Chevrolet Performance Takes Many Forms at SEMA Show

Expanded 'Shop Talk' Displays, Malibu Turbo Performance Concept featured

From stylized mini cars to drag strip-conquering muscle cars, Chevrolet will show its broadest-ever range of performance and personalization choices at the 2012 SEMA Show. The annual automotive aftermarket extravaganza kicks off Oct. 30.

Last week, Chevrolet previewed a squadron of small-car concepts debuting at the event, while performance-oriented visions of the new Malibu Turbo and the forthcoming 2014 Impala will also be on hand. Chevy's display wouldn't be complete without a few Corvette and Camaro concepts, but their details are being kept under wraps until the show opens.

'At Chevrolet, performance comes in many different forms that appeal to many different customers – and that's exactly what we demonstrate at the SEMA Show,' said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. 'We play close attention to the reaction our concepts receive, because the feedback helps determine the viability for producing new accessories and even special-edition production vehicles.'

Chevrolet is taking its popular Shop Talk garage experience display to a higher level this year, too. Building on the success of the engine-building demonstrations last year, the new Shop Talk display will offer four 'bays' of activities:

•Crate Powertrain Systems – Chevrolet Performance's engines, transmissions and controllers are featured, along with a crate powertrain system installed on the open chassis of a 1988 Monte Carlo SS.

•Chevrolet Performance Parts and Accessories – Displays of new Camaro ZL1- and 1LE-based upgrade kits, along with exterior and interior enhancements are on hand, with installation demonstrations performed on a Camaro SS throughout the event.

•Sonic Personalization Installation – Chevrolet Performance brakes, suspension components and wheels, along with Z-Spec accessories, will be demonstrated with live installation sessions on an Inferno Orange Metallic Sonic.

•Build Your Own Crate Engine – The assembly procedures for a supercharged LS9 crate engine will be demonstrated, showing the steps customers take when they purchase the Build Your Own Crate Engine option with an LS7 or LS9 engine from Chevrolet Performance.

'Chevrolet Performance is the direct line from the factory for performance and personalization parts and the SEMA Show gives us the chance to show everything our engineers have been working on,' said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. 'From Sonic to Cruze, to Camaro, Corvette and Silverado, we offer more parts and accessories than anyone in the aftermarket.'

Chevrolet Performance's range includes E-Rod emissions-compliant crate engines, which have received Executive Order numbers from California Air Resources Board – making them legal for installation in more than 20 million pre-1996 vehicles in California.

Malibu Turbo Performance Concept

With its new 2.0L turbocharged engine producing 20 pounds of boost – to generate 259 horsepower – the 2013 Malibu Turbo can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph. That makes it the fastest Malibu ever from Chevrolet.

Designers and engineers gave the Malibu Turbo Performance Concept an aggressive edge, with a blend of high-performance and upscale appointments inside and out, wrapping them in Berlin Blue Tricoat exterior paint and a Jet Black/Navy Blue interior. It's only a vision of where the Malibu Turbo production model could go, but those designers and engineers will be listening to the reaction it elicits in Vegas. The concept's unique elements include:

•Ground effects package, including front splitter, rockers and rear diffuser, accented in Heroic Blue

•Custom lower grille and fog lamp grilles

•Black ice-tinted chrome accents

•Blaze Red-painted fog lamp bezels and inner exhaust bezels

•Black-painted mesh grille inserts, fog lamp grilles, window surround moldings and wheel center caps

•Clear tail lamp lenses

•Unique 'Turbo' badges

•New 20x8.5-inch aluminum wheels in Night Rider chrome

•Pirelli PZero 255/35ZR20 tires

•RECARO sport seats trimmed in Jet Black leather and Navy Blue suede, with red accent stitching

•Jet Black leather and Navy Blue suede-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, door panels and instrument panel

•Navy Blue suede-wrapped shift boot

•Dark Argent and black chrome trim plates.

Complementing the turbocharged powertrain is a Chevrolet Performance concept HiPer Strut front suspension and rear springs, concept six-piston front brake calipers used with two-piece cross-drilled rotors and a concept cold-air intake system to help the force-inducted engine draw cooler, denser air, which can help it make more power.

2014 Impala Concept

The all-new 2014 Impala – Chevrolet's flagship full-size sedan – was redesigned to deliver greater style, refinement and technology. A personalized vision of the new Impala will be shown at the SEMA Show, featuring a red exterior and black leather interior along with Black Ice-tinted chrome accents, refinished exterior trim and refinished 20-inch wheels.

The Impala goes on sale in early 2013 as the 10th generation of one of the industry's most enduring – and popular – nameplates. Production highlights include:

•All-new exterior design with a sleek proportion, sculpted body sides, active grille shutters, standard 18-inch wheels and projector-beam headlamps – high-intensity discharge headlamps and LED daytime running lamps standard on LTZ models

•A choice of one of three powertrains engineered to deliver performance and efficiency

•All-new interior with flowing design and integrated center stack that incorporates an available eight-inch touch screen display with Chevrolet MyLink

•Roomier feel with more front and rear legroom and generous storage compartments

•Quieter environment with a greater emphasis on comfort – including active noise cancelation with four-cylinder powertrains

•360 degrees of active safety features include 10 standard airbags and OnStar, along with available features such as full-speed-range adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, side blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, rear camera and rear-park assist.

