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Chevrolet Malibu gets aggressive redesign for 2016

Cars like the Ford Fusion, Kia Optima and Chrysler 200 have recently raised the styling bar in the midsize sedan game is. In that regard, the rather anonymous Chevrolet Malibu has suffered in recent years. That no longer appears to be an issue with the 2016 Malibu, which is simply caked with interesting elements. The wide, aggressive grille, expressive headlights and angled LED running lamps make the Malibu look like the Impala's much angrier little brother. In back, the Impala inspiration is there, but like the fascia, it's noticeably more aggressive, with a sharper cant to the taillights and a pair of large, integrated dual exhausts (at least on the 2.0-liter, turbocharged model being featured by Chevy). Designers also worked to give the 'Bu a bit more character in the profile, adding a pair of character lines to cut back on the last-gen car's slab-sided looks. While the exterior could almost be described as sporting, the brown-and-beige color scheme in the cabin is noticeably more relaxed. A large, central MyLink system sits atop the dash, while drivers will also have access to a dedicated display in the instrument cluster. A thick-rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel is a bit on the large side, but still looks like a nice piece to work. You can read a lot more about the new 2016 Malibu in our original post from early this morning. But before you do that, have a look at our full gallery of live images from the floor of the Javits Center. All-New Malibu is Larger, More Technological and Efficient New hybrid sedan projected to offer combined rating north of 45 MPG DETROIT – Chevrolet today introduced the all-new 2016 Malibu – a completely restyled midsize sedan engineered to offer more efficiency, connectivity and advanced safety features than ever. An all-new hybrid powertrain, which leverages technology from the Chevrolet Volt, will help offer a GM-estimated combined rating north of 45 mpg. The Malibu's standard 1.5L turbo powertrain is projected to offer 37 mpg highway. The 2016 Malibu is also longer and lighter, with more interior space and improved fuel efficiency. Its wheelbase has been stretched close to four inches (101 mm), and it is nearly 300 pounds (136 kg) lighter than the current model. "Midsize customers tell us they want great fuel economy, connected technologies, wrapped in a gorgeous exterior. This is exactly what the 2016 Malibu was engineered to do," said Jesse Ortega, Malibu chief engineer.

Autoblog Podcast #327

New York Auto Show, Jim Farley interview, 2014 Chevrolet Silverado fuel economy, Ford fuel economy app challenge
Episode #327 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff Ross talk about this year's New York Auto Show, Chevrolet's latest assault in the pickup truck fuel economy battle, and Ford's reward for developing a better fuel economy app. Dan also has an interview with Ford's Jim Farley about the future of Lincoln. We wrap with your questions and emails, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #327:

Fingers point to dragged-out NHTSA investigation after second death by ARC airbag inflator

Safety advocates have increased criticism of the federal government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after an exploding airbag inflator that's been under investigation for more than six years killed a second person.  On Wednesday, NHTSA posted recall documents filed by General Motors that revealed the second death, the driver of a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse SUV with an inflator made by Tennessee company ARC blew apart, spewing shrapnel. No details were given about where and when the death occurred. NHTSA has said that ARC Automotive of Knoxville has manufactured about 8 million inflators used nationwide in vehicles made by General Motors, Fiat Chrysler (now Stellantis), Kia and Hyundai. “NHTSA should have been all over this along time ago,” said Rosemary Shahan, president of California-based Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety. “There's just no denying that itÂ’s a (safety) defect.” NHTSA, the agency charged with with keeping America's automobiles and roads safe, began investigating ARC inflators in July of 2015 after two people were injured by flying shrapnel. The investigation became more urgent in 2016, when a Canadian woman driving an older Hyundai Elantra was killed by metal airbag fragments. Public records show only a little progress on the probe. In April, the agency posted a memo in saying it was reviewing volumes of information it received from ARC. Safety advocates such as Shahan say that the dragged-out investigation is an example of the deadly consequences that can result from an understaffed and underfunded agency. The second death should not have happened, Shahan said, and vehicles with faulty ARC inflators should have been recalled faster. The agency, Shahan said, is “grossly underfunded," but it still should have sought recalls of the ARC inflators. She said historically NHTSA has taken little action during Republican administrations but has ramped up safety efforts when Democrats control the White House. Messages were left Wednesday by the Associated Press seeking comment from NHTSA and ARC. At this time, relatively few vehicles are effected. The GM recall covers only 550 Chevy Traverse SUVs from the 2013 through 2017 model years, as well as Buick Enclave SUVs from 2008 through 2017. The automaker said in a statement that the faulty front driver's airbag inflators were either installed at the factory or in replacement airbag modules.