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Chevy Malibu Eco hybrid is a tough sell

Most prospective Chevrolet Malibu buyers at Castle Chevrolet in suburban Chicago quickly decide that they don't want to pay nearly $3,000 more for the Eco mild-hybrid version. "For most people, it's hard to justify the extra money based on the extra fuel economy" of a combined 3 mpg more than the base model, says Jeff Tuckman, the dealership's inventory manager. "You've got the base LS model sitting next to it that's just as nice and luxurious." It's a problem flagged by many Chevy dealers.

BMW recalls 1.3 million 5 & 6 Series cars

BMW recall 1.3 million 5 & 6 Series BMW is to recall 1.3 million 5 Series and 6 Series cars built between 2003 and 2010 to fix a battery cable cover. It’s been an expensive year for BMW on the recall front. January saw MINI recall 235,000 Cooper and JCW models to fix a faulty auxiliary water pump on the turbo, and now a massive 1.3 million BMW 5 Series and 6 Series cars are being recalled. The cars affected are the BMW 5 and 6 Series built between 2003 and 2010 where BMW has discovered a battery cable cover in the boot may have been mounted incorrectly.

BMW's new 5-series next for hybrid power

The new BMW 5-series being launched this winter is likely to be the next BMW to receive the ActiveHybrid system pioneered on the petrol-electric 7-series and X6 models. BMW engineers admit they can't rely on sales of the pricey hybrid 7-series and X6 to justify the development costs, even though these range-topping halo hybrids were jointly developed with Daimler and GM. Senior sources have indicated that the new 2010 5-series will be the next BMW to get an ActiveHybrid model.