Scoop shots of a camouflage-free 2016 Chevrolet Malibu tester have surfaced in China, but we believe they show a facelifted version of the current car and not the upcoming all-new model for the US.

We base this on the profile and especially the window line of the prototype that looks exactly like on the 2014 Malibu offered for sale in China and which is identical to North America’s pre-facelift (2013MY) Malibu.

Our own spy photos of the next Malibu also support this, as the testers we’ve come across feature a completely different profile with a dramatically angled rear window.

As for China’s updated 2016 Malibu, it appears that it will get a new face with a much smaller front grille and crispier headlamps, very similar to the latest Impala, and possibly, a revised rear end.

Photos via iFeng, H/T to Indianautosblog!

2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU F/L – CHINA

2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU – CHINA

2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU – NORTH AMERICA