| Daewoo Lacetti | |
|---|---|
.jpg) J200 Daewoo Lacetti hatchback | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Daewoo (General Motors) |
| Production | 2002–2011 (South Korea) 2003–2024 (GM Uzbekistan) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact car (C) |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Daewoo Nubira |
| Successor | Daewoo Lacetti Premiere Chevrolet Cruze Buick Excelle (second generation) (China) |
TheDaewoo Lacetti is acompact car manufactured and marketed globally byGM Korea since 2002. The first-generation Lacetti was available as a four-doorsedan and five-doorstation wagon, styled byPininfarina—and five-doorhatchback styled byGiorgetto Giugiaro. The sedan and wagon were marketed as theDaewoo Nubira in some European markets and as theSuzuki Forenza in North America. The hatchback, was introduced in 2004 and marketed asDaewoo Lacetti5 in South Korea,Suzuki Reno in the United States. After the 2004 model year, it was marketed asChevrolet Nubira and Lacetti in Europe, as theChevrolet Optra in Canada, Latin America, Africa, Middle East, India, Pakistan, Japan and Southeast Asia, and as theHolden Viva in Australia and New Zealand.
In 2008, the second-generation Lacetti was launched as theDaewoo Lacetti Premiere, abadge-engineered version of theChevrolet Cruze, co-developed by GM Daewoo,Holden, and General Motors. It was marketed under the Daewoomarque until the beginning of 2011, when the brand was discontinued, and was thereafter marketed under theChevrolet and Holden brands.
The name Lacetti derives from theLatin "Lacertus", meaning "youthful".[1]
| First generation (J200) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Also called |
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| Production | 2002–2009 (South Korea) 2004–2013 (Colombia) 2003–2016 (China) 2003–2012 (India) 2007–2012 (Russia) 2008–2024 (Uzbekistan) |
| Assembly |
|
| Designer | Goran Popović atPininfarina (sedan, station wagon) Giorgetto Giugiaro atItaldesign (hatchback) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-doorsedan 5-doorhatchback 5-doorstation wagon |
| Platform | Daewoo J |
| Related | Baojun 630 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 4-speedautomatic 5-speedmanual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,600 mm (102.4 in) |
| Length |
|
| Width | 1,725 mm (67.9 in) |
| Height | 1,445 mm (56.9 in) station wagon: 1,460–1,500 mm (57.5–59.1 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,250–1,295 kg (2,756–2,855 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Chevrolet Cruze Suzuki SX4 (United States) Chevrolet Onix (Uzbekistan) |
The Lacetti was developed based on its predecessorNubira under Daewoo before it was acquired byGM.[3] The four-door sedan, designed byPininfarina, was launched in South Korea on 25 November 2002,[4] following a development period of two years and six months.
A pre-production prototype of the five-door hatchback, styled byGiorgetto Giugiaro, was shown at theFrankfurt Motor Show in September 2003 with production starting in December.[5] The hatchback featured a different exterior and interior design than the sedan.
At theGeneva Motor Show in March 2004, Daewoo revealed the station wagon body variant penned by Pininfarina with the hatchback's updated interior and a facelifted derivative of the sedan's frontal styling. The facelift replaced the three-slot grille with a single item for a new full-length item featuring a bold horizontal bar capped in the center by the company's logo. The wagon's door handles ditch the lift-up variety from the sedan and hatchback for pullout versions.[6] A facelift for the sedan was released on 25 March incorporating these new door handles, front-end styling and interior changes. The hatchback also received new door handles around this time.
The sedan was facelifted for some markets from 2007, receiving the same front end as the hatchback featured since its debut. This version was only produced in third world countries, such asColombia, India or Thailand, and in 2013–2016 inUzbekistan as theDaewoo Gentra.[7]
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In South Korea, the four-door Daewoo Lacetti was released in 2002. The five-door hatchback showed off only after the 2004 facelift of the sedan, which mainly included a new front grille, switching from a three-part corporate Daewoo grille to a simpler, Chevrolet-style grille. The hatchback name was Lacetti5, offering a specific design for the front, rear and dashboard.
The wagon version, called simply the Lacetti Wagon, was introduced in late 2007—though it was already sold in many other countries. It had the same dashboard as the hatchback, with the sedan front end. At the same time, GM Daewoo introduced theVM Motori diesel engines on the Lacetti range.
When theLacetti Premiere was introduced in November 2008, the sedan and wagon version sales were discontinued, leaving the only hatchback in the range, renamed Lacetti EX. The Lacetti EX was discontinued in October 2009.
In the same year Chevrolet Optra entered the Iraqi market with the 1.6-liter engine and manual transmission, a few years later Iraqi government used the LS version as traffic police vehicle.
