Daewoo Nubira

Daewoo Nubira
Overview
Manufacturer	Daewoo
Also called	Doninvest Orion
Production	1997–2002 (South Korea) 1997–present (CKD and license-built models)
Assembly	Gunsan, South Korea Cairo, Egypt (Daewoo Motors Egypt, 1998-2012)[1] Craiova, Romania (Rodae)[2] Zaporizhia, Ukraine (AvtoZAZ)[3] Warsaw, Poland (FSO)[4] Hanoi, Vietnam (VIDAMCO)[5]
Designer	I.DE.A Institute
Body and chassis
Class	Small family car
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door hatchback 5-door station wagon
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L Family 1 I4 (gasoline) 1.8 L Family II I4 (gasoline) 2.0 L Family II I4 (gasoline)
Transmission	5-speed Daewoo D-20 manual 4-speed ZF 4HP14 automatic 4-speed GM 4T40-E automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,570 mm (101.2 in)
Length	4,247 mm (167.2 in) (hatchback) 4,468 mm (175.9 in) (1997–00 sedan) 4,514 mm (177.7 in) (1997–00 wagon) 4,496 mm (177.0 in) (2000–02 sedan) 4,547 mm (179.0 in) (2000–02 wagon)
Width	1,699 mm (66.9 in) 1,720 mm (67.7 in) (2000–02 wagon)
Height	1,425 mm (56.1 in) (1997–00) 1,433 mm (56.4 in) (1997–00 wagon) 1,430 mm (56.3 in) (2000–02 sedan) 1,471 mm (57.9 in) (2000–02 wagon)
Chronology
Predecessor	Daewoo Nexia
Successor	Daewoo Lacetti

The Daewoo Nubira is a compact car that was produced by South Korean automaker Daewoo from 1997 to 2002 as a sedan, hatchback, and wagon.

Overview

Daewoo Nubira (J100 platform) was released in 1997 reflecting Daewoo's new found design and manufacturing prowess. Built in Kunsan, South Korea in a factory equipped with sophisticated laser-guided robots, it was developed as a replacement for the Daewoo Nexia and styled in Italy by Italian I.DE.A Institute. Engineering was carried out and oversaught by former Porsche engineer Ulrich Bez (later of Aston Martin) using experience Daewoo gained from manufacturing previous GM platforms. The name Nubira (누비라) is the command form of the Korean verb Nubida (누비다), meaning to crisscross. Thus the name was chosen to convey the aspiration that this car would be seen crisscrossing every corner of the globe.

The Nubira II (J150) was released for model year 2000. Over 90 improvements were made by Daewoo's Worthing Technical Centre in the United Kingdom, including an increase in passenger space and a decrease in noise, harshness and vibration (by adding a fourth engine mount and retuning the intake resonators for example). Offset crash performance was further improved in the second generation, as demonstrated by Australian ANCAP tests, though it fell well short of exemplary performance. The exterior was reworked, creating a more dynamic upright and swept look of the era, a design later seen reflected by the Lexus ES350 and 2004 Mitsubishi Diamante.

In the United States, the Nubira was marketed with Daewoo's smaller subcompact Lanos and midsize Leganza. Daewoo had a difficult time entering the US auto market due to financial trouble at home; with 2002 being the last model year available due to bankruptcy and a lack of new product. In North America, the cars are relatively obscure, if not rare, and sourcing parts for them became relatively difficult; though many powertrain parts were shared worldwide with other GM platforms (Opel, Holden, Isuzu).

Buyers could opt for either the base SE models, (mid range SX only available for 1999) or the premium CDX with standard features such as ABS, heated mirrors, cruise control, in-dash CD player and optional leather seating and power sunroof.

United States Nubira models came equipped only with an Australian built Holden produced DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4 General Motors "D-Tec" gasoline engine paired with either a Daewoo-designed D-20 five-speed manual transaxle or optional GM sourced 4T40E auto. Producing 136 lb·ft (184 N·m) torque at 4,400 rpm, the GM Family-II engine had a square 3.4" stroke and a 3.4" bore and at 5,400 rpm making 129 bhp (96 kW; 131 PS). International market Nubiras had a choice of a Daewoo "E-Tech" 1.6, or Holden 1.8 or 2.0-litre inline-four gasoline engines: no diesel version was ever offered, although the Worthing Technical Centre installed Renault's F8 1.9-litre engine in a small number of test vehicles, under a development programme known as J151.

The Nubira was also briefly produced from CKD kits on Taganrog, Russia TagAZ factory; it was marketed as the Doninvest Orion by the Russian automaker Doninvest. Until 2008, Daewoo Nubira was produced in Romania in a former Daewoo factory which had the licence from GM Daewoo. The Daewoo Nubira was still produced in Egypt in 2008, in a former Daewoo factory which has the licence from GM Daewoo.

The Nubira was replaced in 2004 with the J200 Daewoo Lacetti Suzuki Forenza, under GMDAT management with a new Pininfarina-designed body offered as a sedan, station wagon, and Italdesign hatchback and sold in some European markets as the Chevrolet Nubira.

Gallery

• 

  Daewoo Nubira hatchback

• 

  1999 Daewoo Nubira sedan (Australia)

• 

  2000–2002 Daewoo Nubira sedan (Canada)

• 

  2000–2002 Daewoo Nubira wagon (US)

• 

  Daewoo Nubira 2.0 L engine (US)

See also

• Daewoo Lacetti

References

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