Posted on 09/28/2007 6:17:37 AM PDT by vietvet67
DETROIT: General Motors solved one problem this week by reaching a deal with the United Automobile Workers. Now it hopes its new Chevrolet Malibu will help solve another - winning sales and market share back from its Japanese rivals.
For years, family sedans have been a lower priority for GM and the other Detroit automakers. They focused instead on big trucks and sport utility vehicles, which earned tidy profits, while letting Toyota and Honda dominate the less-lucrative market for cars.
But the best days for those big vehicles have passed, and GM is eager to break the Asian stranglehold on midsize sedans, with a redesigned Chevrolet Malibu set to go on sale Nov. 2 that it views as its most important vehicle in years.
The company is spending $100 million to introduce the new "Bu," as executives call it, significantly more than it has for any other car in recent memory. It has to invest heavily, experts say, in order to make a dent in the market led by the Toyota Camry, the country's best-selling car for the past seven years, and the Honda Accord.
"It's tough to get the broad American public to reconsider an American car in that price class," the vice chairman of GM, Robert Lutz, said at an industry conference in northern Michigan last month. "The Camry and the Accord have established, and justifiably so, such strong brand value, which means that you've got to have a really outstanding car."
While the Malibu may be improved, so is its competition. This month, Honda began selling a redesigned Accord sedan that is bigger, more powerful and more luxurious than previous versions. The Camry and Nissan Altima were also overhauled last year.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
The newest Camry design looks like a egg on wheels. I'll wait to see this one on the lot before saying yay or nay.
I do love Red. Have to see what shade they come up with. I'll wait for some reviews before I'd even think of buying one.
I looked at the 2006 Malibu and Impala before buying my 2006 Hyundia Sonata. I'm happy with my choice but G.M and Ford are making good strides in quality IMHO.
My wife and I both drive a Camry now.
I don't know whether it is "LIKE" boring, but rather they want reliable, comfortable, good gas milage, decent power and reliable (yes, I said it twice). I'm not going to give up those to get something "exciting" for my primary car. That, and most car companies' idea of "exciting" is slapping a spoiler on the back of a sedan.
I’ve seen this car in person. The proportions are very good, the interior appears very well thought out, with materials and build quality that are up to the standards of Asian rivals. Some may not like the Chevy “corporate face” but it was drawn from the iconic late sixties and early seventies Impalas, Chevelles and Caprices. The look debuted on the latest iteration of the Impala in 06, which registered quite an uptick in sales, leading Camry in sales for a few reporting periods, but certainly not for the entire sales year. The 3.5 liter V-6 is a version of their 3.6, which is in a vehicle I own, very refined and good power, 275 hp., 25+ highway mpg, and this is in a 5,000 GVW vehicle (GMC Acadia). The direct injection version of this engine, installed in the new Cadillac CTS (stunning car, btw) does better still, 300 hp, better mileage. All these vehicles have a new, computer-controlled 6 speed transmission that is state of the art. I’m proud of what GM has done, as far as turning itself around under Bob Lutz. Cadillac is back, definitely. If they would only produce the Sixteen concept, with or without the V-16. Chevy is coming along nicely. The Lambda series CUV’s (Acadia, Outlook and Enclave) have achieved sales domination with less than two years on the market. Those of you who, for whatever reason, cheer on the demise of domestic automobile manufacturing are in for a surprise.
GM dealers are notorious for not honoring warranties.
Who cares what it looks like. Point A to Point B ... without paying mechanics.
It's sad, but entirely believable given the miserable products the big three sold for so long.
My son in law helped build that sequoia
I have a 2005 Impala and love it. It has been a very solid and dependable car. It has 65,000 on it and the only maintenance, beside new brakes, has been routine maintenance. I always have and always will buy American. I am never going to line Japanese, German or Korean pockets ever.
The Camry is homely? Wow, what do you think is stylish?
Uh, the guys commenting on the styling.
The LeSabre chassis is something like 23 years old, the 3800/3.8L/231 is about 40 years old, and GM is just *now* working most of the bugs out of it?
There’s a reason (actually, many reasons) why they’re so cheap.
Meanwhile, over at Toyota, the 3.5L engine in the Camry produces 268 horsepower and gets 28mpg highway. At Nissan, their 3.5L produces 270hp in the Altima and gets about the same mileage as you do.
220hp from a 3.8L is just weak these days.
You left out engineering and design. I also own two Toyotas and will be sticking with them until Toyota gives me a reason to quit buying them.
The 1964 Malibu had an SS version with a 396ci engine which to this day is still my all time favorite muscle car. If they could take this same Malibu and have options from a 4 cylinder engine that gets over 35 mpg to a small V8 that blows everything else off the road, they might have something. Also, they might take some time and make sure it handles and feels as well as a Camry or Accord before they go too far with my ideas :)
I’m still in love with my 1965 Malibu 2 door hardtop. As far as I’m concerned, that was the best styled Malibu Chevy has ever made.
You wish. There’s two guys at the end of the Suburban/Yukon line in Arlington, TX whose entire job is to remove all the trash that the workers throw in the vehicle as it goes down the line. And I’ve personally seen new 2007 GMs that were missing parts.
Remember, at GM, the *UAW* runs quality control on the line.
I’ll consider buying a Chevrolet when the brand can be mentioned in polite conversation without snickering, snorts and guffaws or when Hell freezes over, whichever comes first. (Your mileage may vary.)
I’m still in love with my 1965 Malibu 2 door hardtop. As far as I’m concerned, that was the best styled Malibu Chevy has ever made.
Sales domination? Erm... not so much. IIRC, the sales leaders in that segment are still *not* the Lambda cars.
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