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2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Lithium-Ion Battery System, 1.8-litre Engine and Drive Unit

General Motors will manufacture a new hybrid Chevrolet Malibu starting with the 2016 model year by adapting the Volt's drive unit and regenerative braking system.

A 1.8-litre, four-cylinder engine is to work in tandem with a lithium-ion battery pack, for estimated combined fuel usage of 5.2 litres/100 km. The fuel standard would be superior to the present ratings of the Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Hyundai Sonata hybrids, according to GM.

Chevrolet will use the Malibu to introduce "exhaust gas heat recovery", which recovers exhaust heat to warm the engine and heat the cabin. One hindrance for hybrid and pure-electric vehicle sales in Canada is the sub-par performance in cold weather. This system is designed to improve consistency.

An 80-cell, 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides electric power to the hybrid system. The two-motor drive unit slightly should produce 182 horsepower, while the car would be capable of running at 88.5 km/h when powered solely by electricity from the battery pack.

In a statement Wednesday, GM did not announce the range of the vehicle when operating on battery power alone. The Volt's range in amenable weather conditions is about 60 km.

Upper and lower grille air shutters are being added to improve aerodynamics.

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