Daewoo Matiz

The Daewoo Matiz is a city car produced by the South Korean automaker GM Korea, marketed worldwide since 1998 when it replaced the Daewoo Tico. The Matiz was originally designed by Italdesign Giugiaro and has been available solely as a five-door hatchback. It received two major facelifts during its lifespan. Various generations of the car have been sold under both Daewoo and various GM brands, and have been manufactured and marketed under license agreements by local automakers in several countries.

First generation

M100 (1998–2001)

The production of Daewoo Matiz started in 1998 and it was 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^[4] 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.

Copying controversy

Also 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, and proving the extent of the copy in that the doors of the Chery QQ and Chevy/Chevrolet Spark were completely interchangeable. GM China Group indicated the two vehicles "shared remarkably identical body structure, exterior design, interior design and key components." MotorAuthority.com called the QQ a "carbon copy." The International Herald Tribune in a 2005 article, referred to the QQ as a clone.

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.

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 in Uzbekistan.

In South Korea and Japan it was sold under the name GM Daewoo Matiz II.

Safety

Euro NCAP test results for a RHD, 5-door hatchback variant on a 2000 registration:

Engine

Second generation

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 800cc 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 names Chevrolet Matiz and Chevrolet Spark. In Italy existed the LPG version called Chevrolet Matiz Eco Logic. The Matiz Eco Logic was built from 2007 to 2010 in over 60,000 vehicles by BRC Gas Equipment in Cherasco, Cuneo (Italy).

In South Korea, where it was sold only with a 800 cc engine and following the introduction of M300 Matiz (Matiz Creative), the M200 Matiz was renamed to Matiz Classic.

It was sold in over 2.3 million units worldwide during the first 10 years of production.^[6]

As of 2011, VIDAMCO of Vietnam produces the Matiz M200 as the Chevrolet Spark in complete knock-down (CKD) form at its Hanoi production facility.^[7]

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 unveiled on World Environment Day in New Delhi.

Chevrolet Spark Muzic Special Edition (2009–) was a version of Chevrolet Spark for the Indian market.

Safety

Euro NCAP test results for a 5-door hatchback variant on a 2005 registration:

Engine

Third generation

The redesigned Matiz (codenamed M300) is based on the Chevrolet Beat concept car.

Concept

The Chevrolet Beat was unveiled at the 2007 New York International Auto Show alongside two other concept vehicles, the Trax and the Groove. The Beat is a front-drive, three-door hatchback concept, derived from the Daewoo Kalos. It was built in India, and designed by GM Daewoo in South Korea. It is powered by a 1.2 L turbocharged gasoline engine mated to an automatic transmission.^[9]

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,^[10] with the Beat receiving nearly 50% of the vote, which ultimately determined the car making it into production. 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.

Production

GM presented a pre-production version of the Chevrolet Beat carrying the Chevrolet Spark nameplate at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. The production version was announced at the 2009 North American International Auto Show, but only the Beat concept was shown at the time.^[11] The production Chevrolet Spark was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.^[12] It became available in Europe in the first quarter of 2010, followed by other markets worldwide, with US sales set to begin in early 2012. Commercial production of a 5-door Chevrolet Beat started from December 15, 2009, in Halol, Gujarat, India. It was launched in India on January 5, 2010, during Auto Expo New Delhi, India.

The GM Daewoo Matiz version was unveiled in Seoul Motor Show 2009.^[13]

The Holden version, named Barina Spark, was revealed at the 2010 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in October. A photo was revealed on October 8.

The Auto platform was replaced by GM Global Mini platform, developed by GM Daewoo engineers.

Chevrolet Beat Diesel: General Motors has launched the diesel version of Chevrolet Beat in the Indian auto market on 25th of July 2011.^[14] The 3-cylinder, 936 cc turbodiesel engine churns the maximum power of 62.5 PS, with a highway mileage of 24 km/l. The engine is based on the Fiat Multijet diesel technology.^[15]

Regional variations

• Europe: engine choices include 1.0 and 1.2-litre I4 engines. In Italy there exists a variant of the Spark called the Chevrolet Spark Eco Logic that was built by BRC Gas Equipment from the end of 2009. This low emission version has a dual power LPG engine 1.0 and 1.2 16V with 113 to 119 g of CO₂ emission.

