Chevrolet News:Chevrolet Announces A 2.0L Turbo-4 For The Malibu

[William Maley]

We’ve told you about the Chevrolet Malibu’s engine lineup; a 2.4L mild hybrid system in the Malibu ECO producing 180 HP and a 2.5L inline-4 producing 190 HP. Now, there’s a third engine coming to the new Malibu.

This week, General Motors announced a 2.0L Turbo-4 would be available a year after the Malibu goes on sale. GM hasn’t said anything about the engine, but we can take a guess as to what could lie under the Malibu’s hood. The Buick Regal offers two variations of a 2.0L Turbo; the Regal Turbo with 220 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque and Regal GS with 270 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque. Most likely, the Malibu will get the Regal Turbo’s setup or be somewhere in the middle.

The decision to offer a turbo-4 seems to following in the footsteps of Hyundai and Kia which both offer turbo-4s instead of V6s.

We’ll learn more about the turbo engine in the coming months.

Source: Automobile Magazine

Related:

How Much For The Chevrolet Malibu ECO?

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[ocnblu]

Turbo 2.0 is a nice addition, but it's still risky to follow those who eschew the V6. Toyota and likely Honda will continue their V6s in Camry and Accord, since GM is a follower and not a leader these days, I think they followed the wrong rabbit down the hole.

[hyperv6]

I really don't see it as much of a risk as this once would have been, The V6 in this class is not a common engine. I own a new Malibu now with the 3.6 and look for others out there as I see few. they are wasy to pick out as they are the Malibus with 18" wheels and two tail pipes only on LTZ and LT2 models. I find most have the smaller tires and one tail pipe telling what engine they have.

Second when more people get behind the wheel of the Turbo they will find it a better engine than the NA Eco most are buying. While it may be down on power the DI Turbo has more bottom end since they part the Torque starting at the low end and hold it the whole way. My 3.6 has good power but it just does not have the pull feeling my Turbo engine has. The 3.6 feels more like the Northstar where the power comes on later and higher in the revs.

Now if this was an Impala replacment I would see an issue with no V6 option.

Not we have heard little cry of the lack of 6 cylinders in the Regal. At that price point I would think they would have had more demand there. As long as the V6 is offered as an option in the Impala they will be fine.

[Drew Dowdell]

I don't see it as a risk at all. GM can always turn up the boost a bit if they think that more horsepower will drive sales. I no longer think that is the case. 300hp is pretty much the extreme upper limit of what a typical family sedan shopper will ever insist on anyway. Most Camry and Accord drivers are happily cruising along with their 160 - 180hp 4-bangers.

The key for the Malibu will be having great torque down low in the RPM range. If they can do that, the horsepower number won't matter so much.

[regfootball]

the turbo four is increasingly becoming what people are looking for as the perception of shoppers (I can tell you first hand) is that 6's guzzle gas, just like they believed 8's do.

[Carguy]

I hope so as to be competitive they use the 270HP-295FT,LB or Torque version from the Regal GS. Then that GS could get a boost to 300HP. 220HP will not be enough with the new 2.5L putting out nearly 200 itself! Even though I do not believe that Hyundai/Kia is truly getting 274HP from their 2.0L I4 its perception that counts more then reality in this competitive market!

[NeonLX]

How heavy is the Malibu anticipated to be?

[SoCalCTS]

Since Chevrolet is also now playing the role of Pontiac, I think they need a more powerful performance engine. 190 hp turbo? lame.

[Drew Dowdell]

190 hp is the non-turbo SoCal

[Drew Dowdell]

Look for the turbo to be between 260 and 280

[Carguy]

Look for the turbo to be between 260 and 280

That would be properly competitive with the good Torque #'s GM is able to get with this engine!

[SoCalCTS]

Oh thank God. I'm so glad I read that wrong! 260-280 hp turbo definitely makes the Malibu a much nicer vehicle than the Regal.