A few details are starting to emerge about the Chevy Malibu hybrid. It's set to come out in the 2007 model year. It will use a 2.4 liter four cylinder engine. The hybrid Malibu will use a belt alternator system (BAS) similar to what GM uses in the Saturn VUE Hybrid.

As a point of reference, the current, gasoline engine Malibu with the 2.4 liter ECOTEC engine produces 144 HP, has a four speed automatic transmission, and is EPA rated at 24 city / 32 highway. It has a curb weight of 3174 pounds.

 GM vice president of North American engineering, Jim Queen said, “though we're late to the party, we'll be better than Toyota when it comes to performance and value." THE GM BAS system can be added to a vehicle and only raise the selling price by only about $1,500 to $2,000.

The Malibu will compete with the Toyota Prius and Honda Accord and Civic hybrids, and the upcoming Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima hybrids.

General Motors will build the Malibu at Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kansas. Ford also builds it's hybrid, the Escape SUV, in Kansas City, so there is speculation that this area may become a sort of "Hybrid Capital" in the US.