Holden Malibu, $28,490.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by csv8

More importantly, affect Focus sales ???

WTF?? It's a completely different category, type of vehicle and price bracket

[stevz]

Originally Posted by naddis01

I predict 300-400 sales per month.

Likewise.
Medium-large fwd sedans just do not sell in large numbers in this country. Even cars which are considered 'premium' like Accord, Mazda 6 etc struggle to sell 600 units per month.
This is the main reason why I am confident that Commodore will remain rwd. Why would Holden switch to fwd to achieve half the sales of the current rwd version? It just doesn't make sense. Devereux has also previously stated that "rwd is in Commodore's DNA". Make of that what you will.....

[stevz]

Originally Posted by dave351cid

seen an add for these the other day. am i guessing right that it would be another rebadged deawoo out of korea like the cruze

Considering that Daewoo no longer exists and Cruze is a globally developed GM vehicle which is built in Adelaide, I think you are guessing completely wrong.

[buggerlugs]

I just come back from 5 days down south and I got a Cruise, 2012 model as a rental car. Surprised with all the features and other than the steering feeling very touchy it was a great car and didn't feel cheap.............

[dave351cid]

from this page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Malibu

" Markets[edit]The Malibu will be available in "nearly 100 countries on six continents". In the United States, it will be manufactured in two plants, Fairfax, KS and Detroit-Hamtramck.[45] In Australia, the Malibu will replace the Holden Epica, and debut in 2013 as the Holden Malibu. It will fit between the Holden Cruze and Holden Commodore.[46] In South Korea, the Malibu replaces the Daewoo Tosca, as GM has phased-out the Daewoo brand in favor of Chevrolet. Korea was the first market to get the Malibu, in late 2011, followed by China later in 2011 and North America beginning in early 2012.[47]"

dosnt say where the car was designed but it sounds like another GM korea job sold as chev like they have been for years. my money is on the Australian versions are coming from asia, not america. not saying that is a negative thing from the build quality i have seen of some US cars. but i think it will mislead/confuse a lot of the general public when the sales guy tells them its a Chev. most people will think that all chevs come from america.

[csv8]

Holdens website has a comparison between the Malibu>Camry Altise>i40>Mondeo LX.
Equipment level is higher on the Malibu than the other cars.

[Road Games]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

It looks pretty ugly and thats coming from me who is a front wheel drive fanboy who likes most of the American designs.

[stang65]

Originally Posted by stevz

Considering that Daewoo no longer exists and Cruze is a globally developed GM vehicle which is built in Adelaide, I think you are guessing completely wrong.

Daewoo no longer exists because it is now called GM Korea

Development [edit]

Underpinned by the front-wheel drive GM Delta II platform, GM has confirmed the Cruze development program occurred under a global design and engineering team.[25] The Company said GM Daewoo in South Korea played a leading role in the design and engineering of the Cruze, along with GM's German-based Opel division.[26][27][28] This development program spanned over 27 months at a cost of US$4 billion. A total of 221 prototypes were tested in Australia, Canada, China, South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.[29]


The fact is you can assemble it here but it`s still a Daewoo.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by stang65

Daewoo no longer exists because it is now called GM Korea

Development [edit]

Underpinned by the front-wheel drive GM Delta II platform, GM has confirmed the Cruze development program occurred under a global design and engineering team.[25] The Company said GM Daewoo in South Korea played a leading role in the design and engineering of the Cruze, along with GM's German-based Opel division.[26][27][28] This development program spanned over 27 months at a cost of US$4 billion. A total of 221 prototypes were tested in Australia, Canada, China, South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.[29]


The fact is you can assemble it here but it`s still a Daewoo.

It was globally developed by several GM divisions including the former GM Daewoo, with testing done in several countries around the world, but somehow this makes it exclusively a Daewoo. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense...
So when the next generation Cruze is released, will that just be a Daewoo too, considering that Daewoo no longer exists?
It is like people who put Chev badges on Commodores and call the LS engines a Chev motor, when in reality it is a GM motor which is used by Chev.

