GM To Spend $100 Million Marketing New Malibu

There’s no question the Chevy Malibu is one of GM’s most important vehicles. When it was last redesigned in 2004, the blocky look turned many off to what had been a perennial best-seller. Now, the company has a bold new design and an already-praise-winning chassis— the Malibu is virtually identical to the new Saturn Aura — and they’re ready to tell the world about it.

GM is planning a $100 million marketing assault for the new Malibu so it can get the new car in front of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord shopper. A new, redesigned Accord goes on sale this fall. Sales of the new Malibu begin Nov. 1, and an efficient, entry-level four-cylinder model teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission will be available in early 2008. Prices haven’t been announced, but we expect base models to remain close to the current Malibu’s $17,215.

Chevy recently launched a Malibu-only website and has provided some new images of the car we’ve added to a gallery below. UPDATE: Additional photos have been added below.

GM Pedal to Metal for Malibu (The Detroit News)

Related
More Chevy Malibu News (KickingTires)

Comments

GM can spend all they want and it will never outsell the camry or accord. Sorry... it's just the way it is.

combine the impala and malibu sales...yeah they do, big time!

This car looks 300% beater then the Camry/Accord, or any other mid size car for that matter. GM car's are back, but you're probably right Ziggy. But a stellar improvement none the less.

Rental cars get better all the time

A 2-door coupe version would be really nice, especially since the Monte Carlo is supposed to go away.

Combine sales of the Impala and Malibu??? What?
Okay then - compare those combined sales with the combined sales of the Camry/Corolla and the Accord/Civic. Hey you could even add the Cobalt to the list and I still think Honda and Toyota have more sales. And this is with GM having 1/3 of their sales are fleet vehicles.

To quote Saturn: Rethink American. Yeah. Don't think American. Way to go GM. Take something that is working for a particular brand and smear it across your other ones even if it doesn't fit. Rename it something familiar and no one will notice...BRILLIANT.

It's not going to work no matter how much money you throw at it because no one cares about GM cars. For the money you spend on marketing you should just pay people to buy this thing.

I mean, the biggest question will be, "I should buy this because its a Saturn? Why not just buy the original?"

Sorry GM. In the t-ball of automotive, you keep swinging and missing.

Wow the front end and rear of this malibu look disgusting! very bad preportions of this malibu the rear looks odd as with the front grille. The only GM's i would buy is the new camaro,vette and commodore.

It's not going to work no matter how much money you throw at it because no one cares about GM cars. For the money you spend on marketing you should just pay people to buy this thing.

Ill still take a GM car over toyota or honda.

The tail lights of the new Malibu looks a lot like something from Buick. The bi-grill look is also not the most attractive on a sedan; otherwise it's 100% improved compared to its predecessor, but not the competition.

No 6 speed automatic (6T40E) - No Sale.

Is it just me?
The grille looks disgusting.
Plus, the interior's material is definitely on a tight budget. Even a 03 Accord have better quality interior. Way to go, GM, can't even beat a 5 year old model.

When I was talking about interior quality, I meant the silver/gray one, and the inside of the door.

If you are listening GM, this is your focus group. A redesign of the front and rear is in order. I bet when this thing falls flat, they blame the advertising.

Watch for incentives early in this launch. Also watch for recalls and a sales dip in the Saturn mirror of this thing. Saturn brand equity is about to go the way of subprime lending.

I am betting the current model will stick around for fleets & be named the "Classic"?! So any1 buying one will know exactly what it was used for!

I love how they slap that gaudy gold bow-tie on the front of everything. If I had a silver car why the hell would I want a gold emblem on the front of it. Like Ford, GM is still clueless in the design department. I can already hear the incentive packages being put together.

It's laughable that GM would try to compare anything to a Accord or Camry.

To be the voice of reason here, the new Malibu is virtually identical to the Saturn Aura which won North American Car of the Year last year and has gotten overall positive reviews. Our one knock on it has been the interior as it hasn't improved as much as other GM products like the Tahoe SUV or the GMC Acadia crossover. Although its probably a step up from the Dodge Avenger, although that's not saying much

When you see the Malibu in person it is also much more striking. I think it will sell well especially if they price it right and add that 6-speed asap. It'll be the only car in its class with a 6 speed 4 cylinder.

