The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 24, 2008 - 35 FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED You'll Love Our Service! 905-335-4080 BURLINGTON LINE 2008 Chevrolet Malibu By Rob Beitema METROLAND MEDIA GROUP As some wag once put it, "the true sign of your intelligence is measured by how much you agree with me." So you can see why a committee of fellow automotive journalists seemed pretty smart to me when they selected the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu as North American Car of the Year at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It's been a year of honours for the Malibu since then, including an appearance on Car and Driver's "10 Best Cars" list and selection by Kelley Blue Book as "Best Redesigned Vehicle for 2008." The Malibu nameplate was revived in 1997 with a car that did nothing badly but that committed the graver sin of being just plain boring. Fortunately, GM's designers also intelligently agreed with that verdict as well, and went back to the blackboard. With the adoption of Euro-inspired performance, an Opel-based Epsilon platform, wheels-to-the-corners architecture and dramatically more aggressive styling, the sixth-generation 2008 Malibu has finally become a worthy contender in a mid-size field dominated by Accord and Camry. "The 2008 Malibu rewrites Chevrolet's midsize car strategy, offering a stylish, uncompromising package that stacks up against the most popular competitors," said Marc Comeau, GM Canada vice president vehicle sales service marketing. "We know the competition is very good, and this new Malibu has the goods - both tangible and intangible - to assert a leadership position in the segment and reaffirm Chevrolet's commitment to expressive cars." Up front, the Malibu's dual-port grille with the bow-tied bar across the middle is reminiscent of Silverado style, the new global face of Chevrolet and a striking one at that. The profile is substantial yet sleek with a lower and longer greenhouse, a short rear deck and aggressive wheel arches. The twin round taillamps suggest older Chevy or Corvette heritage. GM is boasting of precise build and tight gaps but open the door, slide into the seat and inside is where those qualities really shine. A mix of premium materials and available two-tone layouts offer a handsome selection of elegant choices. My photos show the Titanium version but my personal favourite is the Ebony/Brick interior with contrasting piping on the seats and chrome trim highlighting the dash. That layout was designed in Chevroletsignature, dual-cockpit style with gauges backlit in a very cool shade of blue. The Malibu comes standard with front, side and side curtain airbags; air conditioning; tilt/telescopic steering wheel with cruise controls; and 6-speaker AM/FM/XM Satellite audio to name just a few items. There are five trim levels to pick and choose from ­ LS, 1LT, 2LT, LTZ and the Malibu Hybrid. The Malibu's base engine is 2.4-litre Ecotec four-cylinder that makes 169 hp @ 6400 rpm and 160 lb-ft of torque. This engine is willing enough and it is available across all trim levels, mated to a Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic transmission. Top of the line Malibu LTZ models blend the four-cylinder engine with a new Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic - a nice blend of fuel economy and laid back highway cruising ability, and the only four-cylinder/six-speed automatic combination in the segment. For those willing to sacrifice a little econo for passing power, an available 3.6litre V-6 VVT all-aluminum DOHC engine harnesses a more potent 252 hp. It is The Chevrolet Malibu, reinvented and resplendent in new design and content levels, named 2008 North American Car of the Year and almost doubling its sales numbers in the last year. smoother than the four-banger and better able to pull a full-size family load. My LTZ tester with this combo also featured Driver Shift Control (DSC), which enables the driver to shift manually with steering wheel-mounted controls. A nice touch but unnecessary in this class of smooth cruiser. With seat time in both engine versions, I was glad I could also test the Malibu Hybrid, which mates an electric motor/generator to the 2.4-litre Ecotec VVT four-cylinder engine and HydraMatic 4T45 four-speed transmission. This isn't exactly the most dedicated hybrid in the marketplace. The electric boost to engine power is minimal and only available under full-throttle passing and hard acceleration. The system is really geared more towards reducing gas consumption by shutting off the fuel during vehicle deceleration and keeping the engine off turned when stopped to minimize idling. The 36-volt, six-module battery recharges through the engine and during deceleration through regenerative braking, and has been designed to automatically maintain full accessory power, including climate control, when the vehicle is stopped with the engine off. The Malibu Hybrid takes a little getting used to. I expected more electrical power assist to the full-time gasoline engine and the regenerative braking slows the car a little quicker than usual. But it's more than made up for by the feel-good factors of reduced emissions and better fuel economy. Picture every car at every intersection turned off instead of aimlessly idling while waiting for the green light and you'll see why this is a technology that should be applied across the board by all manufacturers. Continued on Page 36