Full 2008 Malibu pics!
The black and silver interior looks about 100x better to me than the other one but maybe if I saw them in person I'd see details in the black and silver that I don't care for and just can't make out in the dimly lit picture.
The only two things I instantly notice that I don't like is the gear shifter - looks generic and out of place... doesn't flow with the rest of the car. And the giant gold chevy badge on the back of an otherwise clean and soft looking rear.
The only two things I instantly notice that I don't like is the gear shifter - looks generic and out of place... doesn't flow with the rest of the car. And the giant gold chevy badge on the back of an otherwise clean and soft looking rear.
That looks quite good! Very Honda-esque and very upmarket judging from those shots.
The tail lights look good and the front isn't too bad... still not sold on that bold grille...
Anyway, I think this car deserves to succeed!
The tail lights look good and the front isn't too bad... still not sold on that bold grille...
Anyway, I think this car deserves to succeed!
The good:
• The body sides are handsome and restrained, producing a nice silhouette. The character lines are subtle, and the tall door sheetmetal combined with the coke bottle flair at the bottom lends substance. While it’s nothing extraordinary, it also has no jarring or cheap-looking elements like the current Malibu does. The fender flares are a nice touch.
• The general shape of the rear end is attractive. The dark grey plastic insert at the bottom does a good job of avoiding the big butt look like you see in, say, the C5.
• The interior is light-years ahead of the current model, although I’m not a fan of 3-spoke steering wheels.
The bad
• The Chevy “face”. Sorry, but it just looks cheap. The bar that splits the upper and lower sections seems too thick, which pushes the upper grille section too high. It gives the nose a protruding, awkward appearance similar to the Camry (really noticeable in the third picture). More slope to the hood, along with a single grille placed lower and inset in the facia would look a lot better.
• The taillights. Few cars nowadays have taillights that do not wrap into the body sides, and you can see why. From the rear three-quarter view they give the Malibu’s rear deck a stubby, pinched look instead of being graceful and integrated with the body sides.
• The reverse lights mounted on the trunk look tacked-on and just plain horrible. You see it sometimes on cars designed for other markets that need to add them this way for North American compliance, but rarely do you see that on a domestic car. Looks like such an afterthought.
Overall I'd give it a 7 out of 10. Fixing the nose would add at least a point to that.
• The body sides are handsome and restrained, producing a nice silhouette. The character lines are subtle, and the tall door sheetmetal combined with the coke bottle flair at the bottom lends substance. While it’s nothing extraordinary, it also has no jarring or cheap-looking elements like the current Malibu does. The fender flares are a nice touch.
• The general shape of the rear end is attractive. The dark grey plastic insert at the bottom does a good job of avoiding the big butt look like you see in, say, the C5.
• The interior is light-years ahead of the current model, although I’m not a fan of 3-spoke steering wheels.
The bad
• The Chevy “face”. Sorry, but it just looks cheap. The bar that splits the upper and lower sections seems too thick, which pushes the upper grille section too high. It gives the nose a protruding, awkward appearance similar to the Camry (really noticeable in the third picture). More slope to the hood, along with a single grille placed lower and inset in the facia would look a lot better.
• The taillights. Few cars nowadays have taillights that do not wrap into the body sides, and you can see why. From the rear three-quarter view they give the Malibu’s rear deck a stubby, pinched look instead of being graceful and integrated with the body sides.
• The reverse lights mounted on the trunk look tacked-on and just plain horrible. You see it sometimes on cars designed for other markets that need to add them this way for North American compliance, but rarely do you see that on a domestic car. Looks like such an afterthought.
Overall I'd give it a 7 out of 10. Fixing the nose would add at least a point to that.
The bad
• The Chevy “face”. Sorry, but it just looks cheap. The bar that splits the upper and lower sections seems too thick, which pushes the upper grille section too high. It gives the nose a protruding, awkward appearance similar to the Camry (really noticeable in the third picture). More slope to the hood, along with a single grille placed lower and inset in the facia would look a lot better.
• The Chevy “face”. Sorry, but it just looks cheap. The bar that splits the upper and lower sections seems too thick, which pushes the upper grille section too high. It gives the nose a protruding, awkward appearance similar to the Camry (really noticeable in the third picture). More slope to the hood, along with a single grille placed lower and inset in the facia would look a lot better.
rear lights are half jetta half charger(with a hint of prelude). GM should be more original here.
Front looks too much like a guppy fish cobalt.
Interior is good. (I'd say its great, but GM would take that inch and run with it.)
edit: I agree. I didn't know how to word it but you are right. The Chevy face is cheap looking. But maybe Red is right. They need to fire their photographer for making the thing look like that on the internet.
Front looks too much like a guppy fish cobalt.
Interior is good. (I'd say its great, but GM would take that inch and run with it.)
edit: I agree. I didn't know how to word it but you are right. The Chevy face is cheap looking. But maybe Red is right. They need to fire their photographer for making the thing look like that on the internet.
Last edited by number77; Dec 28, 2006 at 11:07 PM.
I'm digging it. Saturn folks are going to be pissed again, because the Aura just got upstaged (though it is still a handsome car, and perhaps has an advantage as far as the front ends are concerned).
Very sharp.
I'm also seriously digging that two tone interior.
I don't think the Aura has much to worry about -- except for that C-pillar maybe. Even though this interior is a massive improvement, you can tell even from these shots it's kinda cheap.
Although if you parked the two cars next to each other, it would be apparent they are 'kissing cousins'
Although if you parked the two cars next to each other, it would be apparent they are 'kissing cousins'
Looks like a Avalon almost?
Other than that, it definalty is bigger than any Epsilon thus far...and shows an attention to design from GM we have not seen in a while.
Other than that, it definalty is bigger than any Epsilon thus far...and shows an attention to design from GM we have not seen in a while.
Last edited by formula79; Dec 29, 2006 at 01:00 AM.
GM's photos suck!
My first impression is
at the size, it looks a heck of a lot better than the old Malibu and it's bigger too.
That one side shot I dunno if it's just me but the way the side profile of the car is set up and just the pure length of it it reminds me of a 60's Chevy in many ways.
I just wish they would have taken a better pic of the front cause it does it no justice at all. Though this looks to be a fine replacement and hopefully will get some sales.
Also I wonder if they got some extra LS4's laying around I think they'd fit nice in a next gen Malibu SS
My first impression is
at the size, it looks a heck of a lot better than the old Malibu and it's bigger too.That one side shot I dunno if it's just me but the way the side profile of the car is set up and just the pure length of it it reminds me of a 60's Chevy in many ways.
I just wish they would have taken a better pic of the front cause it does it no justice at all. Though this looks to be a fine replacement and hopefully will get some sales.
Also I wonder if they got some extra LS4's laying around I think they'd fit nice in a next gen Malibu SS






