Chevrolet releasing the more expensive 2013 Malibu first

The first buyers interested in the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu may be in for sticker shock. Photo Credit: Chu/Wikimedia Commons/CC-By-SA

Chevrolet is about to release the 2013 Malibu to coincide with college basketball “March Madness.” However, few college students will be driving one, as the only available model will be the premium edition.

March Madness

Every year, millions of people tune into “March Madness” to watch college basketball teams vie for sporting supremacy. It is a month of high drama and a big month for car sales. Chevrolet is about to release the 2013 Malibu, Chevrolet’s mid-size family sedan, and is planning a host of ads to air during the tournament to entice prospective buyers.

The 2013 Malibu, according to USA Today, is following a trend within the auto industry to do away with gas-guzzling six-cylinder engines in lieu of fuel-sipping four-cylinder motors. The 2012 Malibu had a 3.6-liter V-6 in certain models, but this model year is dropping it altogether. Instead, the performance models will be getting a turbo-charged four-cylinder model that does promise to have some kick to it.

Eco model not that economical

The first model of the 2013 Malibu lineup will be the Eco Malibu, which is categorized as a “mild hybrid.” It uses General Motors’ eAssist technology, according to AutoBlog, which uses regenerative braking and low-resistance tires to improve the efficiency of motion as well as use energy harnessed from braking to provide additional power through electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack.

[For those looking for fuel efficiency, the Eco Malibu may be the new car to buy]

The Eco models come with a bit of sticker shock; they start at $25,995 after destination charge, according to Automotive News. The base 2012 Malibu is $3,200 less. In fact, no one can buy a 2013 Malibu in any configuration other than the Eco model until July, as General Motors is still getting the 2013 base model’s new engine ready for production. The Eco Malibu is rated to get 25 miles per gallon in the city driving and up to 37 mpg highway.

More power and less fuel

The base model Malibu won’t be ready until summer, and the performance model isn’t coming until fall. They are getting new engines that pack more of a punch without sacrificing fuel economy.

The base 2013 Malibu, according to Automotive News, is ditching the previous model’s 160 horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder in lieu of a 2.5-liter motor that produces a much more sprightly 195-horsepower.

The performance model, according to AutoBlog, has ditched the 3.6-liter V-6 for a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Despite the drop in cylinders and displacement, the new motor is more powerful, as it produces 259 horsepower. The previous model produced 252. Chevrolet says the new motor can propel the Malibu from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.3 seconds.