Chevy Malibu Hybrid Breaks Cover at All-Star Game

We’ve seen some strange places serve as sites to debut a new model, but Chevrolet really takes the cake this week. The company unveiled its 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid at Major League Baseball’s All-Star FanZone in San Francisco. The powertrain is similar to the Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid sedan, and new 2008 EPA figures have mileage rated at 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. These figures aren’t as high as other hybrids, like the Toyota Camry, but it does achieve better mileage than the standard four-cylinder Malibu — by 2 mpg — while producing more power. GM will introduce a more-efficient hybrid system for a number of vehicles in 2009. 

While the 2008 Malibu will offer a six-speed automatic transmission for the standard gasoline-powered four-cylinder, the hybrid will feature only a four-speed automatic transmission.

The standard four-cylinder and V-6 powered Malibu will go on sale in August. Production of the hybrid starts in October, with the sedan hitting dealerships soon after.