Chevrolet Epica / Daewoo Tosca

The all new Chevrolet (for Europe) /Daewoo (for Korea & Asia) / Suzuki (for the US) medium sedan will be equipped with 2 6cylinder engines, 2.0 & 2.5 litres. In Europe it will also be offered with a diesel engine.

Chevrolet Captiva SUV -official

Alter a long period of wait, Chevrolet previews its all new compact SUV, Captiva. Co-developed with Daewoo, the Captiva retains the prototype’s (S3X) design theme. The Captiva is one of GM’s worldwide car projects as it will be sold in Europe (as Chevrolet), Asia (as Daewoo) and the US (as Saturn).

Oficial press release:

The Captiva will also be the first model in Chevrolet’s European range available with an electronic stability program (ESP). It debuts at the Geneva motor show (March 2 - 12, 2006) and will be available in showrooms across Europe starting in June.

Dimenisons

The Captiva offers expressive design and a spacious, convenient interior featuring high quality fabrics and materials. The new compact SUV measures 4,639/1,849/1,726 mm (length/width/height) and with a wheelbase of 2,707 mm. It will be available with seven or five seats respectively.

4wd system

Customers will also have the choice between front-wheel and four-wheel-drive variants. The latter variant features an-active-on demand, four-wheel-drive-system. As driving conditions demand, the rear axle is instantly employed via an electronically controlled electro-magnetic coupling to give maximum traction. The system also seamlessly interacts with the ESP and ABS systems, enhancing driver control of the vehicle and safety margins. The ESP itself has additional functions like HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist), HDC (Hill Descent Control) and ARP (Anti-Rollover Protection).

Engine specifications

Initially, three transversally mounted engines will be available for the Captiva. They include the brand new, state-of-the-art common rail diesel engine jointly developed by GM Daewoo Auto&Technology Company, GM Powertrain and VM Motori. In its first application, the 16 valve unit offers 150 hp at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 310 Nm at 2000 rpm.. In the ECE mix, fuel consumption is 8.1 L per 100 km. It is the first application of a family of diesel powertrains that will become available in other Chevrolet products in Europe, beginning in 2006.

The base engine is a 2.4 litre in-line DOHC four cylinder, delivering 142 hp at 5,200 rpm and a torque maximum of 220 Nm at 4,000 rpm. The Captiva 2.4 average fuel consumption is 10.8 L per 100 km. The top-of-the line 3.2 litre V6 engine produces 225 hp at 6,000 rpm, maximum torque is 302 Nm at 3500 rpm.

Chevrolet Epica - Suzuki Verona - Daewoo Tosca 2007

The Daewoo Tosca was officially presented in Korea and I updated the photo album with new pictures. The Koreanj mid size sedan will be sold in Europe as Chevrolet Epica while it is also rumored that it will come to the US a 2007 Suzuki Verona. Although Korean is definitely not one of my strong points, with the help of web-translators I managed to come up with the engine specifications. There are two inline 6cylinder engines available:

2.0 liter with 144 hp / 6.300 rpm & 19,2 kgm torque / 4.600 rpm

2.5 liter with 157 hp / 5.800 rpm & 24,0 kgm torque / 4.000 rpm

The European edition will be previewed in the Geneva Motor Show

Chevrolet Epica 2007

After the Korean preview of GM’s global mid sized sedan (Daewoo Tosca), Chevrolet Europe unveiled its version of the car which in terms of design, differs from the Tosca only in the front mask. Other minor changes include a revised setup of the suspension. As I noted in January, the US will probably get this car in the form of the 2007 Suzuki Verona

New Chevrolet Epica, World Premiere at the Geneva Motor Show:The new Chevrolet Epica is the company’s first mid-size model to be launched in Europe with two refined, transversally mounted in-line six cylinder engines. It will celebrate its world premiere at the Geneva motor show (March 2-12, 2006) and will be launched on the European market from June 2006. Epica will offer a comprehensive range of comfort and safety equipment as standard and exceptional value for money.

Dimensionally (length/width/height: 4,805/1,810/1,450 mm), this front-wheel drive mid-size saloon has grown significantly compared to its predecessor, the Evanda. It has a wheelbase of 2,700 mm. The most striking design features of the four-door Epica are its rising, wedge-shaped side contours with a character line that runs on the upper half of the door, the grab-type door handles, the chrome grille with a substantial cross strut carrying the bold Chevrolet bow-tie emblem, large wrap-around headlamps and equally striking rear lamps. Standard safety features of the new Epica are ABS, driver and passenger airbags, and side and head airbags.
Buyers will initially have a choice of two engine types: Extremely smooth straight-six gasoline units with a capacity of either 2.0 or 2.5 litres (142 and 155 hp) will be available at launch with a version of Chevrolet’s all-new family of common rail turbo diesel engines coming later. The six cylinder gasoline engine is probably the shortest six cylinder available in the world. This enables the whole power unit to be neatly packaged in a lightweight transverse configuration. Both engine types are available with a five-speed manual or a sophisticated new five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission.

