The new 2012 Chevrolet Malibu has arrived in South Korea and will eventually make its way to the U.S. market. The first series production Malibu is GM's global market mid-sized sedan. The 2012 Malibu can be equipped with either a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine that can put out 141hp or a 2.4-liter unit that has an output of 178hp. The cars rolled off the assembly line at General Motors' Bupyeong plant in Incheon.

"The new Malibu is our most important product introduction of the year. It will play a significant role in enabling us to attain our goals in the domestic market while ensuring that GM Korea becomes an important part of Chevrolet's success in its second century," said GM Korea President and CEO Mike Arcamone. The 2012 Malibu sedan was received quite well, however it does mean curtains for the 2013 Malibu coupe. After the press caught a glimpse of the coupe's rendering at GM's Design Studio in Warren, Michigan, it was quickly shot down by the American car company.

Ed Welburn, GM's VP of global design, recently said "A Malibu coupe could be a pretty nice car, but it is not in the plan right now." The disappointing news was also confirmed by Chevy PR chief Michael Albano, who told Inside Line "No plans at this moment for anything more than a sedan."