Daewoo LeMans — BrandWiki

Daewoo LeMans

Overview

Daewoo Cielo

platform
aka	Daewoo Cielo (South Korea, Romania) Daewoo Heaven Daewoo Nexia Daewoo Pointer Daewoo Racer Chevrolet Nexia (Uzbekistan)
production	May 1994 – February 1997 (South Korea)‡R13R‡ 1995–2002 (Vietnam) 1996–2008 (Egypt) 1996–2007 (Romania) 1996–2004 (Iran) 1996–2016 (Uzbekistan)
assembly	South Korea: Bupyeong South Korea: Changwon (export models only) Egypt: Cairo (Daewoo Motors Egypt) Uzbekistan: Asaka (UzDaewoo)‡R14R‡ Romania: Craiova (Rodae)‡R15R‡ Poland: Lublin (DMP)‡R16R‡ Vietnam: Hanoi (VIDAMCO)‡R17R‡ Iran: Kerman
designer	Concept Group International LTD and GM Uzbekistan (2008 facelift)
class	Compact car/small family car (C)
body style	3/5-door hatchback 4-door sedan
layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive

The Daewoo LeMans is a compact car, first manufactured by Daewoo in South Korea between 1986 and 1994, and between 1994 and 1997 as Daewoo Cielo — a car mechanically identical to the LeMans, differentiated only by its modified styling cues. Like all Daewoos preceding it, the LeMans took its underpinnings from a European Opel design.[1] In the case of the LeMans, the GM T platform-based Opel Kadett E was the donor vehicle, essentially just badge engineered into the form of the LeMans, and later as the Cielo after a second more thorough facelift.[2]

In markets outside South Korea, the original version of the car bore the Asüna GT, Asüna SE, Daewoo 1.5i, Daewoo Fantasy, Daewoo Pointer, Daewoo Racer, Passport Optima and Pontiac LeMans names. The "LeMans" nameplate was not used at all for the facelifted model. Five-door hatchback models exported to Europe were badged Daewoo Nexia with the Daewoo Racer name used seemingly at random on various bodystyles. The Daewoo Heaven name has also been used.[3]

related	Opel Kadett E

engine	Petrol: 1.5 L G15MF I4 1.5 L A15MF I4 1.6 L Family 1 I4

transmission	5-speed manual 3-speed GM THM125 automatic 4-speed GM 4T40E automatic

wheelbase	2520 mm

length	4482 mm (sedan) 4256 mm (hatchback)

width	1662 mm

height	1393 mm

weight	NNNN - NNNN kg

successor	Daewoo Lanos Daewoo Nubira Chevrolet Agile (South America)

First generation (LeMans; 1986)

The original series Daewoo LeMans was available as a three-door hatchback and a four-door sedan when introduced in July 1986.[6] The LeMans was one of the first aerodynamically designed cars to be sold in South Korea, and the first to feature a digital dashboard.[7] The hatchbacks' bodywork differed in subtle ways from the German models: unlike the original, the three-door model received swing-out rear windows (not on the lowest priced models), while the five-door design used the sedan's rear doors and sloping C-pillars rather than retaining the three-door's notched window line.[8]

Sales of the LeMans in North America began in mid-1987, where it was sold as the Pontiac LeMans.[9] The LeMans was also sold in Canada through General Motors' Passport International Division as the "Optima."[10]

This car was sold in Australia as the "Daewoo 1.5i", with both hatchback and sedan bodywork.

The five-door hatchback body style was known as the Daewoo LeMans Penta5 in South Korea, while the three-door was called Daewoo Racer and only the sedan was called LeMans. Korean market cars received a 1.5-litre engine (with 89 PS) as there was a severe tax penalty for cars with larger engines.[11] In October 1991 the LeMans received a facelift, with a reworked front and superficially changed taillights. This version was called the Asüna SE/GT in the Canadian market, where it replaced the Passport Optima. When South Korean production of the original LeMans finally came to an end in February 1997, over 1 million had been built.[11]

Pontiac LeMans

For the 1988 model year, Pontiac began selling the LeMans as their smallest model in the United States, thereby reviving the LeMans nameplate. The captive import was offered in three-door hatchback and four-door sedan bodystyles. In Canada, GM rebranded the LeMans to market it through its short-lived Passport and Asüna brands. The Pontiac LeMans received a facelift in 1991. In North America, poor quality tarnished sales and the Pontiac LeMans and Asüna SE/GT were discontinued after the 1993 model year with no replacement. In 1994, the Asüna brand was discontinued altogether.

It was also sold in New Zealand as the Pontiac LeMans from 1989, becoming the first Pontiac badged car to be sold on the NZ market since the Canadian sourced Pontiac Laurentian of the 1960s.

