This week the folks at GM have shown off details on the 2014
Chevrolet Malibu, including a rather green point of distinction. The 2014
Malibu will be the first midsize sedan sold in the United States to offer
fuel-saving stop/start technology standard, coming in on its 2.5L base model.
This technology allows the engine on the vehicle to shut down completely when
the vehicle comes to a complete stop.
This technology first automatically turns the engine off
when the car comes to – for example – a stoplight. Once the driver takes his or
her foot off the brake, the engine restarts, and the driver is able to continue
driving the same as they would any other vehicle. This stop/start system
monitors a number of systems to make sure turning the engine off is the most
efficient means of saving power.
The systems this technology monitors are vehicle speed, the
force with which the brake has been applied, and climate control system
operation. Amongst other systems, the monitoring of these three elements allows
the stop/start system in the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu to decide if it makes more
sense to just keep the engine running, too – if you’re in heavy traffic, for
example.
During each of these engine restarts, the vehicle works with
an auxiliary 12-volt battery which powers electric accessories such as power
windows, radio, heating, and air conditioning. Employing this technology on the
base model 2014 Malibu has Chevrolet aiming to mainstream stop/start technology
for the masses.
“The key was to apply the knowledge we gained from our
eAssist technology. By leveraging knowledge from the stop/start system we use
on eAssist, we were able to significantly improve city fuel ratings by 3 mpg,
or 14 percent on Malibu’s entry-level 2.5L model, compared to the 2013 model.”
– Todd Pawlik, Malibu chief engineer
This vehicle also works with Intake Valve Lift Control
valve-actuation technology, allowing the engine on the vehicle to pump only the
air needed to meet the demand of the driver. That’s in low-lift mode – in
high-lift mode, the engine switches to full output capabilities to take on
heavy loads and high speeds.
The 2014 Chevrolet Malibu is available in three trims: LS,
LT, and LTZ, each of them coming in with an $825 destination charge at prices
that bump by 2k a level: $22,965 for the LS, $24,335 for the 1LT, $26,040 for
the 2LT and $28,515 for the top LTZ trim. These prices exclude tax, title,
license, and all dealer fees.
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