GM Announces a Gasoline-Electric Hybrid Malibu

The Escape joins GM's hybrid Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups as the

Despite its economy car pretensions, the Malibu HEV may follow a recent trend to use hybrid power for improving performance rather than just saving fuel and cutting emissions. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

only truck-based HEVs on the market. But unlike GM's mild-hybrid trucks, which use electric power only to assist the gasoline engine without the ability to drive the wheels, the Malibu will sport a full-hybrid system designed to switch entirely into electric mode when the speedometer registers under 10 km/h (6 mph).

The Malibu hybrid's four-cylinder will displace 2.4-liters and drive the front-wheels via an automatic transmission. But despite its economy car pretensions the new model may follow a recent trend to use hybrid power for

By the time the hybrid Malibu becomes available, GM may choose a full-hybrid system for its other hybrid electric vehicles instead of the current mild-hybrid setup being used on its pickup trucks. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

improving performance rather than just saving fuel and cutting emissions. Reason for this speculation is that GM has announced only a 10 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over a conventional gasoline-powered base 4-cylinder Malibu, which is EPA rated at 9.8 km/100 L in the city and 6.6 km/100 L on the highway.

Does this mean GM will drop its mild-hybrid system in place of a full-hybrid version for all of its HEVs by the time the Malibu is made available? That's difficult to say, but full-hybrid systems, the type embraced by Toyota, offer many advantages.