Daewoo Matiz

Vehicle Overview

The Daewoo Matiz project took the name of M Series, initial of microcar, followed by the number 100 which indicates the generation of the small car (in this case 100 indicates the first generation). In 1997 the development of the Matiz M100 comes to an end and marketing began from the domestic market after its official presentation at the Seoul Motor Show. The final model was not very dissimilar in shape from the 1992 concept car but to ensure considerable internal flexibility the shape of the bodywork was revised, again by Giugiaro, adopting the more classic 5-door scheme. This was one of the main characteristics that made it successful in Europe as well. Despite the small size of 3.49 meters, the Daewoo Matiz was approved for five people, and was considered a mini minivan. At the time of its debut it was also available in nine different colors. The design featured rounded shapes with a short nose front, no bezel. Circular lighting and large bumper strips that were painted only for the top-of-the-range versions. The side had a slight rib along the belt line, slightly embossed wheel arches and oval-shaped rear-view mirrors while the tail had oval-shaped lights that integrated the double circular headlights, bumper strips applied on the bumpers (almost always in the same color as the body) and luggage compartment with lowered loading sill. The Matiz M100 used a revised version of the Suzuki Alto platform as its base because Daewoo had long been in a joint venture with the Japanese manufacturer Suzuki. The engine was transversely located and traction was front-wheel drive, and the suspension, at the front, was configured according to the independent-wheel layout with a MacPherson telescopic strut, stabilizer bar and hydraulic shock absorbers, while at the rear, a wheel layout interconnected by a longitudinal wishbone and hydraulic shock absorbers was adopted. The braking system consisted of solid discs for the front and classic drums for the rear. The steering adopted the power-assisted rack-and-pinion scheme (top versions only).