As an update to our previous news story GM-Daewoo issued the following press release:
With the Nubira sedan, which will celebrate its European debut at the 73rd Geneva International Motor Show (March 6-16, 2003), GM Daewoo will continue with the rapid extension of its product line-up. The newcomer’s clean-cut lines were styled by the Italian design specialists, Pininfarina. The roomy, front-wheel drive car was developed from the ground up and incorporates a comprehensive new safety system. Starting in July, the Nubira will enter European showrooms with a choice of either a 1.6 (80 kW/109 hp) or 1.8-liter engine (90 kW/122 hp). The Nubira closes the gap between GM Daewoo’s Kalos and Evanda models launched last year.
Also for the first time in Europe, GM Daewoo will be showing the sporty, all-terrain prototype, Scope. Featuring a highly flexible interior, it points the way forward for the new company (founded in October 2002) in this segment of the market. The Scope is powered by a transversely mounted, aluminum, 2.5-liter, in-line six-cylinder engine. Also on show are the successful Matiz with its new four-cylinder, 1.0-liter engine (47 kW/64 hp) and the Kalos, which is now available with two new engines, the 1.2 (53 kW/72 hp) and the 1.4 16V (69 kW/94 hp). “Within only a few months of establishing our new company, we have launched several new carlines and engines, putting together an attractive new product line-up,” says Hardy Spranger, Executive in Charge of GM Daewoo Europe. “There is no doubt in my mind that we are already moving out of the consolidation phase and can soon begin to grow the business.”
All-New Nubira: Modern Design, Roominess, State-of-the-Art Technology — Proton Persona launch.
Cooperation with the famous Italian designers has become a Daewoo trademark: While Matiz and Kalos received their own independent shape and form from Italdesign (Giorgietto Giugiaro); the new Nubira is the product of cooperative efforts between the GM Daewoo design center and the specialists at Pininfarina in Turin. The mid-size sedan (length x width x height: 4,500 x 1,725 x 1,445 mm) is characterized by strong, clean-cut contours. Typical for the newcomer’s styling are the bold lines on the engine hood, which guide the eye to the new company badge and the chrome-plated radiator grille. The sturdy bumpers can withstand collisions at speeds of up to eight km/h without damage.
The interior is unobtrusively elegant with just a hint of luxury. Three clearly laid out, circular displays provide all the information the driver needs. A broad strip of burr walnut molding, also found on the doors, splits the cockpit horizontally, contrasting the dark gray the upper area against light gray lower section. The center console gives the interior a sporty look thanks to its metallic silver coating. It houses the infotainment systems in double DIN format as well as the temperature controls.
The new Daewoo Nubira is one of the most spacious vehicles in its class. It has grown significantly in comparison to its predecessor and offers more space, especially in the rear, than practically every competitor.
The foundation for the new Nubira’s comprehensive safety system is the use of more high-strength steels. In addition, two front and two side airbags, three-point seatbelts all round as well as Isofix child seat anchorages on the outer rear seats guarantee the best possible passenger protection. — all-new Mazda2 sedan.
To prevent accidents from happening at all, GM Daewoo has also invested intensively in the active safety of the new Nubira. A four-channel ABS from Bosch has been integrated to effectively prevent the four disc brakes from locking and electronic traction control prevents the wheels from spinning on slippery surfaces. Several weeks of intensive testing in England led to significant modifications to the new Nubira’s chassis. The new set-up – with more responsive power steering and sportier spring and damper settings – is ideal for rapid progress on European motorways and winding country roads.
Two new four-cylinder engines with four valves per cylinder actuated by two overhead camshafts power the new Daewoo Nubira. The 1.6-liter engine has an output of 80 kW/109 hp and has a top speed of 187 km/h. With the 1.8-liter engine, the new Daewoo Nubira reaches 194 km/h, its peak output is 90 kW/122 hp. With 7.1 and 7.5 liters of regular fuel per 100 kilometers (MVEG combined), respectively, both engines are very fuel-efficient. In addition to the standard five-speed manual gearbox, a new four-speed automatic transmission is also available for the stronger engine.
“Scope”: Sporty Off-Road Concept
As the possible automotive answer to the lifestyle of the future, Daewoo will be launching its crossover vehicle “Scope” in Geneva. It combines the dynamics and maneuverability of a sports car with the robustness of an all-terrain vehicle. The aerodynamic, wedge-shaped body with a total length of 4,474 millimeters (wheelbase: 2,650 mm) points to the sporty character of the new vehicle while the vertical radiator grille emphasizes its off-road suitability. The width of 1,897 and the height of 1,710 millimeters mark its compact design.
It is not only the numerous seat configurations that highlight the interior’s flexibility. If more space is required, the armrests can be folded up to get them out of the way. In addition, Scope has only one remote control for the doors as well as the stereo system, which can be quite practical, for example during a picnic. Even the engine can be started using the same wireless control unit. The Scope is powered by a compact, six-cylinder, transverse engine from GM Daewoo’s XK product line. The all-aluminum DOHC (dual, overhead camshaft) engine has a capacity of 2,492 cm3 and an output of 115 kW/157 hp at 5,800 rpm; the maximum torque of 245 Nm is available at 4,000 rpm. — Fiat Uno Mille evolution.
Bestseller Matiz: Successful Mini now with Stronger Engine
At the beginning of the year, GM Daewoo extended its best-selling Matiz product range by adding a more powerful engine. Alongside the 796 cm3, three-cylinder engine (38 kW/51 hp) there is now a stronger, more sophisticated 1.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with 47 kW/64 hp. With a maximum speed of 152 km/h, the new Matiz 1.0 is exactly 10 km/h faster than the 0.8. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 14.9 seconds. The fuel consumption in the MVEG cycle at 6.4 liters per 100 kilometers means that this engine is very fuel-efficient.
The Matiz is the most popular Daewoo in Europe. Since its market launch in 1998, more than 500,000 customers have chosen the fresh, appealing mini. The impressive sales statistics are both a huge compliment to the famous Italdesign team and company founder Giorgetto Giugiaro who are responsible for the unique charm of this five-door car with its characteristic round headlamps.
Kalos: More Choice with Two New Four-Cylinder Engines
The sub-compact Daewoo Kalos is growing more and more popular and is on offer with a broader choice of engines: In addition to the original 1.4-liter engine with 61 kW/83 hp, two new economic four-cylinder engines extend the product range in both directions: a 1.2-liter engine with 53 kW/72 hp as well as a 1.4-liter 16-valve unit with 69 kW/94 hp. Furthermore, the stronger engine can be combined with an automatic transmission. In addition to its appealing shape designed by Italdesign, the vehicle’s excellent use of space as well as its exemplary cost-benefit ratio all speak in favor of the Kalos. Besides the five-door Kalos hatchback successfully launched in September 2002, a four-door notchback variant with a separate luggage compartment has been expanding this product line in some markets since the beginning of 2003.
