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The Daewoo Matiz is a city car produced by the South Korean automaker GM Daewoo that has been marketed worldwide since 1998. Available solely as a five-door hatchback with two engine configurations, and replacing the Daewoo Tico, the Matiz was originally designed by Italdesign Giugiaro and has been facelifted twice. The various generations of the car have been sold under both Daewoo and various GM brands, as well as manufactured and marketed under license agreements by local automakers in several countries. Notably, the Matiz was at the center of a 2006 international intellectual property rights controversy, its design copied outright by Chinese manufacturer Chery's QQ.
[edit] First generation[edit] M100 (1998–2008)
The Daewoo Matiz started production in 1998 and sold in South Korea and many European markets with the code name M100. The exterior design is based on the Lucciola, a Fiat Cinquecento concept by Italdesign Giugiaro which had been rejected by Fiat. The 0.8-litre gasoline engine and the transmission were carryovers from the Daewoo Tico. Engineering was carried out at Daewoo's Worthing Technical Centre in England. The car became the best selling Daewoo model in Europe and in India for the next four years. The Matiz was originally launched with just a 0.8 L 3-cylinder engine. This engine was developed from the TICO unit by Tickford, a UK company based in Milton Keynes. The Tickford connection was acknowledged in the brochures distributed in UK showrooms. [edit] Copying controversyAlso marketed in China as the Chevrolet Spark, the Matiz has been at the center of an industrial rights controversy ever since a very similar car, the Chery QQ, had been introduced by local manufacturer Chery Automobile. GM sued Chery, alleging piracy of the Spark design,[1] and proving the extent of the copy in that the doors of the Chery car and Chevrolet Spark were completely interchangeable.[2] GM China Group indicated the two vehicles "shared remarkably identical body structure, exterior design, interior design and key components." [1] MotorAuthority.com called the QQ a "carbon copy." [3] The International Herald Tribune in a 2005 article, referred to the QQ as a clone.[4] Putting the controversy in important context, the Detroit News reported that "the dispute reflects the confusion, risks and ambitions in China's new auto industry, where global carmakers are battling pugnacious upstarts for a piece of what may become the world's largest auto market."[5] [edit] M150 (2000–present)
It was designed at Daewoo's Worthing Technical Centre in England and introduced in South Korea in late 2000, and exported from 2001. The front-end structure was modified to accommodate a 4-cylinder engine, although the introduction of this engine, the 1.0-litre S-Tec unit was delayed until after Daewoo's takeover by General Motors in 2002. M150 is still produced by UzDaewooAuto, Uzbekistan. In Japan it was sold under the name GM Daewoo Matiz II. [edit] M200 (2005–present)
 .jpg) This called from 'Matiz Classic'. In 2005 the Matiz received substantial modifications (M200), previewed by the Chevrolet M3X concept car shown at 2004 Paris Motor Show. The upper body was significantly revised based again on a design from Italdesign Giugiaro, the S-Tec engines were updated and the car's drag coefficient was lowered, resulting in better fuel economy. The interior was also significantly revised, one notable feature of this car being its centre-mounted instrument cluster. The platform was also revised, with a twist-beam rear suspension system replacing the previous 3-link beam axle, and the front suspension making use of cast, rather than pressed and fabricated, lower control arms. In 2008, the 0.8L engine was revised to fall below the 120g/km level, thus qualifying for the UK's £35 road tax band and no London Congestion Charge. In Europe it was sold under the name Chevrolet Matiz II. In South Korea, where it is sold only with a 800 cc engine and following the introduction of M300 Matiz (Matiz Creative), the M200 Matiz was renamed to Matiz Classic.[6] Chevrolet Spark LPG: was a version for the Indian market with Sequential Injection-type LPG kit. Available models include 1.0L PS and 1.0L LS. The car was unveilled on World Environment Day in New Delhi.[7] Chevrolet Spark Muzic Special Edition (2009-): was a version of Chevrolet Spark for the Indian market, with following features:[8]
[edit] SafetyThe 2005 Chevrolet Matiz scored three stars (with one strike through) in the EuroNCAP crash test: "The final adult occupant protection star is struck through because there was an unacceptably high risk of life-threatening injury to the chest in side impact." test: "Overall this is a creditable performance from a car without a side airbag."[1] By contrast, the pre-2005 Daewoo Matiz was awarded 72% in the side impact Euro NCAP In Europe, the Matiz is equipped with front seatbelt pretensioners, front seatbelt load limiters, driver and passenger frontal airbags and ISOFIX rear anchorages. [edit] Second generation[edit] M300 (2009–present)
[edit] ConceptThe Chevrolet Beat, Trax, and Groove concept vehicles were unveiled at 2007 New York International Auto Show. The Chevrolet Beat is a front-drive, three-door hatchback concept, derived from the Daewoo Kalos, was built in India[9], and designed by GM Daewoo in South Korea. It is powered by a 1.2 L turbocharged gasoline engine mated to an automatic transmission.[10] The Beat concept sports a Vertigo Green exterior paint job with the same hue carried over to parts of the interior. Its profile is high at the rear and tapering down evenly to the front of the grille. Headlights that appear to extend all the way from the base of the grille to the base of the windshield are LED-type. Oversize 17 inch wheels barely hide the matching green paint of disc brakes. Twin taillights that extend upward to the back-up lights are also LED's. In early 2007, GM conducted a poll testing the relative popularity of the Beat, Trax and Groove concepts on a Chevrolet website,[11] with the Beat receiving nearly 50% of the vote. This car was designed to appeal to young car buyers in urban markets, infusing the energy, diversity and excitement of urban life into a car that would deliver good-looking fun, fuel economy and value. [edit] ProductionThe redesigned Matiz (codenamed M300) was based on Chevrolet Beat concept car following the 2007 poll result. The production version, named Chevrolet Spark, was announced in 2009 Detroit Motor Show, but only the Beat concept was shown at the time.[12] The production Chevrolet Spark was unveiled in 2009 Geneva Motor Show.[13] GM Daewoo Matiz version was unveiled in Seoul Motor Show 2009.[14] The Alto platform was replaced by GM Gamma platform developed by GM Daewoo engineers. The production version of Chevrolet Spark will be available as of Q1 2010 in Europe, followed by other markets worldwide, with US sales set to begin in 2011. Europe: engine choices include 1.0 and 1.2-litre I4 engines. India: production of the New Spark has started at Halol Plant near Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India. Initially the car will be Sold in India and Far eastern countries. The current spark will be sold as the Spark classic. GM India was reported to build an electric version of Chevrolet Spark with Reva Electric Car Company.[15] South Korea: the Matiz version was renamed to Matiz Creative. The global car includes 1,000 cc (1.0 L; 61 cu in) S-TEC II engine with 4-speed automatic transmission. Sales began in 2009-09-01.[16] The Groove name used in one of the rejected concepts returned as a trim level.[17] [edit] Global marketing and manufacture[edit] Asia
[edit] Europe
[edit] The Americas
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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