatic transmission is standard on the V6 and can be specified in the four-cylinder model.

The interior features premium materials to convey quality and value, an integrated instrument panel featuring a dual-cockpit design with prominent gauges backlit in blue, and a choice between metallic or wood grain accents.

The new Malibu will be offered in three trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ – all with standard head-curtain side air bags and front-seat thorax air bags, OnStar Gen 7 with remote diagnostics, and XM Satellite Radio. StabiliTrak electronic stability control is standard on both the LT and LTZ models, visually distinguished by front fog lamps and LED-lit taillamps.