We won't be seeing the new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu in U.S. showrooms until after next year's Super Bowl XLVI, but GM is already handing out early prototypes to journalists for a first encounter with the mid-size sedan.

This time, it's Motor Trend magazine editor Todd Lassa who was handed the keys to Chevrolet's newcomer. However, being that the example he drove and which you can see in the video after the hump, isn't a final production model but a showcar, there wasn't much to say about the Malibu's handling or other characteristics.

There's more than meets the eye when it comes to the development of a new vehicle and its individual components, and like all automakers, GM pays particular attention to the design of the seats – let's not forget, that's where the driver and passengers will spend their time in the car.

Understandably, the design process becomes more complicated in the event that the car is a global model like the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, which will be offered in nearly 100 countries on six continents, including the U.S. where it will arrive in showrooms next year.

The painstakingly slow drumbeat continues in advance of the official world premiere of the all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu at both the Shanghai Auto Show in China and the New York International Auto Show in the USA later this month, with the second teaser photo providing our first look at the mid-size sedan’s interior. Read more »

This is the first official photo of the all-new Chevrolet Malibu show car that will debut simultaneously at the Shanghai Auto Show in China and the New York International Auto Show in mid-April. And if you’re wondering why GM made plans to show it in China, that’s because unlike the current model that’s offered only in North America, the new Malibu will be a global vehicle that will be sold in nearly 100 countries on six continents and built in multiple locations, including China and two facilities in the United States.

“This Malibu takes Chevrolet’s established and award-winning nameplate to new places and introduces it to new audiences around the world,” said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet. “Whether the Malibu is sold in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, or Australia, it has been engineered from the ground up to meet the needs of customers around the world.”