Daewoo Racer

Following a complex debt deal between Czechoslovakia, Libya and South Korea, Mototechna the state car dealer imported the Daewoo Racer for 1988 and 1989 in the 1.5 saloon version.[12]

Engines

Second generation (Cielo; 1994)

The second generation LeMans launched in 1994, available as a three- and five-door hatchback and four-door sedan with a 1.5-litre eight-valve or a 1.5-litre 16-valve engine. These new models were still based on the Opel Kadett E, underpinned by the "T-car" platform. There were various trim levels available. Unlike the Kadett, there was never a station wagon version available. Some European markets got the "Lifestyle" trim level; Spain and Portugal badged their GLi/GLXi equivalents "Chess"; the Benelux countries kept the GLi/GLXi trim levels and some markets added ETi and STi specifications.[18] The GLi has an average performance with a 0–100 km/h time of 12.5 seconds and 80 PS at 5,400 rpm. There was also a version with single-point fuel injection and 70 PS for lower-spec versions.[18] The more luxurious GLXi received a sixteen-valve engine which upped the power to 90 PS at an unusually low 4,800 rpm, and the 0–100 km/h time was reduced to 12.2 seconds.[19]

The Cielo was made in India by DCM Daewoo Motors until the Korean Daewoo company went bankrupt. GM did not take over the Indian plant in Surajpur near Delhi and it was liquidated. Production in South Korea came to an end shortly after the 1996 introduction of the Daewoo Lanos, an original design.[20]

Prototype

There was a prototype of the Nexia debuted in 1995 at the Seoul Motor Show - the NGV 3 (NGV meaning Nexia Green Vehicle). From the outside it looks like a regular Nexia, except that it was powered by an electric motor.[21]

Marketing and production

United Kingdom

Daewoo first exported cars to Europe in the mid-1990s, with the Nexia and Espero forming the two-model line-up in Britain from January 1995. Daewoo was the first manufacturer to sell cars on the British market directly to customers rather than setting up a conventional dealer network, and the appeal of its cars was further enhanced by the following promotions:

There were two trim levels available. The base model was the GLi which was quite well-equipped at the time, including a 1.5 SOHC (8-valve) engine, 'GLi' emblems at the body wings and boot, single-bench folding rear seat, power steering, driver's airbag and ABS. Different style hubcaps and automatic transmission were an option. After, there was the GLXi which (equipment over GLi) had a 1.5 DOHC (16-valve) engine, 'GLXi' emblems at the body wings and boot, all-round electric windows and mirrors, hubcaps, central locking, rev counter and split-folding rear seats. Alloy wheels were optional only on the GLXi.

United Kingdom

Most models received a 'TWIN CAM 8v' badge at the rear whilst those with automatic transmission had the 'AUTOMATIC' badge. The dealer plates had the writing 'DAEWOO' in a black background with the phone number, a black line going through either side with the number plate ID under the number plate.

When AA tested the Nexia 1.5 GLi in September 1995, they liked it due to its dealer satisfaction but criticized for being dull. In conclusion they said the Nexia is an ultra-sensible family car, with a hassle-free aftersales package and being good value for money.[26]

Despite making use of a design which was by then more than a decade old, the Nexia was one of the most popular budget family cars in Britain and helped Daewoo gain a 1% share of the new car market in 1996.[27][28] Also, air-conditioning became a free option in every Daewoo, even in the Nexia GLi 3-dr.[29][30] It was replaced there by the Lanos in the autumn of 1997, by which time some 40,000 examples had been sold.[31] Despite this, the Nexia was sold until December 1997.

A low and fixed asking price
3 year/60,000 mile comprehensive warranty
3 years free servicing
3 years free AA membership (which also meant giving a free courtesy car if in an inconvenience)
Free delivery plates
One-year free road tax
A free full tank of petrol
30-day peace-of-mind refund or exchange period
A free 'N' plate replacement in August 1995[22]
A free mobile phone.

Awards

At July 1997, Daewoo announced that the Nexia won the best-in-class award (beating its rivals) and the favourite model category (behind the BMW 5-Series) in the 1997 Cornhill Insurance Motor Test.[32]

Recalls

At 26 January 1996, Daewoo recalled all Nexia's since its introduction in April 1995 because of the wiring harness engine bay has been misrouted, which could have resulted in a chafing of the harness.[33]

Criticisms

The Nexia was criticized for using outdated Mk2 Vauxhall Astra mechanicals and styling hints making it dull to look at and drive for some people, especially the saloons as they were Belmont-based. In addition, its ABS control module was expensive to replace. As faulty ABS was cause for the car to fail the UK's MOT test, this could prompt owners to get rid of their Nexias. Also, it had a lot of electrical problems, and did not fare very well in reliability.[34]

Daewoo LeMans

First generation (LeMans; 1986)

Pontiac LeMans

Daewoo Racer

Engines

Second generation (Cielo; 1994)

Prototype

Marketing and production

United Kingdom

References

Gallery

Awards

Recalls

Criticisms

Awards

Recalls

Criticisms

Romania

Uzbekistan

The Netherlands

United Kingdom

Awards

Recalls

Criticisms

Awards

Recalls

Criticisms

Romania

Uzbekistan

The Netherlands

Engines