• 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.^[16]

• 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.^[17] The Groove name used in one of the rejected concepts returned as a trim level.^[18]. In 2011, this car is renamed as Chevrolet Spark as part of phasing out the Daewoo brand in South Korea, making way for the Chevrolet brand.

• Australia: the Spark was released in October 2010 as the Holden Barina Spark. It comes in two guises; CD and CDX.

• Uzbekistan: Chevrolet Spark was released on August 26, 2010. It comes in three trim levels: L (1.0L MT), LS (1.0L MT/AT) and LT (1.2L MT).

Engines

Spark EV

In October 2011, General Motors announced the production of the Chevrolet Spark EV, an all-electric version of the Chevy Spark, with sales planned to begin in select U.S. and global markets beginning in 2013 in low volumes.^[19][20]

In popular culture

The Chevrolet Beat concept car served as the alternate mode for the Autobot known as Skids in the film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Mudflap from Transformers: Dark of the Moon.^[21]

Global marketing and manufacture

Asia

• In India, it was launched in 1999 as the Daewoo Matiz. In 2007, General Motors India launched the Chevrolet M3X concept based third generation, as the Chevrolet Spark.

• In Japan, the Matiz was sold under the GM Daewoo brand.

• In the Philippines, the Matiz was available during the years 1999–2000 through the Grey Market. In 2007, it was released under the name Chevrolet Spark.

• In Pakistan, the car was initially introduced as Chevrolet Exclusive in 2003. From 2005–2009 it was manufactured by Nexus Automotive under the name Chevrolet Joy, which has now been replaced by the newer M200 series and is currently sold as the Chevrolet Spark.

Europe

• From 1998 until 2004, the Matiz was sold in Europe under the Daewoo badge.^[22] In 2004, it took the Chevrolet marque,^[23] as well as the other South Korean models of General Motors, such as the Lacetti and Kalos.

• Since 2000, CKD kits have been supplied UzDaewooAuto, FSO and Rodae, to be built and sold in Uzbekistan, Poland and Romania respectively. At the beginning of 2005, the Polish Matiz started to be sold under the marque FSO (FSO Matiz), which obtained autonomy. New models of Matiz were sold as Chevrolet Spark.

The Americas

• In Mexico, the Matiz was introduced to the market in 2003. The 2006 model was renamed to Pontiac Matiz G2. It was also sold as Pontiac Matiz and Pontiac G2. The Pontiac G2 was discontinued in Mexico after a short run of 2010 models as the brand fades. The new version was officially launched as Chevrolet Spark in August 2010.

• A M300-based vehicle is currently in production in Brazil as a replacement for the Chevrolet Celta.

• In the Dominican Republic it is sold as the Chevy Spark.

• In Colombia, the Matiz was imported by Daewoo distributors between 2002 and 2005 and then GM Colmotores began to assemble and sell it branded as Chevrolet Spark. In 2006, a taxi version called 7/24 was launched. In July 2010, GM Colmotores began to assemble and sell The Chevrolet "Spark GT" 5 doors known in other countries as the Chevrolet Beat.

• In Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay and Venezuela it is sold as the Chevrolet Spark.

• In Argentina the first generation was sold as the Daewoo Matiz through Daewoo importers. The second generation was sold as Chevrolet Spark through Chevrolet dealers. Since 2011 the third generation is available.

• In Chile the former version is sold as the Chevrolet Spark, and the latest version as the Chevrolet Spark GT.

• In Costa Rica it is sold as the Chevrolet Spark.

• In Perú it is sold as the Chevrolet Spark GT.

• In Paraguay, it was initially sold as Daewoo Matiz, but from 2008 it is sold through Chevrolet dealers.

• The M300 version is expected to be sold in the United States and Canada as the Chevrolet Spark beginning in 2012.

Africa

• In South Africa, General Motors South Africa (GMSA) announced on 2 October 2010, plans to manufacture the new Chevrolet Spark at its Port Elizabeth plant. The second generation Spark is still sold, though branded as a 'Spark Lite'.

Middle East

• In Israel, UMI (Universal Motors Israel) announced on 18 January 2011 the marketing commencement of the 1.2L Chevrolet Spark model.

See also

• Chevrolet Spark EV

References