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Daewoo Winstorm

GM Daewoo name their new medium SUV, Winstorm and announce an agreement to rehire by the end of May all 1,725 workers laid off in the 2001 restructuring plan

GM Daewoo announced that it named their edition of the Korean developed medium SUV, Winstorm. The Winstorm- a combination of the words 'Win' and 'Storm', is scheduled to debut in Korea in June. The vehicle will have a 2.0 litre diesel VGT (Variable Geometry Turbo) engine and it will be available in five-seater and seven-seater editions. The car will fit somewhere in-between Hyundai's Santa Fe and Tucson models, with prices yet to be announced.

GM Chairman Rick Wagoner, now in Korea, visited the company's plant in Bupyeong, Gyeonggi Province and tested the vehicle himself. "The Winstrom will carry on the tradition of my company, which developed the world's first SUV Chevy Suburban in 1935," he said. "I believe it will play a big role in increasing our market share worldwide not only in Korea."

* The Daewoo Winstorm is practically the same car as the Chevrolet Captiva (Click on the link to see the full press release, specifications & pictures: Read more HERE & HERE). This medium SUV will also base an Opel version for Europe and a Saturn version aimed for the USA

GM DAEWOO REHIRES LAID OFF WORKERS

Union and management representatives of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology on Friday announced an agreement to rehire by the end of May all 1,725 workers laid off in restructuring in 2001, when GM acquired Daewoo Motors. GM Daewoo is the first company in the country that has ever hired back every last worker it rationalized out.

In the past five years, GM Daewoo has been reborn as an entirely different firm. Its sales last year increased 30 percent from the previous year and its exports 50 percent. As a result, GM Daewoo netted profits of W64.7 billion (US$64.7 million), a record even counting the years when it was plain Daewoo Motors. That success is due to vibrant exports taking advantage of GM's worldwide marketing networks, and particularly to hugely improved exports to China.

Now GM Daewoo is able to rehire all the 1,700-plus workers it laid off. The firm plans to move from the current single shift at the Bupyeong Plant into two shifts in June, when all five GM Daewoo plants will go into full operation.

SUV, Chevrolet+Captiva, images, pictures, autos, auto+news, daewoo winstorm, business news

Daewoo G2X – GM’s Korean version of the Saturn Sky Roadster

GM’s Korean subsidiary unveiled the G2X roadster at the Busan International Motor Show (April 28 until May 7). Besides the name, the G2X is identical to the Saturn Sky Roadster & the Opel GT Roadster.

Like its American brother, the two-seater G2X features a 177 horsepower, 2.4-liter engine. Equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, the G2X hopes to attract urban drivers in the 21-35 age bracket, a marketing official at the auto show said.

Pricing details were still being set and the model is expected to hit showrooms within months, according to Korean officials.

In South Korea, some analysts say GM Daewoo is on track to unseat Kia Motors Corp. as the nation's second-largest automaker. Last year, GM Daewoo sold 1.15 million vehicles at home and abroad, compared with 1.26 million units sold by Kia Motors.

On the back of such promising results, GM Daewoo announced in March it would rehire all of the 1,725 workers laid off by their former employer, the bankrupt Daewoo Motor Co., by the end of next month.

"The greatest achievement during GM Daewoo's short history is welcoming back all of the workers that our predecessor had to let go," said Rick Labelle, vice president of GM Daewoo's commercial operations.

Seoul Show: Daewoo L4X aka Holden Statesman

Funny isn’t; GM takes the Aussie made and Holden Commodore based Statesman to Korea but not to the US where it could replace the Chevrolet Impala. The rear-wheel drive LX4 will be offered in Korea with Holden’s 258Hp 3.6-liter V6 matched with a 5-speed automatic transmission but not with a V8. The only significant change the Koreans made to the Statesman is the new jail-house like grille and the bird stand on the hood. -Press Release and a high-res image gallery after the jump (click “Read More”).

