Since the Fusion/Milan/MKZ and the Avenger/Sebring cars will have AWD will the Malibu/Aura get it eventually too? It would just seem strange for the GM cars not to get it when it seems like everyone else if offering it too. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one for following the crowds, but it seems like a bad idea to not atleast offer it since it seems like everything is going to AWD. There just seems to be too many pluses over just having FWD not to go with it, atleast on the top models.

 

If I remember correctly, I don't believe there will be AWD until Epsilon II.

 

Camry doesn't offer it, currently, and it was just redone for '07. I wonder if the new Accord will have it next year? It wouldn't surprise me, given Honda's media attention of late for the "super handling AWD" (is that cheesy or what?) in the MDX, RDX, and RL Acuras. Altima was just redone as well, and it doesn't have it.

On the other hand, the Malibu was just redone on Epsilon, and if it is true that AWD won't come until Epsilon II, then it seems the Malibu will have to do without for the next few years. Hopefully it will stay on a short product cycle, like the 4 years that Honda often does. The current Malibu ran for '04, '05, '06, and '07, with a new one coming in '08.

Certainly it isn't really "needed." This class of car has been around for decades now, with very little AWD availability. The Camrys, the Accords, the W cars, and so on have always been FWD. On the other hand, it does give a leg up. AWD means the Fusion (and sisters) now offer something rare in the midsize class. It would be cool if the Malibu did as well.

 

Impala/Accord/Camry are the best selling cars in the US and non have AWD. Ford and DCX are using AWD as a way to make there cars stand out from this very crowded and competative segment, Just like Chevy has done with a V8 in the Impala.

 

You know what cracks me up about all those Ford Fusion commercials? They show the top AWD V6 SEL version, then they throw up the price for the base FWD I4 S. Anyone who walks into a Ford dealership looking to buy the AWD V6 is in for a rude awakening.

 

Dude that is nothing new and EVERYBODY does it.

 

I know that Dude. It’s just that I find it somewhat humorous that some marketing guru is making money off ideas that assume the buying public is too gullible to notice these things.

 

The best is the $199 lease adds from Honda and others. It sounds good but then you find out it is 10,000mi a year for 48 months with $2000 down.