Impala was America's best-selling full-size sedan in 2011 with sales of more than 171,000, which earned it a place among the year's 10 best-selling cars overall, along with Chevrolet Malibu and Cruze.

Small-car contingent

Chevrolet explores the wilder side of its mini, small and compact cars at the SEMA Show this year, with a stable of stylized Spark, Sonic and Cruze concepts. The cars demonstrate the possibilities for customers who want a more personalized driving experience. They include:

•Spark Z-Spec – It demonstrates a cohesive and branded package of enhancements drawn from accessories already available through Chevrolet dealers – giving the cheeky Spark a definite attitude.

•Spark Sinister – The aggressive-looking concept blends rally-inspired exterior cues with a black appearance for a night-racing aesthetic that looks at home in the shadows of a city's industrial district.

•Sonic Z-Spec 1 – This performance-oriented vision of the Sonic sedan blends the Z-Spec aesthetic with a more capable driving experience, including a power-enhancing exhaust system and upgraded brakes. The capability is matched with street-smart good looks and decked out in a custom Synergy Green exterior color.

•Sonic Z-Spec 2.5 – A tuner-inspired concept with the performance to back up its aggressive stance, the Sonic Z-Spec 2.5 sedan shows what's attainable with Chevrolet Performance and Chevrolet Accessories parts, along with select aftermarket components and a dash of color.

•Cruze Upscale – The compact sedan moves up a few rungs on the luxury ladder with a Burnished Brandy Metallic exterior and unique exterior appointments. Inside is a brown leather-trimmed interior. This is a Cruze that exudes comfort, taste and style.

by Chevrolet

Named for Malibu, California, the Malibu name has had a distinct history that began in 1963 and continued for nearly 20 years. Following a thirteen-year break, the Chevy Malibu name once again appeared in 1996, and again in 2003 as the latest generation was presented.

The name Malibu was originally utilized as the description for Chevrolet's top series models in the Chevelle line in 1964. This line continued all the way up to the 1983 model year. A mid-sized vehicle, the Malibu is produced in the United States by General Motors. Attempting to stay smaller than the full-size Impala model, the Malibu is marketed in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Israel.

1964 was the original production year of the Chevelle Malibu. Production continued until 1972 and the Malibu was restyled for the 73 model year. The lineup included the base Chevelle Deluxe, mid-range Malibu and the top-line Laguna. The Deluxe was dropped in 1974 and the Malibu took the place as the entry-level Chevelle. The Malibu classic also replaced the Laguna trim package. Continuing until 197, the SS was introduced and replaced the Laguna S-3 model.

Except the Monte Carlo coupe, the Malibu name replaced the Chevelle name on all mid-sized Chevrolets for the 1978 model year. As this was the down-sized version in comparison to previous mid-sized Chevrolets, only two trim levels were available, Malibu and Malibu Classic. A total of three body-styles were introduced, the station wagon, coupe and sedan. In 1981, the two-door coupe, which was mnemonic of the 1964 Chevelle hardtop was last produced. Today this coupe has been a highly sought after collector item for drag racers.

Filling the void for mid-sized police vehicles, once the Chevrolet Nova ended production, the 9C1 police option was transferred to the 4-door Malibu line. A special order of Malibu sedans was also produced in 1981 by GM Canada, though this was eventually rejected due to quality concerns. These Malibu's were considered undesirable with the combination of the smallest V6 engine and a 3-speed manual transmission and the 'Iraqui Taxi's' were auctioned off to the public at an extremely reduced rate.

The final year that a Malibu Classic was marketed, the 82 Malibu shared GM's re-designated rear-wheel drive G platform with the Pontiac Grand Prix and the Oldsmobile Cutlass. Before being replaced by the front-wheel drive Chevrolet Celebrity, 4-door sedan Malibu's were produced until 1983. The El Camino continued to be produced in 1987 though the sedan and wagon were soon phased out.

For 1997, the Malibu was named Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year. In the same year and an all new front-wheel drive Malibu built on an extended wheelbase version of the GM N platform was introduced. The Malibu shared the N platform the with Pontiac Grand Am, Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Alero and Achieva and was produced at the Oklahoma City Assembly plant and the Wilmington Assembly plant. Production was eventually moved to Lansing, Michigan.

Before the Oldsmobile Alero, the Oldsmobile Cutlass was a clone of the Malibu as a stopgap vehicle and replaced the Chevy Corsica. Falling between the Cavalier and the Lumina in the Chevrolet lineup, the Malibu has taken the place of the now discontinued Corsica. A high level of standard equipment is found in the Malibu, and due to the competitive nature of midsize sedan market, the price is highly aggressive.

