Chevy Malibu to die after 2024

The data is that it isn't good to put all your eggs in one basket. 2024 is almost the end of the next presidential term, so who knows what can happen between now and then.  Chevy having 0 conventional sedans in 2025 doesn't sound like a good position to be in... especially since the Accord and Camry are likely to still be here.

The accord & camry may be, but I note the Accord is fully 25% off it's peak volume, and the Sonata is about 55% off it's peak, which was only SIX years ago. 

We bemoaned GM getting out of minivans, and now the segment is almost dead. Sedans are dying faster than any segment in my memory; Ford & GM may be ahead of the wave here. While I hear the '1 egg' sentiment, I note a number of brands that have or are doing just that (Jeep, Land Rover, ferrari, porsche-before-SUVs, etc). Yes- they are singular brands within a portfolio of brands, but no corporate heads wish/plan to have any of their brands fail due to a '1 egg' approach. It can and does work in some instances (in other cases, you have Mini…).

The first OEM to bring out the 'hybrid sedan/CUV' is going to pave the segment into the future. 

1 minute ago, balthazar said:

The first OEM to bring out the 'hybrid sedan/CUV' is going to pave the segment into the future. 

We've already had a few of those. The Subaru Legacy SUS, the Volvo S60 Cross Country, the Accord Crosstour, Acura ZDX, even the Chevy Bolt (Chevy insists it is a crossover)

^ Hmmmm.
Going to vote 'no' on the SUS- that's a mildly lifted sedan (might as well include the Eagle here).
S60, Crosstour & ZDX seem to fit my bill, but still lean to the sedan side. Interesting…. but not there yet.

Maybe we will see trans genre CUV-based sedans...with the body height  and proportions of a crossover but with a trunk.   Picture an Equinox or Edge w/ a trunk.    A crossover crossover. 

I think it makes long term sense to merge the two, as they’re largely the same. Remember when AWD in a sedan was a pipe dream? Current smaller CUVs don't even try to incorporate any ‘tough trucky’ aspirations in them.

Today's crossovers are already slightly raised hatchbacks/wagon versions of the car platform.  Basically same cars, more utility than sedans.  I think sedans slowly will die completely.  

^ I don't disagree… tho they all could use more cargo space. Some have nothing, and the trend of no rear overhang and a great big schnoz looks like crap. They lack the visual balance sedans have more readily. Plus dump the acres of plastic cladding. That mazda is a freak show.

33 minutes ago, balthazar said:

Plus dump the acres of plastic cladding

+1, some crossovers (and Buick TourX as another example) put a ton of ugly, unnecessary plastic.

CX-5 and CX9 look much cleaner without the huge plastic

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, has minimal cladding

Range Rover has none

15 minutes ago, ykX said:

+1, some crossovers (and Buick TourX as another example) put a ton of ugly, unnecessary plastic.

Range Rover has none

Is this pic mislabeled? 'cause the entire 10 inches of the bottom of the vehicle is black plastic, PLUS the wheel wells.

If anything, the TourX comes off as far far less of it : 

Interesting..both the Evoque and Tour X have those silly tabs at the top of the wheel arch trims.     The Velar has cleaner side trim. 

45 minutes ago, balthazar said:

Is this pic mislabeled?

You put a picture of the old Evoque, all recent Range Rovers do not have that

On the other hand TourX is based on Opel Insignia wagon which looks SUBSTANTIALLY better without the cladding

Unless you are calling a 2019 an ‘old model’ - thats whats on range rover usa’s website- tabbed wheelwell trim and all.

11 minutes ago, balthazar said:

Unless you are calling a 2019 an ‘old model’ - thats whats on range rover usa’s website- tabbed wheelwell trim and all.

Looks like the RR website shows both the 1st and 2nd gen model (the new 2nd gen is in blue, the 1st gen in white).  The 2nd gen came out as a '19 in Europe, it looks like it's a '20 in the US.

https://www.landroverusa.com/vehicles/range-rover-family.html

5 minutes ago, balthazar said:

Unless you are calling a 2019 an ‘old model’ - thats whats on range rover usa’s website- tabbed wheelwell trim and all.

Strangely enough I don't see it when I go to Range Rover website. I see pictures that I have posted 

1 minute ago, ykX said:

Strangely enough I don't see it when I go to Range Rover website. I see pictures that I have posted 

https://www.landroverusa.com/vehicles/range-rover-family.html

I can't help but think of the Outback when black cladding is mentioned.. Was it the first to popularize this???