Good points Dave.

I brace for impact when I see the marketing since they just pass that on to consumers as advertising fees in the sales price...yeah.

Just from the side all I see is an Acura design not that that gets me all excited. I hope they fixed the electric power steering from the last model it was terrible in both reliability and performance.

Being built on the same platform as the Saturn does not mean they will be identical cars, let's see what the reviews say when it comes out before crushing it. What was GM going to do build another all new platform for a car in same segment, most all the other manufacturers share that platforms? GM use to just rebadge but they are doing better at making them actually drive different. The reality as well all know it is GM still needs to lose another brand.

I think it is so funny how you all say GM wont be able to sell this car or that the interior is cheap, accually, it is being praised for its HIGH QUALITY interior and I will laught at all you haters out there when GM is laughing all the way to the bank! (and to the top of the chart!!!) THIS IS A CAMRY KILLING!

"the Saturn Aura which won North American Car of the Year last year"

Oh, Dave, PLEASE...

I think we know how credible is that award.
A rebadged vehicle from Opel into Saturn beats a completely redesigned U.S. best selling sedan?
Just as credible as the poll you guys had with the Crown Vic and the Camry.
And on top of that, GM markets that car as a sports sedan, well, with a redline at around 6K RPM?
It qualifies as a sports sedan, maybe 20 years ago?
As long as GM can't get over the dated OHV design, sales are not going to come back up like it used to be.

D,
"it is being praised for its HIGH QUALITY interior"

Are they comparing only within GM's vehicles?
Anyway, arguing here won't get us anywhere, only the actual sales matter. So we just gotta see.

J,
Have you driven one? The Aura with the high powered V-6 definitely tops the current Camry as far as driving goes, hands down.

Why is everyone trashing this car? Yes it's true that the old Malibu was easily one of the dowdiest looking car on the road, however it was a pretty decent car once you got past it's dowdy looks. This car appears to be a major improvement in the styling category, and with an improved interior as well as more powerful engines and newer transmissions it looks like it will be a real winner for General Motors (as long as they at least kept everything that was good about the old Malibu, or hopefully improved upon it).

I really don't see how anyone can criticise the interior quality from a small picture. You don't get any idea of the material quality, gaps between parts, or how solid it is. Sure, it may be bad, but you just can't tell from what you see here.

As for the styling, given the limitations of the three box sedan format, this works fairly well. The front end treatment is heavy handed (in a way that the bolder Dodge Magnum front end isn't), but I don't think you can blame GM for sticking the Chevy emblem on the front: I've never seen anyone suggest Toyota or Honda should eliminate their quite noticable emblems.

I'll not be buying one, I don't do sedans (well, I might do an M5 if I could afford it!), but from appearances this car is competitive.

I like the front, it reminds me of a Camry but it looks better, not so bulky as the last Camry.

I liked the old model because it had a huge rear seat with lots of legroom. I hope this one keeps that.

I like the new Chevys and their "in your face" design, you like it or not, kind of Honda. Toyota is a bit boring, they don't take risks (when are we going to have a new Corolla?), and the only car they took some risk was very ugly (The FJ, what an insult to that great name). Of course, design is subjective, some people even like the FJ and the Camry.

Dave
I have driven the Aura, but unfortunately, it was the base model. However, when I was criticizing the award, I am not only based on how it drives at the limits. Unlike you guys who drives new cars and pushes to the limit as a job, I just drive cars in a practical way. And GM misses on something in very minor details. Like how can they not have a rear center armrest in 2007?! My 97 Accord had it, a 10 year old model, my GOD!
An overhead console is not available?
Braking assist not optional?
2 rear headsets?(Okay, this one can let it slide, some people don't like it. But I just take all mine off and store in the trunk.)
How can a sport sedan not have a spoiler in any way shape or form at least optional?
I have to admit it is a good thing that they have paddle shifters.
But on the other hand, the Camry SE V6 has more hp than the Aura XR, yet has better MPG. Plus weigh about 180 pounds less.
If a vehicle is good at certain trim levels, but others sucks, then the award should be given to that specific trim level.

