2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU ENHANCES CONNECTIVITY WITH ONSTAR 4G LTE
06/01/2014
Chevrolet
Chevrolet Malibu is a sedan designed for those seeking the complete vehicle package: smart engineering and design, along with all the amenities that make driving fun. For 2015, the latest wireless technologies help make Malibu a better-connected car for those on the go.
New OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the car is on and comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial.
Also new for 2015 are four exterior colors: Iridescent Pearl Tricoat, Butte Red, Sable Metallic and Autumn Bronze Metallic.
Malibu is offered in LS, LT and LTZ models. LT models are available in 1LT, 2LT and 3LT trims, and LTZ is available in 1LZ and 2LZ trims.
Distinctive exterior and inviting interior
Malibu carries over the updated styling introduced on the 2014 models, featuring a wide, dual-port grille with chrome surrounds and headlamps that sweep into the front fenders. Exterior colors include Iridescent Pearl Tricoat, Butte Red, Sable Metallic (late availability), Autumn Bronze Metallic (late availability), Atlantis Blue Metallic, Ashen Gray, Summit White, Silver Ice, Champagne Silver and Black Granite.
Inside, Malibu's cabin was designed to bring an element of sophistication to everyday driving. It features a dual-cockpit design that creates an inviting, roomy and comfortable environment, and includes a convenient and comfortable center console, with dedicated storage for two cell phones and a pair of cup holders.
The interior features chrome-metallic (LS models) or Agathis wood (LT/LTZ) accents located around the shifter, surrounding the center stack, around the instrument cluster and on doors and the steering wheel. Soft, ice blue ambient lighting reflects off of and complements chrome accents, and ensures even, consistent illumination along the instrument panel and in storage pockets. There's also ice blue lighting on the center stack dials, exposed ice blue French contrast stitching, soft-touch and textured surfaces.
The Malibu also has a number of storage areas, including a radio face that articulates up and down to reveal a six-inch deep storage area behind its available seven-inch-diagonal touch-screen radio. Malibu also offers a full range of the latest infotainment options, including Chevrolet MyLink color touch with available navigation.
Additional interior features include:
Air conditioning with humidity sensor on LS and 1LT
Dual-zone automatic climate control on 2LT, 3LT and LTZ models
SiriusXM Satellite Radio with three-month trial is standard on LT and LTZ
Audio system with USB port in the center console is standard on LT and LTZ
Pioneer nine-speaker sound system is available on 2LT, 3LT and LTZ
Driver information center with color display is standard on all models
Keyless access and push-button start are available on LTZ
Leather-appointed seating with available heated front seats
Two auxiliary power outlets are standard on all models
120-volt power outlet on the rear of the center console is available on 2LT, 3LT and LTZ
Rear-vision camera system is available on LT and LTZ
Remote starter is available on 1LT and standard on 2LT, 3LT and LTZ
Leather-wrapped steering wheel (with audio and cruise controls) and shift knob on 2LT, 3LT and LTZ
Leather-trimmed, heated front seats are available on 2LT and 3LT and standard on LTZ
Spacious trunk with 16.3 cubic feet (462 L) of cargo room.
MyLink and OnStar with 4G LTE details
Malibu's next-generation MyLink gives customers the best of both worlds when it comes to infotainment. It provides easy, intuitive operation of basic functions, yet it is also highly customizable and capable of linking up to 10 devices such as smartphones, SD cards and MP3 players, giving users more ways of staying connected. It is standard on LT and LTZ models.
Enhanced connectivity and convenience include a new Text Messaging Alerts feature for smartphone users with Bluetooth profile (M.A.P.), which reads incoming texts through the vehicle's speakers, and Siri Eyes Free for iPhone iOS 6 and iOS 7 users to enhance connectivity and convenience. Each enables voice-controlled connectivity, to help keep phones safely stored and hands on the wheel.
Additional standard and available features include:
Eight-inch-diagonal color touch screen and multiple USB ports
Enhancements including gesture recognition and natural language voice recognition
Available navigation.
Complementing MyLink to enhance Malibu's connectivity is new OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. It provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and comes with a three-month/three gigabyte data trial.
4G LTE is the most current and fastest mobile data network - 10 times faster than 3G and 100 times faster than the previous generation of OnStar hardware. And with OnStar, it also offers stronger, broader coverage than smartphones on the same network and it's easy to use: If the vehicle is on, the connection is on.
At the time of purchase, six months OnStar Directions and Connections includes all of OnStar's advisor-based safety and security features, including Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Assistance, as well as turn-by-turn navigation.
