Chevrolet Malibu Named Safe Car of the Year in Korea

SEOUL--(Korea Newswire)--The Chevrolet Malibu, GM Korea’s premium midsize sedan, received the 2012 Safe Car of the Year award from the Korean Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.

The award, now in its fourth year, is given to vehicles that achieve an overall score of 50 or more (out of 54) and five stars in every category in Korea New Car Assessment Program (KNCAP) testing conducted by the ministry.

The Malibu had perfect scores in KNCAP’s frontal crash test and side pole crash test, and earned near-perfect scores in the side crash test and whiplash test (KNCAP’s passenger car category). Moreover, it became the first vehicle in its segment to achieve four stars (★★★★) in the crash and pedestrian test.

“Today’s award once again proves that the Malibu is among the safest vehicles in Korea’s most competitive passenger car segment,” said GM Korea Vehicle Development Managing Director, Sungkyun Hong. “It reinforces our commitment to build vehicles that are global leaders in performance, safety and design.”

Safety is maximized in the Malibu through a sturdy body structure, 65 percent of which is made of high-strength steel. The Malibu’s array of advanced active and passive safety features includes the first-in-segment lane departure warning system, six standard air bags, dual pretensioners, a locking tongue and a collapsible pedal system. The Malibu’s bumper and hood combine to provide a front crush zone that reduces the chance of a secondary collision between a pedestrian and the engine block.

The Malibu achieved a five-star (★★★★★) safety rating from Euro NCAP in 2011. It also had the lowest repair cost in its segment according to Korea Research Council for Automobile Repairs (RCAR) testing in 2011.

Website: http://media.gm-korea.co.kr

This is a news release distributed by Korea Newswire on behalf of this company.