Where have all these Toyota Zelots come from? Did the "Great Crown Vic upset of 2007" get posted on a Camry message board? And they've been lurking ever since?

Personally I'm NOT in the market for a midsize sedan right now but there are so many great choices it's a feast of multitudes. And a few years from now when they hit the used car market I'll be able to pick up a fine selection of used rides. From the Accord to the Altima, the Fusion and the Legacy.

Personally I like the looks of the Malibu Maxx, and I could go for the SS in that electric blue they offer.

So since none of your are interested, I'll try and get one for under $10k when my current wagon dies at 250k miles. (Oh I'm sorry, you won't touch anything over 30k miles will you)

I actually like the new Malibu quite a bit. I think there's one too many grills on the front (they could have done without the one below the now signature Chevy grill) Overall, I think it looks good.

The interior is nice too. I like how they were able to differentiate it so much from the Aura. Both have really nice looking layouts, so we'll just have to see how the perceived quality goes on this one.

I would like to see the total vehicle specs though. GM hasn't done well at controlling vehicle weight on some recent cars.

everyone can say all they want about this..but it is going to be a great success!

What the guy earlier was trying to say was combine all the sales of the impala and the current malibu and you'll have more out there than a camry...its call senergy-the impala is bigger and the malibu is smaller than the camry...so thats why you add them together...the cobalt does not compete with the camry...so saying combining the camry/corolla=stupid....

I remember when the camry first debuted online and everyone critized it for being ugly, but yet they still sell... the malibu is very striking in person!

Malibu has a great public perception, check out the latest poll on edmunds- its the 3rd most researched sedan! If you want to play the "rental car" game, try taking on nissan/ford/dodge because they are the leaders in the enterprise lot! its the only way they sell their vehicles!!!

I don't see brand bashing protection for the malibu dave...hope you're not being biased between american/imports!!

I find it funny how every Detroit car is a 'break through' or a 'Import beater'.

This Malibu will turn out just like the Aura and the G6 and all the other under-performing mid-size cars that Detroit sells.

I look forward to seeing Toyota take over the truck market as it's been a pleasure to purchase and drive Honda's and Toyota's for the past 14 years.

Wow... Another $100 million dollar expense for GM. This means they have to sell enough additional Malibu's to make a $100 million dollar profit- just to break even on marketing costs. And we all know how good GM is at being profitable, right?? (*hint*hint*, *wink*wink*)

I have no doubt Toyota will take the truck market in a few weeks, not years.... specially when they offer 8k discounts in the brand new 07 Tundra....

It's tough to tell in the pictures, but are the rear turn signals yellow or red? I don't understand why Detroit cars so frequently have red rear turn signals. What's worse is that some of the imports are now doing it also. In Europe, yellow signals are mandatory, for safety. Try being behind and to the side of a car with red turn signals, especially if you're in his blind spot. For a split second, you don't know if he's braking or signaling that he's about to come into your lane and maybe hit you.

Ok Henry.. When you brake, BOTH LIKES GO OFF! (omg i know right!) and then you have a blinker on... (wait for it) JUST THE ONE GOES OFF! (OMG I KNOW.. ITS CRAZY!!!).. A little bite picky there I would have to say!

Every time GM redesigns the Malibu, they say "We're not gonna sell as many these things to rental car companies any more." But, a few years pass and that's exactly what happens. Remember "The car you knew America could build."

I saw a 2008 Malibu at a local car show. Still has hard seats and hard plastic doors that are just inexcusable on a 25K car. It may look a little better, but the interior still looks cheap. When will GM wake up and learn.

Every time GM redesigns the Malibu, they say "We're not gonna sell as many these things to rental car companies any more." But, a few years pass and that's exactly what happens. Remember "The car you knew America could build."

I saw a 2008 Malibu at a local car show. Still has hard seats and hard plastic doors that are just inexcusable on a 25K car. It may look a little better, but the interior still looks cheap. When will GM wake up and learn.

I saw the 2008 malibu on the street. Believe me, this thing will not take any customers away from camry or honda.
all the hype over nothing