After first mating its six-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission to a 2.4 liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine in the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ Spring Edition earlier this year, General Motors will spread the combination to a handful of other vehicles for 2009. With gas prices still well above where they were last year, GM is hoping to capitalize on the fuel economy (and performance) benefits of the additional two cogs.
For 2009, the Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura will get the same combination Leftlane previewed in the Malibu last fall. GM is said to be increasing production of four-cylinder equipped Auras, G6s and Malibus and decreasing production of six-cylinders. No doubt the marketing campaigns set to begin soon will capitalize on the fuel economy of the four-cylinders.
With the six-speed/four-cylinder combination, the Aura, G6 and Malibu achieve 22/33 mpg city/highway fuel economy, a fairly healthy increase over the 22/30 the four-speed/four-cylinder 2008 models achieved. The Aura XR will come equipped with the TAPShift paddle-style shifters from the Mailbu.
On the G6, the six-speed will be part of the Sport Package 1 on base sedans only. Unlike the Aura, only the base model G6 will come with the four-cylinder motor. The Malibu will now offer the six-speed as an option in the less expensive LT trim level, though it won’t be available on the base LS trim.
With the four-speed automatic, GM says it was left at a competitive disadvantage compared to most of its five-speed automatic competition. Only a handful of competitors offer six-speed automatics.
