Daewoo LeMans

For the 1988 model year, Pontiac began selling the LeMans as their smallest model in the United States, thereby reviving the LeMans nameplate. The captive import was offered in three-door hatchback and four-door sedan bodystyles. In Canada, GM rebranded the LeMans to market it through its short-lived Passport and Asüna brands. The Pontiac LeMans received a facelift in 1991. In North America, poor quality tarnished sales and the Pontiac LeMans and Asüna SE/GT were discontinued after the 1993 model year with no replacement. In 1994, the Asüna brand was discontinued altogether.

It was also sold in New Zealand as the Pontiac LeMans from 1989, becoming the first Pontiac badged car to be sold on the NZ market since the Canadian sourced Pontiac Laurentian of the 1960s.

Following a complex debt deal between Czechoslovakia, Libya and South Korea, Mototechna the state car dealer imported the Daewoo Racer for 1988 and 1989 in the 1.5 saloon version.[4]

There was a prototype of the Nexia debuted in 1995 at the Seoul Motor Show - the NGV 3 (NGV meaning Nexia Green Vehicle). From the outside it looks like a regular Nexia, except that it was powered by an electric motor.[11]

Daewoo first exported cars to Europe in the mid-1990s, with the Nexia and Espero forming the two-model line-up in Britain from January 1995. Daewoo was the first manufacturer to sell cars on the British market directly to customers rather than setting up a conventional dealer network, and the appeal of its cars was further enhanced by the following promotions:

• A low and fixed asking price
• 3 year/60,000 mile comprehensive warranty
• 3 years free servicing
• 3 years free AA membership (which also meant giving a free courtesy car if in an inconvenience)
• Free delivery plates
• One-year free road tax
• A free full tank of petrol
• 30-day peace-of-mind refund or exchange period
• A free 'N' plate replacement in August 1995[12]
• A free mobile phone.

There were two trim levels available. The base model was the GLi which was quite well-equipped at the time, including a 1.5 SOHC (8-valve) engine, 'GLi' emblems at the body wings and boot, single-bench folding rear seat, power steering, driver's airbag and ABS. Different style hubcaps and automatic transmission were an option. After, there was the GLXi which (equipment over GLi) had a 1.5 DOHC (16-valve) engine, 'GLXi' emblems at the body wings and boot, all-round electric windows and mirrors, hubcaps, central locking, rev counter and split-folding rear seats. Alloy wheels were optional only on the GLXi. The "base" model was available for large contracts, the biggest single sale being to NHS Scotland. All models got the same four-spoke steering wheel. Most models received a 'TWIN CAM 8v' badge at the rear whilst those with automatic transmission had the 'AUTOMATIC' badge. The dealer plates had the writing 'DAEWOO' in a black background with the phone number, a black line going through either side with the number plate ID under the number plate.

When AA tested the Nexia 1.5 GLi in September 1995, they liked it due to its dealer satisfaction but criticized for being dull. In conclusion they said the Nexia is an ultra-sensible family car, with a hassle-free aftersales package and being good value for money.[13]

Despite making use of a design which was by then more than a decade old, the Nexia was one of the most popular budget family cars in Britain and helped Daewoo gain a 1% share of the new car market in 1996.[14][15] Also, air-conditioning became a free option in every Daewoo, even in the Nexia GLi 3-dr.[16][17] It was replaced there by the Lanos in the autumn of 1997, by which time some 40,000 examples had been sold.[18] Despite this, the Nexia was sold until December 1997.

At July 1997, Daewoo announced that the Nexia won the best-in-class award (beating its rivals) and the favourite model category (behind the BMW 5-Series) in the 1997 Cornhill Insurance Motor Test.[19]

At 26 January 1996, Daewoo recalled all Nexia's since its introduction in April 1995 because of the wiring harness engine bay has been misrouted, which could have resulted in a chafing of the harness.[20]

The Nexia was criticized for using outdated Mk2 Vauxhall Astra mechanicals and styling hints making it dull to look at and drive for some people, especially the saloons as they were Belmont-based. In addition, its ABS control module was expensive to replace. As faulty ABS was cause for the car to fail the UK's MOT test, this could prompt owners to get rid of their Nexias. Also, it had a lot of electrical problems, and did not fare very well in reliability.[21] Spare parts were also difficult to find as it did not sell very well and the fact that its rivals sold better.

In Romania, manufacturing began in 1996, at the newly acquired Daewoo Automobile Romania factory in Craiova, being the first Daewoo model produced at the plant.[22] It was offered only with the sedan body style,[23] and was exported to most countries in Central and Eastern Europe.[24] The GLE version, which was the full option model, included air conditioning, power steering, front and rear electric windows, fog lamps, central locking, tachometer and a cassette player stereo system. Unlike models intended for Central and Western Europe, the cars sold in Romania (either imported or produced here) were never equipped with ABS or airbags.

In 2000, the model range was extended with the new Executive level, which featured a distinctive chromed grille and borrowed elements from the GLX, such as 14-inch wheels, bigger 256 mm ventilated disk brakes and the double overhead camshaft engine with 16 valves, that offered an increased power output.[25] The Executive also received an electronic ignition distributor from the Lanos. Another addition to the 2000 model was the catalytic converter respecting Euro 2 emission standards. In 2004, because of harsher emission regulations, the factory installed the Lanos 1.5 SOHC engine, which meant a decrease in horsepower, but made the car Euro 3 compliant. During the last 2 years of production, in an effort to update the optional equipment available for the car, the Executive received a CD player instead of the cassette player. It remained in production until 2007, being marketed along with its successor, the Daewoo Nubira.[26]

In Uzbekistan, UzDaewooAuto continued to manufacture the four-door sedan version of the Nexia, production of which began in June 1996.[27] It was produced alongside other Daewoo and Chevrolet models and was exported to other countries, such as Kazakhstan, Russia, Moldova, Azerbaijan and Ukraine.

At the time, the car was available with three engine options: a 1.5-litre SOHC (56 kW or 75 hp), 1.5-litre DOHC (62 kW or 83 hp) and 1.6-litre DOHC (81 kW or 109 hp). The 1.6 version has more powerful brakes and transmission with an additional long main gear.

A facelift of the car, known as the Nexia II, was presented in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 2008.[28] It was designed in the United Kingdom by Concept Group International LTD with cooperation of GM Uzbekistan. In Uzbekistan, it was marketed under the Chevrolet brand, while some export markets (in the CIS area) continued to receive the car as the Daewoo Nexia. Production ended in 2016. Due to the low quality control and use of cheap alloys the car constantly failed safety tests. As result of random review conducted by an independent journalist agency in 2002, the car was tested for safety according to ARCAP standards and consequently received a score of 0.6 out of 16 putting it among the least safe cars.

Production began in 1995. Two trim levels were available, the GL and GTX. The base model GL came with hubcaps, wind-up windows and manually adjustable mirrors. The GTX was a step up which included different designed hubcaps, air-con, electric windows and mirrors and a tachometer. Special editions included the 'Sport' which included front, rear and side skirts, sporty seats and alloy wheels.[29] All three body types were available. Production terminated in 1997.