2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
Photo: © General Motors
Among the many changes made to make the 2016 Chevy Malibu the best version in the namebadge’s 50-plus-year history, the addition of a new hybrid model option may be the most significant.
The 2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid will rely on technology used in the new 2016 Chevy Volt to provide drivers fuel economy that is estimated by GM’s experts at around 48 mpg city, 45 mpg highway, and 47 mpg combined. This should serve as an attractive option for drivers looking for a reduced reliance on gasoline and more bang for the buck in terms of efficiency.
“Fuel efficiency is important to our customers, especially in the midsize segment and with an estimated 48 mpg city rating, the Malibu Hybrid delivers,” said GM President Dan Ammann.
The Malibu Hybrid is powered by a combination of an all-new 1.8-liter four-cylinder with direct injection and the same two-motor drive unit found in the 2016 Volt (only slightly modified), which will work together to provide 182 horsepower. The powertrain will be muscled by an 80-cell, 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which is capable of powering the Malibu Hybrid at speeds up to 55 mph on electricity alone.
2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Lithium-Ion Battery System
Of course, the Malibu Hybrid will bear the same aesthetic appeal of the reworked 2016 Malibu, including a long, lightweight body with a striking face. It will also feature the new Teen Driver system and a number of technologically advanced touches such as OnStar 4G LTE with built-in Wi-Fi and available wireless phone charging.
The Malibu Hybrid will be manufactured at the Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas, and is due in dealerships by spring 2016.
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