GM's new Malibu sedan will get a 193kW 2.0 litre turbocharged engine when it debuts in Chevrolet form this year, the American carmaker has confirmed.

Joining the already announced naturally-aspirated 141kW 2.5 litre engine, the new 2.0 litre Ecotec petrol mill will also deliver 353Nm of torque.

If those numbers sound familiar, it's with good reason: the same engine will power the new Cadillac ATS sedan, although GM has endowed the Caddy with a little more power, turning output up to 201kW.

By comparison, Holden's 3.0 litre V6 engine, which drives the Commodore Omega, produces 190kW and 290Nm of torque.

In Malibu form, GM says the 2.0 litre turbo engine will motivate the new midsized sedan to 96km/h (60mph) in 6.3 seconds, via a six-speed automatic transmission.

Fuel consumption figures for the engine's Malibu application have not been released, although GM promises highway figures better than 7.5 l/100km in the rear-wheel-drive ATS.

Australia

Specifications for Holden's version of the Malibu won't be revealed until closer to the car's local launch later this year, but it is likely that both engines will figure in the Australian line-up.

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• reply ” like !

  

  Zandit75 says,
  1 year ago

  This can't be good for Commodore sales with an engine producing better fuel economy and power than the SIDI 3.0 engine in a package only slightly smaller!
  • reply ” like !

    

    MotorMouth says,
    1 year ago

    1 like

    ... except that it will be top spec Malibu and is therefore likely to cost thousands more than a base model Commodore. i.e. It is likely to be priced closer to the 210kW/350Nm SV6, against which it will be unable to compete.
• reply ” like !

  

  5 valve per cylinder says,
  1 year ago

  It's inevitable, this car will replace the ageing Commodore. This car could even be the next contender for the (V8)Supercars after GM/Holden phases out the Commodore in a couple of years time.
  • reply ” like !

    

    MotorMouth says,
    1 year ago

    3 likes

    ... except Holden have confirmed that Commodore will survive until at least 2019, AFAIK. I'll guarantee you this car will not sell half the numbers Commodore has. There won't be a ute or a wagon or a long wheelbase luxury version, either, so there is no way it can replace Commodore, now or ever.
• reply ” like !

  

  Wheelnut says,
  1 year ago

  MotorMouth is right GM-H have said the current generation commodore will be around until at least 2018. After that the Commodore will be downsized slightly to about the same size as the TT-36 Torana Concept Car.
  Its also expected that after 2018 The Commodore will be built on the Epsillon II Platform [the same platform as the Chevy Malibu and the Opel Insignia] the benefit of this is that the Epsillon II platform can adopt FWD RWD and AWD configurations..
  Which means that the entry level models can be FWD 4Cyls and the mid -upper level models be RWD v6 and maybe even AWD V8's..?
  
  • reply ” like !

    

    MotorMouth says,
    1 year ago

    2 likes

    Are you sure? I've never read anything to suggest Epsilon II is able to do RWD and it certainly isn't being used on any RWD cars at the moment. If Commodore remains RWD long-term, I think it will use a modified (read: "cheaper") Cadillac platform.
• reply ” like !

  

  Wheelnut says,
  1 year ago

  The other interesting thing is that the next generation Malibu will be up-sizing slightly - adding more weight for the 4cyl engines to deal with