Photo Illustrations by Theophilus Chin

By now, you've probably seen one 2012 Chevrolet Malibu prototype or another.  They've been running around for some time now with varying degrees of camouflage. From what we can see, the next Malibu won't be a full redesign, just a heavy update of the current car. Nothing revolutionary, just some slight exterior changes along with a new interior and updated features.

With that in mind we asked our ace rendering specialist to draw up some images of the what the next Malibu would look like. Not only did he have plenty of spy photos to work with, he even had a few patent drawings for reference.

So what do think? Is this the direction Chevrolet should be headed with the Malibu?

And if the design doesn't grab you, maybe Chevrolet's plans for the rest of the Malibu may peak your interest. Look for the engine lineup to get smaller in overall displacement as GM looks to improve its overall fleet mileage.

Instead of single base four-cylinder, the Malibu will likely offer two different fours with varying degrees of power and efficiency. One will cater to those looking for mileage above all else, while the other will attempt to deliver a little bit of both worlds thanks to a turbocharger that will boost performance without compromising efficiency too drastically.

The option of an even larger 6-cylinder engine may be dropped entirely depending on how strong the turbocharged four-cylinder proves. Hyundai has already adopted a similar strategy with its Sonata midsize sedan; Buick, too, with the Regal. Wouldn't be much of a surprise to see Chevrolet follow suit.

Look for the official reveal of the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu primeval next year with income beginning in the fall.