Chevrolet is contemplating a return to the upper medium segment with the new Malibu, after the firm’s Epica saloon was discontinued earlier this year. The new model would be fitted with the 183hp 2.2 diesel already used in the Captiva 4×4, and if it gets the go-ahead could be as little as a year away as the car is already on sale in the US.
“I think we will bring it in, but not as a ‘stack it high and sell it cheap’ product – we won’t do pack fleet deals,” said a Chevrolet insider. “The car is slightly bigger than Mondeo but slightly cheaper.”
The price won’t be too cheap though, as Chevrolet said the bargain-basement approach didn’t previously work with the Epica. “I don’t see Malibu as a volume proposition but it completes the range. It’s something above the Cruze and a good-quality car,” said a spokesman.
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