The New Malibu

"SP23" (jordanhewlett) 04/12/2015 at 23:30 • Filed to: None

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Good day, Oppo. I don't like the front end Chevy put on the new Malibu, the rest of the car is quite good looking, but my goodness does that front clip need work.

Chevy needs to steer away from the whole "power bar" thing on their cars. The trucks look okay with this treatment, but it just doesn't look good on any car they've put it on.

No. Just no.

Now, the redesigned Impala is a real looker with its more normal looking grille treatment. Having the Chevy logo in the middle of the upper grille really makes the whole car look better.

Anyway, I've said all of that to lead up to this:

That's the redesigned Malibu, with an Impala-inspired grille/front clip treatment. I drew this up because I simply think that Chevy can do way better, and it doesn't look half bad I think. It's different enough (I hope) so that you won't mistake it for an Impala. Let me know what you guys think in the comments!

CB > SP23 04/12/2015 at 23:33

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That's actually pretty sweet looking. Nice work!

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > SP23 04/12/2015 at 23:38

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YES! This looks much much better. The factory somehow manages to look both bottom heavy and top heavy at the same time, but they don't cancel out to be balanced. It's really weird.

SP23 > CB 04/12/2015 at 23:39

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Thanks!

SP23 > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 04/12/2015 at 23:40

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I know what you mean, it's like the car is sticking its chin out too far. Not a fan.

Et tu, Hellcat? > SP23 04/12/2015 at 23:41

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Can you please send a copy of that to Chevy?

traitor joe > SP23 04/12/2015 at 23:42

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I read the first half of your post, and was like "pfft, well do a better job yourself then!"

And you did with your drawing! That would easily be one of the best looking cars in the segment, and is way less polarizing than the current design.

Sam > SP23 04/12/2015 at 23:42

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I like it a lot. Something about it strikes me as a Camaro feel. It looks very sporty.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > SP23 04/12/2015 at 23:42

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And the upper grille somehow goes along with the headlights to create one visual mass. If they did away with the upper grille and moved the "bow tie" up a bit, it might be ok.

SP23 > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 04/12/2015 at 23:47

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I agree, even moving the blowtie up into the upper grille would be an improvement.

SP23 > Et tu, Hellcat? 04/12/2015 at 23:48

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Haha, perhaps I should...

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > SP23 04/12/2015 at 23:48

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I don't mind the one GM designed, but yours does look better.

I have to speculate that maybe GM didn't design it to look so much like the Impala because at the size the Malibu is at now it's nearly an Impala. They didn't want the average buyer to get confused or something like that.

I dunno I can't speculate too much on the deisign until I see it in person. Because in pictures I thought the redesigned Cruze font end looked terrible but I like it in person.

SP23 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/12/2015 at 23:50

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True, perhaps seeing the car in the metal won't be so bad. After all, I didn't like those smiley-faced Mazda3's when they first came out. They've since grown on me, maybe this will too.

Vicente Esteve > SP23 04/12/2015 at 23:53

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Congrats! I think that's just spot on.

startled kitten > SP23 04/12/2015 at 23:53

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I tried photoshopping to see how the actual malibu would look like with the emblem moved up... I like your drawing more haha good job!

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > SP23 04/12/2015 at 23:54

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Holy crap, that looks WAY better. Awesome job!

SP23 > Vicente Esteve 04/12/2015 at 23:55

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I thank you.

SP23 > Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage 04/12/2015 at 23:56

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Thank you!

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > SP23 04/13/2015 at 00:10

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I think the way they seem to pay more attention to the bottom grille is part of the problem. The bottom grill has a full chrome bezel, chrome louvers, and a more intricate shape. The top is just a black slit.

MLGCarGuy > SP23 04/13/2015 at 00:18

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With those drawing and car designing skills I think Oppo has a new car designer here...

SP23 > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 04/13/2015 at 00:27

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It looks so neglected up there haha.

SP23 > MLGCarGuy 04/13/2015 at 00:29

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Haha, well, I don't do much real designing. I typically just draw things that already exist.