New one would luck much better without it too.

That's a shame.  I really liked the Malibu and loved the styling.  I'm hating that choices for sedans are all disappearing, because I've always been a sedan man.  I do hope they refresh it before it goes out...

51 minutes ago, Paolino said:

That's a shame.  I really liked the Malibu and loved the styling.  I'm hating that choices for sedans are all disappearing, because I've always been a sedan man.  I do hope they refresh it before it goes out...

What GM needs is a new RWD Impala to take on that KIA Stinger. . . . or at least the 300/Charger twins.  I would rather NOT see all the (non-Cadillac) sedans disappear, but GM is simply following demand.

Yeah... they went to the trouble of federalizing the SS sedan, giving lip service to their enthusiast base... then kept it a deep, dark secret.  When it did not sell on par with Charger (I guess "production constraints" or whatev prevented this... Aussies bought all of them as Commodores?) they killed it unceremoniously... and used it as an example of why RWD enthusiast sedans from an iconic American brand known for performance since the mid-50's don't sell.

I will always say the Commodore/G8/SS did not sell well enough in the USA for two reasons:  generic styling that could fit any GM brand with a grille change, and MARKETING.  It certainly was not because of a lack of performance ability.

We seem headed to a market that among the mainstream brands there could be 100+ SUVs and 12 sedans.  And I wouldn't mind being the Camry/Corolla or Civic/Accord in that situation when they have almost no competition to deal with.

1 hour ago, riviera74 said:

What GM needs is a new RWD Impala to take on that KIA Stinger. . . . or at least the 300/Charger twins.  I would rather NOT see all the (non-Cadillac) sedans disappear, but GM is simply following demand.

The Cadillac CT4 will be priced like a Stinger if that helps.

10 hours ago, balthazar said:

I gotta ask: what data are you basing this prediction on?

It”s a mix of things- probably would have been better explained. 🙂  A lot of things....

-Drew is right- kinda due for a bust sooner or later....

-While the Silverado is kinda a joke- Ram is coming out with what I think is a better truck than the F-150.  Between the RAM and the Chevy’s heavier discounts- should steal some sales....

-Ecoboost- While it’s doing decent in the trucks-can’t say that about the rest of the line. Starting to see more Escapes and fusions in the local dealership for turbo repairs. While GM’s ain’t great either-they tend to be more durable.....

-Recalls- A good half their line will be up for recalls- with the biggest mess being saved for the Focus and Fiesta. Sprinkle in some Fusion and Escape as well....

Figured it would be a good start.....

On 7/29/2019 at 6:42 PM, smk4565 said:

Because the Cadillac red/awd sport sedans sell?  The CT5 is $38k, so CT4 is probably going to be about $31k.   And that is before discounts which will be available after about a year on the market.

Those cars don't appeal to traditional GM performance car buyers. They are targeting the wrong audience with most Cadillacs, and have been for a long time.

21 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

We've already had a few of those. The Subaru Legacy SUS, the Volvo S60 Cross Country, the Accord Crosstour, Acura ZDX, even the Chevy Bolt (Chevy insists it is a crossover)

21 hours ago, balthazar said:

The accord & camry may be, but I note the Accord is fully 25% off it's peak volume, and the Sonata is about 55% off it's peak, which was only SIX years ago. 

We bemoaned GM getting out of minivans, and now the segment is almost dead. Sedans are dying faster than any segment in my memory; Ford & GM may be ahead of the wave here. While I hear the '1 egg' sentiment, I note a number of brands that have or are doing just that (Jeep, Land Rover, ferrari, porsche-before-SUVs, etc). Yes- they are singular brands within a portfolio of brands, but no corporate heads wish/plan to have any of their brands fail due to a '1 egg' approach. It can and does work in some instances (in other cases, you have Mini…).

The first OEM to bring out the 'hybrid sedan/CUV' is going to pave the segment into the future. 

The BMW 3GT and 5GT would beg to differ.

13 minutes ago, Frisky Dingo said:

Those cars don't appeal to traditional GM performance car buyers. They are targeting the wrong audience with most Cadillacs, and have been for a long time.

 

As with the C8, they aren't targeting 'traditional GM performance car buyers'---they have realized they can't sell to Baby Boomers forever, they are aging out. 

Not everyone wants a crossover.  Lots of sedans are still sold... but now chevy won't be selling any of them.