[Road Games]

Good discussion...

[Poetic Justice]

Methinks the facelift would have been a better proposition...

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by SCUD

Methinks the facelift would have been a better proposition...

image

image

So that's what happens when a Camaro makes sexy time with a Cruze!

I don't hate it.

[csv8]

Does it come with the bow tie as an option ?
and we don't get the turbo engine..http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...bo-test-review

[JG66ME]

I passed a left hand drive drive Chevrolet SS version of this car on the Calder HWY this morning heading from Calder park to Melbourne. Looked ok in the flesh but not as good as the Mondeo. It looked close to Commodore size.

[tranquilized]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Part of the reason why GM USA revamped their Malibu was that the interior wasn't substantially bigger than the Cruze.
I see this model going down by the bow just as Epica and Vectra before it did.

If GM brought in FWD/AWD Impala, I'd almost bet that VF would curl up and die...

Nice front end on those Impala's, but god damn those bulbous rear quarters are just downright offensive.

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by stang65

Daewoo no longer exists because it is now called GM Korea

Development [edit]

Underpinned by the front-wheel drive GM Delta II platform, GM has confirmed the Cruze development program occurred under a global design and engineering team.[25] The Company said GM Daewoo in South Korea played a leading role in the design and engineering of the Cruze, along with GM's German-based Opel division.[26][27][28] This development program spanned over 27 months at a cost of US$4 billion. A total of 221 prototypes were tested in Australia, Canada, China, South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.[29]


The fact is you can assemble it here but it`s still a Daewoo.

So if you import thai and indian made fords are they still fords?
Or just cheap junk?

[stevz]

Originally Posted by MethodX

So if you import thai and indian made fords are they still fords?
Or just cheap junk?

An Indian built car? I shudder at the thought.

[Ben73]

How many people out there think "Hmm I want a Sedan, The Cruze is a tiny bit too small, the commodore is a tiny bit too big."

If the cruise is a Medium Sedan and the commodore is a large, what's that make the Malibu? A large medium or a small large?

If they brought something like the Suburban here for a reasonable price, I'd jump at it.
But no, we get another boring sedan.

[csv8]

Ben73..drove the Impala in the States..not too bad...

[P6LTD351]

Goodbye Commodore

[ILLaViTaR]

Looks gay enough to star in a disney movie but besides the badge it looks like a camry!

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Part of the reason why GM USA revamped their Malibu was that the interior wasn't substantially bigger than the Cruze.
I see this model going down by the bow just as Epica and Vectra before it did.

If GM brought in FWD/AWD Impala, I'd almost bet that VF would curl up and die...

I thought they dropped Vectra due to costs (and subsequently Corsa and Astra) relating to their Opel origins. GM hasnt had many other traditional medium sized competitors for Holden to bring in as alternatives

[Happyone]

Looks like it's really being pitched at the Toyota Camry and Aurion market. The price point could be a winner with the corporate sector looking at shaving costs ...yeah .. it could be a winner ...but I wouldn't be rushing out to buy one !

I'll wait for the new Ford Mustang !!

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by JET270

image

[bigwil]

Originally Posted by SCUD

Methinks the facelift would have been a better proposition...

image

image

Looks better than the VF.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by SCUD

Methinks the facelift would have been a better proposition...

image

image

Must say i do like that.


Even if Commodore went FWD it will still sell, most of the people that buy em dont care which way it drives they buy commodores, because they are commodores and because its 'all strayan' etc etc just like the falcon was...

[ken1939]

Now I am trying to figure out if the Chevy Malibu is the Holden, or the Holden is the Chevy Malibu? This the Pontiac G8 all over again.

At least I can build a commodore ute in the states by using the front half of the G8 and a doner commodore. Eh, to much work, rather have a Falcon.

[Brazen]

The Malibu is bombing in Europe sales-wise

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by Brazen

The Malibu is bombing in Europe sales-wise

They've got the Opel Insignia there too though

[Road Games]

Originally Posted by bigwil

Looks better than the VF.

O'rly