In 1995 I was invited to Seoul, South Korea, by
the VP of Product Development for Daewoo Motor, Ing. Dr. Ulrich Bez - whom
Daewoo Group Chairman, Kim Woo Choong, had poached from Porsche AG, to develop
four brand new cars.
With what are now known to have be very dubious financing and loan arrangements, Kim Woo Choong had acquired GM’s majority interest in Daewoo in 1983, in order to create an independent Daewoo Motor.
In addition Kim Woo Choong also built a huge corporate empire, called Daewoo Group, which included civil engineering, ship-building, construction machinery, computers and electronics. Daewoo Group, almost overnight, became one of South Korea's most influential and powerful 'Chaebols'.
Dr. Bez and I met at the Daewoo Design Forum. He wanted to reveal to me four new
model concepts, which were planned for launch in 1997 – and he was eager for external, non-Korean feedback on the cars.
The four new models were to be called
Lanos, Nubira, Leganza and Matiz. The Lanos, Leganza and Matiz were all
designed by Ital Design.
Lanos revealed
traces of Giugiaro’s 1995 submission to Honda for the Honda Civic; whilst
Leganza was simply a scaled-down version of the Kensington concept car, which
Ital Design had presented to Jaguar in 1990.
However the design of the Nubira was contracted to Italy’s I.D.E.A Institute, simply to see what a competing design house would produce.
The Nubira clay was a stylish, completely different take, from the Giugiaro-designed Lanos and Leganza.
However the design of the Nubira was contracted to Italy’s I.D.E.A Institute, simply to see what a competing design house would produce.
The Nubira clay was a stylish, completely different take, from the Giugiaro-designed Lanos and Leganza.
Nubira was a very attractive, innovative, and efficient
package, with exceptional interior space given the modest exterior dimensions.
Power came from a 1.6L twin cam four cylinder GenII engine, manufactured in Australia by GM-Holden and mated to a Daewoo-built five speed manual; or the GM-supplied 4T-40 automatic.
Power came from a 1.6L twin cam four cylinder GenII engine, manufactured in Australia by GM-Holden and mated to a Daewoo-built five speed manual; or the GM-supplied 4T-40 automatic.
The suspension design was a product of
collaboration between the program manager in Korea and Daewoo’s Technical
Centre in Worthing, Sussex. The chief engineer for suspension was a former Lotus
suspension specialist, and the end result featured components which were surprising
for a mass market sedan, including a Panhard rod which resulted in a very
well-controlled ride and handling compromise.
I drove a Nubira prototype extensively at
the Millbrook Proving Ground in Britain during a Daewoo ride and drive program in September 1996,
and was very positively impressed with its competent handling.
In fact, given different circumstances, I
think Nubira (with capacity increased to 2.0L) could have formed the basis of a very successful racing sedan,
such was the competence of the handling developed by its ex-Lotus handling
specialist.
Nubira J-100 (top) and J-150 (bottom) |
The closing of Daewoo Motor may have
resulted in personal disgrace and jail for the founder, but the vehicle
programs were admirable, competent and surprisingly sophisticated – which I attribute to the technical oversight and expertise of Dr. Bez.
Ulrich Bez’s BMW/Porsche experience mirrors the impact which ex-Audi designer Peter Schreyer is having
today on the cars from Hyundai-Kia.
Daewoo (Chevrolet) Lacetti hatch and sedan |
We must no longer consign Korean cars to
the ‘pretender’ box. They are world-class, benchmark cars, deserving of respect
and consideration when making choices. They are solidly designed and built,
reliable too, and I’m sure will deliver impressive durability.
Given the fact that the next generation of
personal transport is such an unknown, married to the fact that you may need to
make a decision today on what to buy – then Korean cars deserve to be in the
mix.
They represent good value, and integrity,
and if you can overcome badge bias, they will deliver long term satisfaction.
Do you want anything more?