An all-new, front-wheel-drive midsize sedan was introduced in 1997 for the model year.

Emphasized body edges are showcased in the present series, which is a mid-sized, 5-seat sedan that is constructed on the Epsilon chassis designed in Germany also used in the Opel Vectra and Saab 9-3.

Malibu's were designed with a front grille with the Malibu logo in silver in the center from 97 to 99. The blue Chevrolet emblem on the front grille was placed on the 2000 to 2003 models. In 2000, the 3.1 L V6 was updated with 170 hp while the 4-cylinder was dropped. The 4-cylinder was reintroduced in 2004, while the N-body Malibu/Chevrolet Classic continued in production until 05.

In 2008, the Malibu is scheduled to be redesigned and built on the long-wheelbase Epsilon platform before being released to the public.

by Jessican Donaldson

Chevrolet Marks 50Th Anniversary Of First Malibu

DETROIT – In 1964, a gallon of gas cost 30 cents and a movie ticket cost $1.25. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the year at 874 and The Beatles made their historic appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. It was also the year Chevrolet introduced the Malibu.

What a difference half a century makes.

The 2014 Malibu is a technologically advanced midsize sedan delivering efficiency, comfort and connectivity unimagined in 1964. Compared with the 2013 model, a new, standard 2.5L engine with stop/start technology contributes to 14 percent greater fuel economy in the city (25 mpg) and 6 percent improved mileage on the highway (36 mpg).

Stylish for its day, Malibu made its mid-1960s debut as Chevrolet's first 'intermediate' car – and one of the first midsize cars in America. Before then, Chevrolet's passenger car lineup consisted of a range of full-size models, headlined by Impala, along with the compact Chevy II (Nova), Corvair and Corvette.

Named for the Los Angeles-area enclave that was center of the beach culture in the 1960s, the Malibu was the top trim line for the intermediate platform, which also included the Chevelle as an entry-level model, and the El Camino truck. It was lauded for its robust, body-on-frame construction and responsive coil-spring front suspension.

The 2014 Malibu is the eighth generation of the nameplate and its standard 2.5L four-cylinder engine delivers 65 percent more horsepower than the original Malibu's standard 3.2L six-cylinder. The technological progress extends to safety, comfort and connectivity features. What has not changed is Malibu's mission as a midsize car with styling that stands the test of time.

Generation 1 – 1964-1967

Although originally launched as premium sedan for families, the first Malibu was quickly caught up in the muscle car wars of the 1960s and soon after its introduction, the sporty Malibu SS was born. The Chevelle SS took the lead for Chevrolet's muscle cars in 1966 and the Malibu continued as the premium model, tailored for the growing number of suburban customers who sought roominess yet efficiency for their long commutes everyday.

Generation 2 – 1968-1972

Based on the original intermediate platform, the 1968-72 models' dimensions shifted with a slightly shorter 112-inch wheelbase for coupes and convertibles and a longer, 116-inch wheelbase for sedans and wagons. Like the 1964-67 models, each model year in the second generation had distinctive year-over-year styling differences.

Generation 3 – 1973-1977

The 1973 introduction of the third-generation Malibu brought a new frame that retained the previous 112-/116-inch wheelbases, but to accommodate new federal crash standards, the bodies grew about five inches in length and one inch in width. A European-inspired Laguna model briefly dethroned the Malibu from its perch atop the midsize hierarchy.

Generation 4 – 1978-1983

Chevrolet discontinued the Chevelle line after 1977 and the next generation of downsized midsize cars would stick strictly with the Malibu name from 1978 onward. They were a foot shorter and more than 500 pounds lighter, offering V-6 and V-8 engines. There was even a dedicated police car package.

Generation 5 – 1997-2003

After a five-year run with the fourth generation, the sun set on Malibu from 1984 until 1997, when it was reborn as an all-new, front-wheel-drive sedan, offering four- and six-cylinder engines. It was named Motor Trend Car of the Year for 1997.

Generation 6 – 2004-2007

Malibu moved to GM's award-winning global architecture for 2004, offering greater technology, efficiency and performance – including the return of the Malibu SS, which featured a 240-horsepower 3.9L V-6. The Malibu range also included the Malibu Maxx five-door extended sedan, which offered greater cargo room and innovations such as the ability of the rear seat to slide seven inches fore and after and reclining rear seat.

Generation 7 – 2008-2012

Riding on an enhanced, longer version of the architecture introduced on the 2004 Malibu, the seventh-generation models introduced greater levels of refinement, performance and efficiency – along with enhanced safety features, including standard head curtain side air bags. It was voted the 2008 North American Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Generation 8 – 2013-2014

Redesigned for 2013, Chevrolet further enhanced Malibu for 2014 with greater efficiency, new connectivity features, comfort enhancements and a new front-end appearance. It offers the segment's first engine with standard stop/start technology and an available 2.0L turbo engine with 259 horsepower that continues a performance legacy established 50 years ago.

by Chevrolet