 V8 Rustler > SP23 04/13/2015 at 00:43

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I hate this design. Every recent car has it:

Old M3:

E90

Current M3:

It just grows bigger with the years.

TheHondaBro >  V8 Rustler 04/13/2015 at 00:46

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I don't even notice it.

Jayhawk Jake >  V8 Rustler 04/13/2015 at 00:51

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How else would you split the hood?

 V8 Rustler > TheHondaBro 04/13/2015 at 00:51

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It is very noticeable. The A pillar "continues" all the way into the hood.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas >  V8 Rustler 04/13/2015 at 01:01

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A) defects air to the side vs hitting the windshield adding resistance

B) incorporates the increase thickness of doors into the design

SP23 >  V8 Rustler 04/13/2015 at 01:02

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I think it's due to the higher hoods because of pedestrian safety. Though I may be wrong in that assumption.

PheeNoIVI > SP23 04/13/2015 at 01:06

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The front end is actually my favorite part of the new Malibu...yes I'm not kidding. Having said that, your drawing is MUCH better, it retains the muscular look that I like of the new one, and makes it better looking. Good job.

desertdog5051 > SP23 04/13/2015 at 01:08

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Structural strength. Live with it.

EL_ULY >  V8 Rustler 04/13/2015 at 01:22

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gotta pass those safety standards. Customers care about that more than design. Don't forget, customers are almost never enthusiasts. Trust me, even at my job (Merc, Lotus, Volvo, Aston), it is rare to see an enthusiast customer.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Jayhawk Jake 04/13/2015 at 01:56

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I see what he is saying, it doesn't bother me, but on the E46 the hood is more or less flat, but on the F8whatever, it goes down and then opens.

 V8 Rustler > EL_ULY 04/13/2015 at 02:38

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That sucks. I would expect Lotus owners to be more of an enthusiast .

 V8 Rustler > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 04/13/2015 at 02:38

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Good points.

EL_ULY >  V8 Rustler 04/13/2015 at 02:51

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the ones that are, do not buy new cars, dealership parts, or come here for service since they wrench themselves. As far is that design, it is part safety, part aero (mpg and windnoise) and part adjusting to other components.

feetinesamady >  V8 Rustler 04/13/2015 at 03:40

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nafsucof > SP23 04/13/2015 at 08:30

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you fixed for me what was worse than the power bar, the fog lights. They look like they are melting off. I don't understand them so dopey. Your openings look great and accentuate the design language much better bravo!

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > traitor joe 04/13/2015 at 08:49

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This, this is exactly what I was thinking too.

SP23 > PheeNoIVI 04/13/2015 at 20:06

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Thanks!

SP23 > nafsucof 04/13/2015 at 20:08

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Oh yeah, those fog lights are atrocious.

SP23 > desertdog5051 04/13/2015 at 20:09

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I'm not sure what you mean.

desertdog5051 > SP23 04/13/2015 at 20:47

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That was intended for another post. Sorry.

SP23 > desertdog5051 04/13/2015 at 22:35

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Haha, it's all good.

Jake Girardet > SP23 04/24/2015 at 12:47

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Hey, not sure if you recall, but I am the one who got talking about this topic with you on the original post for the debut of this car, on the FP. I somehow missed this post when it was new, but the sketch that you have done is fantastic! I was already won-over by the quick photoshop job you did during our original conversation. This is on a whole ‘nother level though.

Your sketch looks ridiculously legitimate. Like, I’m pretty certain that if you made a sketch of the stock photo (with the actual production front end still intact), and put the two sketches next to one other, the vast majority of people would actually have trouble believing that the real one is the design that a real car manufacturer went with.

This post actually makes me want to see your interpretation of how the other contemporary Chevy’s should look. It seems like you and I have very similar tastes when it comes to design aesthetic.

SP23 > Jake Girardet 04/24/2015 at 22:42

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I’m not sure you’re talking about the same guy. I have exactly zero photoshop skills, but thanks for your comment!