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2011 Chevrolet Malibu | ||
| Price Range $21,975.00 - $27,015.00  | Fuel Economy 22 city / 33 highway Base Engine 169-horsepower L4 | Value Rating N/A |
Reports are coming in that General Motors is giving serious thought in releasing its next-gen Chevrolet Malibu midsized sedan as a four-cylinder only.
Rival automaker Hyundai has made the switch in its 2010 Sonata midsize sedan, a direct competitor to the Malibu, ditching the V-6 option for an all-four-cylinder range. GM recently launched its 2011 Buick Regal exclusively with four-cylinder engines, while a similar move is expected to become commonplace among all GM's midsize offerings before 2016, when new CAFE regulations take effect. Should the change take effect, GM's 2.4-liter direct-injected I-4 will likely fit the bill in the new Malibu.
The trend towards downsized cylinder count is nothing new for the Malibu over time. When the Malibu first roamed the streets back in the 1960s, it was offered with an available V-8; when it reemerged for the Nineties in 1997, a V-6 was the largest powerplant available.
This move doesn't signal the end for six-cylinder engines at GM, as it will likely continue to offer larger engines in its larger vehicles.
Source: GMinsidenews.com courtesy of Automobile Magazine Staff
