"Part of the beauty of the Epsilon architecture is that it's flexible enough to be 'tuned' to various models and markets," stated Gene Stefanyshyn, midsize vehicle line executive responsible for Malibu. "For the Malibu, we were able to work within that flexibility to come up with a chassis tuned for American roads that also delivers the kind of stringent performance, durability and refinement objectives more often associated with European and Japanese cars."
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| Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels in the Malibu have been greatly reduced. (Photo: General Motors) |
Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels have been tamed via a cast foam-rubber barrier covering the dash panel, a modular noise dampening plate inside the same panel, a compression-molded fiberglass-composite hood and insulator, and back and front "glove-fit" carpet modules. I'm impressed.
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| Chevy has a good reputation of offering well optioned cars even in base trim, and the Malibu should be no exception. (Photo: General Motors) |
When crawling around inside at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year I wasn't, however, overly impressed with the choices of plastics used nor particularly breathless with its fit and finish. While the car shown was obviously a pre-production prototype, and quality levels will no doubt increase, it will be hard to raise it to Honda Accord, Toyota Camry standards.
I like the idea of offering a DVD entertainment system in a midsize sedan though. Saturn already includes the system, which pops up from the center console to face rear passengers, in their L300 midsize sedan, that incidentally also shares the Epsilon architecture.
While the DVD system won't be standard, Chevy has a good reputation of offering well optioned cars even in base trim, Cavalier aside, so expect a decent level of appointments in standard trim. Chevrolet will offer two additional designations, starting with the LS and finalizing at the top end with the LT. The latter will include many of the features available in the premium car segment, such as available leather seating surfaces.