2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO Owns the Aero Lab [Video]

With the ECO being the first 2013 Malibu sedan model to enter production from early next year, the aerodynamics engineers at Chevrolet have managed to make it the most fuel-efficient midsize car ever, adding up to 2.5 miles per gallon more on the highway.

Thanks to the aerodynamic duo John “Moose” Bednarchik and Suzanne “Suzy” Cody, the new Malibu ECO not only brings significant fuel economy improvements, but it also meets the government safety requirements of multiple countries around the world.

“A tough training regimen and aerodynamics have a lot in common. In each case, you worry about increasing the total efficiency of the body. For aerodynamics, we want forms and surfaces that make the vehicle more slippery when traveling through air. Good aerodynamics means free fuel economy for our customers,” stated Bednarchik, who is an admitted “fitness nut.”

“When all the other moms pull up to school in their minivans or crossovers, I arrive in my Inferno Orange, 426-horsepower Camaro Coupe with my blue hair and twin child seats in tow,” said Cody, as a roller derby-playing mom. “I usually get a few laughs and some stares, but roller derby has given me the confidence I need to aggressively work toward my goals.”

The two have managed to remove more than 60 counts of wind drag, including:

• 11 counts: Outside rearview mirrors are specifically designed to deflect wind without “upsetting” the airflow
• 10 counts: Rounded front corners – from the  bottom of the fascia up through the headlamps – help air flow smoothly along the Malibu’s body sides
• Seven counts: Shutters in the lower grill opening on select models open and close automatically to maximize aerodynamic efficiency. This increases cooling airflow to the engine under certain conditions, such as under high engine loads at low speeds, and reduces aerodynamic drag when extra cooling is not needed.