Press Release: Daewoo L4X - Premium Large Sedan of the Future

GM Daewoo is lifting the veil on a show car version of its much-anticipated long-wheelbase premium large sedan, the L4X.
The rear-wheel-drive product, which is close to a production version, permits a first glimpse into what GM Daewoo is pursuing as its premium large sedan. GM Daewoo’s future flagship will boast a superior level of refinement, safety and comfort features.
“The L4X exemplifies what a true premium large sedan should be. It excels in the most fundamental virtues of its segment,” said Michael Grimaldi, President and CEO of GM Daewoo. “For example, it has segment-leading interior space and rear seat comfort.”
He added, “Our latest show car is not only stylish, it also offers an array of convenience features and luxury appointments to satisfy the most sophisticated Korean consumers.”
The L4X comes with a powerful 3.6-liter V-6 powerplant that is matched with a smooth-shifting five-speed automatic transmission. The state-of-the-art alloy engine generates peak power and torque of 258 hp at 6,500 rpm and 34.7 kg.m at 3,200 rpm.
What makes the L4X stand out in terms of superior ride and handling are its sharpened chassis dynamics coupled with a longest-in-class 3,009-mm wheelbase, world-class structural stiffness and a sophisticated rear-wheel-drive system.
Its elegant exterior design, which will set it apart from other premium sedans, is characterized by a stretched silhouette and a wide stance accentuated by flared wheel arches. The longer rear doors are the key to the dramatic proportions, which are accentuated by a sweeping roofline and substantial wheel and tire package. As a result of the longest wheelbase among Korean large sedans, the wheels have been moved to the very corners of the car, making it look and perform in a stable and sporty manner.
Detail highlights include signature LED repeater lamps in the fender vents, striking LED tail lamps and bright chrome accents. Its bi-xenon headlamps and tail lamps have a high-tech, precise and almost diamond-like appearance, with finely detailed elements that make them sparkle and glisten. The bright chrome bodyside molding and chrome-highlighted door handles add a touch of sculptured elegance to the side.
The themes for the interior design are comfort, harmony, luxury and attention to detail. The L4X offers a spacious and safe passenger compartment that provides a prestigious driving environment with optimized storage, packaging and ergonomics.
To give owners second-to-none premium comfort, the production version of the new GM Daewoo flagship will feature an array of safety and convenience features, including a navigation system with Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) TV, bi-xenon headlamps, curtain air bags, tri-zone automatic temperature controls, power rear seats with three-step temperature control heating and rear-back massage, power rear-window curtains, roller blinds, a rearview camera and power-folding outside rearview mirrors.

L4X Specifications

Specification

Length (mm) 5,164

Width (mm) 1,900

Height (mm) 1,480

Wheelbase (mm) 3,009

Track (mm) Front 1,592

Rear 1,608

Engine Type V6 DOHC

Displacement (cc) 3,565

Max. Power (hp) 258

Max. Torque (kg.m) 34.7

Seoul Show: Daewoo G2X aka Saturn Sky or Opel GT

Along with the Holden Statesman derived LX4, GM Daewoo also made the public debut of the road-going version of the G2X roadster which is the third interpretation (or fourth if you include the Pontiac Solstice) of the Saturn Sky rear-wheel drive roadster. Like its European counterpart the G2X gets a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivering 260Hp that shoots it up to 100 km/h (62mph) from standstill in 5,5 sec and to a top speed of about 227 km/h (141mph). Full press release and a high-res image gallery after the jump (Click “Read More…” below)

Press Release: Daewoo G2X - An Exhilarating Roadster for Korea

The premiere of the unique G2X roadster a few months ahead of its domestic sales, which start in late summer, is a true highlight of this year’s Seoul Motor Show.
Its longitudinally front-installed 2.0-liter 260-hp engine with turbocharger and gasoline direct injection accelerates the roadster to 100 km/h from a standing start in just 5.5 seconds, and to a top speed of about 227 km/h.
“The G2X is a classic roadster with abundant power and breathtaking acceleration. Hence, it will offer true sports car performance and an exhilarating driving experience,” said Grimaldi. “To further strengthen the GM Daewoo brand, we will offer Korean consumers something no other Korean manufacturer has in its showroom.”
The G2X brings with it a lot of personality thanks to its exciting shape, which contrasts sharp edges with curved surfaces to create a dynamic look. With a wide stance, sleek silhouette, long front-hinged hood and short overhangs, the proportions are typical of its class.
High-tech features such as gasoline direct injection, a twin-scroll turbocharger with intercooler, double camshaft phasing and twin counter-rotating balance shafts provide the basis for the 1,998-cm 3 four-cylinder engine’s impressive performance data. Maximum output of 194 kW/260 hp at 5,300 rpm and high torque plateau of 353 Nm (35.9 kh.m) between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm ensure plenty of power in all situations.
For the G2X, engineers designed a classic sporty configuration based on a rigid chassis, wide track (front/rear: 1,543/1,561 mm) and long wheelbase of 2,415 mm. All four wheels are suspended from twin A-arms made from forged aluminum, the center of gravity is low, and the weight distribution of 51:49 percent (front/rear) is well balanced.
An automatic five-speed transmission with limited slip differential efficiently provides propulsion power to the rear wheels. A torque beam between the transmission and rear axle suppresses reactions to acceleration/deceleration effects. All wheels are fitted with large disk brakes, while ABS and ESP (which, like Traction Control, can be switched off) monitor safety.

G2X Specifications

Specification

Length (mm) 4,091

Width (mm) 1,813

Height (mm) 1,273

Wheelbase (mm) 2,415

Track (mm) Front 1,543

Rear 1,560

Engine Type Four-cylinder High-tech Turbo Direct Injection

Displacement (cc) 1,998

Max. Power (hp) 260

Max. Torque (kg.m) 35.9