brillo

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/14/c...their-malibus/

Now that is GM growing some *****, I'm taking Stephen Colbert big brass *****.

CarAndDriver

Maybe they should sell them too--they might actually make money.

Clavius

They just had to use the Corporate Grill like wtf?!?!?! Ugh!!..
But yeah they have ***** if they do this, maybe they should use AC-DC's song there "*****" haha.. "I got the biggest ***** of them all!"

therm8

I like the idea. They can show first hand the quality increases in GM products, and emphasize how boring Toyotas are, at the same time.

Clavius

Bet you they are going to get the Camry's base model and put it next to the Malibu's top teir model. But again that has some ***** to do something like that.

refugeefrompistons

Not the worst idea. Depends solely on how its executed and the advertisements. I would have to say this is a step up for the General.

MP3Guy

Pretty gutsy move. Part dare, part frustration. American cars have gotten a lot better in the past few years, and doing this side by side could be a good move.

I rented a Camry once, and do not understand it's popularity- it is as if the Japanese tried to "out-Buick" Buick and succeeded. The Chevy Impala I rented on my last trip was actually a fairly competent sedan.

CarAndDriver

The new GM interiors look good, but interface materials need to be upgraded. The plastics are very thin and sound it when you thwack it. GM needs to aim for Audi/VW feel.

A good example of this is the new GM full-size SUVs like the Tahoe and Suburban. Nice looking and well designed, but not very luxurious when you actually get in and touch.

From all the reviews, this generation Camry has taken a step downward in interior trim, fit and finish. So it should make GM's job a bit less impossible. The best Camry remains the early to mid 90s Camry.

Joel Ramsey

This explains why Toyota passed GM in sales. I just didn't think it was GM who bought all the cars!

I'm sure Chevy dealers will go out in droves to rent them. They could use them as loaners.

MazdaMonkey

hahahaha.

But seriously, this is one of those backfires that is going to go down in automotive history.

SlayerRX8

Ballsy indeed. I really like this idea. It shows GM has full confidence in their product versus the competition, and won't sit by and watch Toyota take over the market.

Hope the car is actually good...especially with a name like Malibu lol

Rhawb

Oh jeez...Looking at the exterior design, I just know that the comparison is going to send customers laughing all the way to the Toyota dealership.

Nice interior though. Too bad I doubt very many customers are going to make it that far.

A few months after the comparison starts...
"...Plus, our car sells for $10,000 less than the Camry thanks to $8,000 in rebates and incentives!"

CarAndDriver

Mitusbishi wants their updated Diamante back.

Transam kid 01

iTrader: (1)

I agree with you, but they can't go too upscale and compete too much with Cadillac and GMC

SlayerRX8

They don't have to. Those are both GM brands...

OldCoot

When Saturn first appeared the local dealer kept a Toyota for comparison test drives. The owner did not care which you liked as he owned both dealerships. I think they actually had three or four completing models for shoppers to compare with.

rotarygod

I'm not a GM fan at all. Toyota just builds a better all around car than GM. That's one reason why they've knocked GM off their post. I do think it's balsy yet completely irresponsible to place a Camry next to a Malibu at a Chevy dealership. The Camry is a better car. They're both pretty boring and GM interiors suck pretty hard so don't think the Malibu is something exciting by comparison.

therm8

It definately works to GM's benefit that the Camry is dog ugly this time around. Fit and finish is improving drastically in GM vehicles, but they're still being hamstringed by the union. If they can ever get rid of the $1600 built in loss (on every vehicle), Japanese makes better look out. GM already has an exterior design advantage, and the interiors are closing the gap. As Toyota and Honda's legacy costs rise over the next 10 years, GM will once again rise to the top.

Keep in mind that the Malibu is an all new car. It is based on the Saturn Aura, which from what I've read is a great car. The Camry isn't going to be that much better.

It'll be interesting to see what Cerebus can do against the UAW.