The 2014 Chevrolet Malibu 2.5-liter base model is poised to become to the first mid-size sedan sold in the U.S to offer stop/start technology as a standard feature. The Malibu arrives in dealerships this fall with an EPA-estimated 25 city and 36 highway mpg with a base price of $22,965.
The fuel-saving stop/start works by shutting the engine off completely when the car comes to a halt, such as at stoplights, and restarts when the driver takes his or her foot off the brake. A separate 12-volt battery provides power to heating and air conditioning, power windows and radio while the engine is off.
The stop/start system in the Malibu takes into account vehicle speed, climate control and other factors as it determines whether to shut off the engine. The sedan also features a new 6-speed transmission, 6T45, which optimizes the energy required to pump transmission fluid and contributes to fuel economy.
“The key was to apply the knowledge we gained from our eAssist technology,” said Todd Pawlik, Chevrolet Malibu chief engineer. “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.”
Photo Credit: Chevrolet