Five years of OnStar Basic Plan includes RemoteLink Key Fob Services, allowing owners to remotely start and lock/unlock a car (if properly equipped), and activate the horn and lights from anywhere with a data connection. It also includes OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics, which runs monthly checks of a vehicle's engine, transmission, anti-lock brakes and more, and Dealer Maintenance Notification, which sends a diagnostic report directly to a preferred dealer to simplify service scheduling.
Stop/start technology enhances efficiency
Malibu has two powerful and efficient powertrain offerings: the standard 2.5L iVLC (intake valve lift control) with stop/start technology and a 2.0L turbo. The stop/start feature on the 2.5L shuts down the engine in certain driving conditions to reduce fuel consumption. Along with other technologies, including direct injection, variable valve lift control and a six-speed automatic transmission, the 2.5L powertrain contributes to EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 25 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway.
There are no buttons to push or procedures to learn with Malibu's stop/start system. It automatically shuts down the engine when the car comes to a stop under certain driving conditions, such as a stoplight. The engine automatically restarts when the driver takes his or her foot off the brake. The system monitors vehicle speed, climate control system operation and other factors to determine whether it is efficient to shut off the engine.
Unique components used with stop/start include:
A tandem-solenoid starter that enables the engine to restart more quickly and more smoothly - even if the engine hasn't come to a complete stop
An electrically driven transmission auxiliary hydraulic pressure pump that keeps the fluid in the six-speed automatic circulating and primed for immediate take-off when the driver removes his or her foot from the brake pedal
Larger, 12-volt absorbent glass mat (AGM) primary battery - which delivers up to four times the typical life cycle of a conventional battery - and a small, auxiliary 12-volt AGM battery
Dual-battery isolation module that ensures both batteries are properly charged and the primary battery always has a sufficient charge to start the vehicle
Torque-reaction engine mounts that dampen the vibrations associated with a restart, helping deliver smooth, nearly imperceptible performance.
The 2.5L is SAE-certified at 196 horsepower (146 kW) and 186 lb-ft of torque (252 Nm). Revised transmission shift points and quicker shifts also enhance the feeling of performance - while delivering greater refinement.
The Malibu's available 2.0L turbo engine delivers nearly 14 percent more torque than its predecessor- SAE-certified 295 lb-ft (400 Nm). Revised engine calibration accounts for the improvement, making the Malibu 2.0L turbo's torque the best in the segment, even among six-cylinder competitors. The result is a stronger feeling of acceleration from a stop and a greater feeling of power on demand in almost all driving conditions. The 2.0L turbo also produces an SAE-certified 259 horsepower (193 kW).
Chassis and suspension
Inspired by the Impala, the Malibu's chassis and suspension also contribute to a dynamic driving experience, with features such as springs that are internal to the struts (2.5L-equipped models). They enable more refined calibration of the dampers for a smoother overall ride, while also improving body roll control and weight transfer during acceleration or turning. That helps keep the wheels planted, contributing to a more precise, controlled feel - especially while cornering.
Fuel-saving electric power rack-and-pinion variable-effort power steering is standard and enables effortless low-speed maneuvers and a higher degree of steering feel at higher speeds, with high-effort calibrations that improve the overall steering feel.
Additional chassis control technologies include four-channel anti-lock brakes, full-function traction control, four-corner electronic stability control, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist system, corner brake control, hydraulic brake fade assist and drag torque control.
Designed for safety
Malibu offers a wide range of standard and available safety features in the segment. Available side blind zone alert and rear cross traffic alert complement the available forward collision alert and lane departure warning to enhance Malibu's crash-avoidance capability. These advanced, active technologies use radar to help avoid crashes, with visual and audible alerts designed to identify potential threats with sufficient warning to give the driver time to react and make changes. They're part of the segment's only suite of advanced safety technologies offered on a midlevel trim.
Additional contributors to Malibu's safety and peace of mind include 10 standard air bags - and two optional air bags - and available rear vision camera. The standard and available air bags include:
Dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags (two)
Pelvic/thorax side-impact air bags for all outboard occupants, front and rear (four)
Driver and passenger knee air bags (two)
Roof rail air bags with rollover protection (two)
Available second-row head/thorax side-impact air bags (two).
Malibu also employs systems that enable greater vehicle control, including standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control system, all-speed traction control and four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel ABS.
OnStar is standard. It uses GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event of crash. OnStar service also includes MyLink mobile apps, which offer vehicle information and OnStar services via the customer's smartphone.
About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.