SHANGHAI AUTO SHOW: Holden Malibu breaks cover as a Chevrolet

Holden's mid-size Toyota Camry-fighter has grown into almost a full-size sedan – but it won't take sales away from the Commodore when it goes on sale locally next year.

That's the assurance from General Motors executives who know both Holden cars well.

The global design chief of General Motors, Ed Welburn, and the boss of General Motors in China, ex-pat Australian Kevin Wale, believe the Malibu and Commodore will appeal to different buyers even though the cars may have similar cabin space.

"At some time in the future they might cross over but the Malibu is still a front-wheel-drive, it doesn't have the stance and the aggression of the Commodore," Wale told the Carsales Network at the Shanghai Auto Show overnight.

"Commodore has its own niche and the market's declining within that niche. But really … it's competing against other, fuel-efficient four-cylinder cars. I don't think the Malibu is a direct threat to the Commodore is the short answer."

Welburn believes the Malibu will be good for Holden's financial health.

"How will it play there? I'm no expert on the market there in Australia … but I have seen it evolve in the years that I've been going there and I was there just a couple of months ago.

"Holden just needs to have this broad, strong portfolio to be successful there. I think being more part of the global machine will help the Holden brand."

Welburn said the Malibu's interior space is "comparable" with that of a Camry – one of the leaders in the medium-car class for roominess.

"We benchmarked that vehicle a lot," he said, adding that it may be fractionally tighter than the Camry in some areas because of the focus on design. But the new Malibu has "much better interior space" than before.

He said it was about "finding a balance" between roominess and aesthetics. "If the car looks like this big dumb box, no-one's going to get inside and see how nice it is. We always will find that balance. The car has got to be a handsome-looking car.

"I let others design cars in conference rooms, and develop cars purely on dimension sheets and power point [presentations]. We can't do anything irresponsible – but [you've] got to just get excited about the design or you'll never now what the number is on the lateral headroom."

The Malibu is a replacement for the Epica which GM inherited from Daewoo – and is an all-new design.

Holden is taking the Malibu name from the US equivalent model that wears a Chevrolet badge.

Compared to the previous North American Malibu, the new car has a shorter wheelbase, longer front and rear overhangs and a higher roof – because of global regulations for pedestrian and rollover protection.

Welburn said the Malibu retained the interior space of the old model despite the body being shorter between the front and rear wheels. "The previous model didn't maximise every bit … of the wheelbase," he said.

The vehicle is "almost three-inches wider", which provided more shoulder and hip room. "The whole interior environment is better. The wide stance has a very stable look about it."

The Malibu will be sold in 100 countries, including Australia. Although it is yet to be confirmed the Australia-bound vehicles are likely to be made in Korea.

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