In Australia and New Zealand the Daewoo Lacetti was briefly sold between September 2003 and December 2004 as a four-door sedan.[8] At this time, Daewoo withdrew from the Australian market.[9] Fitted with the 1.8-liter engine rated at 90 kW (120 hp) and 165 N⋅m (122 lb⋅ft), the Lacetti offered standard five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission.[9] The single trim level, called SX, included are dual front airbags, air conditioning, power steering, keyless entry, power windows, CD player, and an alarm.[10] The special edition SX Limited from October 2003 added anti-lock brakes, side impact airbags, alloy wheels, climate control air conditioning, six-stacker CD player, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, lumbar support for the front passenger seat, and leather trim.[11]
From 2005, the Lacetti (sedan and wagon) and Lacetti hatchback were sold together as the JF seriesHolden Viva. It was introduced at around the same time as theDaewoo Gentra-basedHolden Barina. Unlike the Barina, however, the Viva was meant to be below the premiumHolden Astra as a budget alternative.
Despite the Viva's lower price compared to the Astra (A$17,990 compared toA$21,990), the Astra continued to outsell the Viva by a factor of about two-to-one.[12]
With the release of the all newHolden Cruze in mid-2009 the Viva ceased to be sold in Australia. In New Zealand, where many cars are imported second-hand from Japan, several Japanese specification Chevrolet Optra sedans and wagons were also sold.
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The Lacetti was sold in Canada as the Chevrolet Optra. Two body styles were available for the entirety of its sales run, a four-door hatchback (the Optra5) and an Optra wagon, all in LS or LT trim levels (2005 wagon only had base or LS trim levels), while sedan was available for model years 2004 and 2005, but was removed for 2006.
All are powered by the 2.0-liter inline-four D-TEC engine, rated at 119 hp (89 kW) at 5400 rpm and 126 lb⋅ft (171 N⋅m) of torque at 4000 rpm, driving the front wheels through either a five-speedmanual transmission or a four-speedautomatic. Despite its compact size and the 2.0-liter engine, fuel economy was poor rated at 10.7 and 7.4 L/100 km (22 and 32 mpg‑US) for city and highway driving, respectively, which was worse than mid-size cars like theToyota Camry orHonda Accord, considering that the Optra was a compact car.[13][14]
The main selling point of the Optra was its low price at $12,000 MSRP.[14] The car was positioned as a versatile and fun to drive but affordable budget compact family car. The Optra slotted between theCobalt and theAveo, and it replaced theDaewoo Nubira.
Brakes are disc, front and rear. Independent suspension, 15-inch wheels, andCD player were standard on the LS sedan, with optionalABS and air conditioning; the LT adds standard air conditioning and cruise control, standard fog lamps on both LS and LT, and an optional sunroof. The sedan is rated as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle.
The Optra5 hatchback was added to the line-up for 2004 and was more contemporary in styling and equipment, with projector type headlights and fog lamps, clear taillight lenses, and blackout grille. In addition to the same options available on the sedan LS and LT models, an options package contained alloy wheels, sunroof, spoiler, leather steering wheel and shift knob, and steering wheel mounted controls for the eight-speaker audio system.
The Optra wagon was also added to the line-up for 2005, sharing the sedan's front styling. The wagon has standard alloy roof rails, 60/40 folding rear seat, and a 12-volt power outlet in the rear compartment, in addition to the same options available on the sedan LS and LT models.
General Motors Canada discontinued the importation of Optra for 2008, leaving 2007 as the last model year.[13]
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In China, the cars are marketed as theBuick Excelle sedan or wagon and Excelle HRV (hatchback). The sedan, which is also assembled in China, features an updated exterior.
The successor to the Daewoo Lacetti-basedBuick Excelle is based on the globalGM Delta II platform, like theOpel Astra andChevrolet Cruze and their derivatives. The development center at theOpel plant inRüsselsheim, Germany, leads the development of this platform. This second generation hatchbackBuick Excelle XT, making its debut in 2009, is actually a replica of theOpel Astra hatchback adapted to Chinese conditions. The corresponding sedan (Excelle GT) made its debut in China in 2010. A version of this sedan for North America was introduced for model year 2012 asBuick Verano, and as Opel Astra sedan in other parts of the world.[citation needed] The Lacetti-based first generation (Excelle) sedan, however, continued to be produced for the Chinese market until 2016.[15]
In Europe, the car was initially sold as the Daewoo Nubira, with the production model being introduced at the60th Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2003. However, by the end of 2004, it was rebadgedChevrolet Lacetti throughout the continent. As with its home market, in some European markets, theLacetti name is also used for the entire range of sedan, station wagon and hatchback models on the same J-series platform. In Finland and Germany, for example, only the hatchback is sold under the Lacetti name.
The European models were initially only available with the followinggasoline-poweredfour-cylinder engines:
Adiesel-powered version was later added to the line-up with these specifications:
In Europe, the sedan version was initially sold as the Daewoo Nubira. However, in late 2003, it was announced that Daewoo would be rebranded Chevrolet in some European markets. The Chevrolet Nubira went on sale in early 2004, initially only in Eastern Europe. When Daewoo was rebranded Chevrolet across Europe by the end of 2004, the Chevrolet Nubira was renamed Chevrolet Lacetti in some markets for the 2005 model year, which expanded the Lacetti line-up to include both the sedan and station wagon versions in addition to the five-door hatchback version, in line with Korea.
The engines built for the Nubira and itsbadge-engineered twins are the same as in the Lacetti hatchback and its badge-engineered versions. The 1.8-literFamily II four-cylinder engine is sourced from the Australian car makerHolden.
In 2004, The Lacetti was launched in India and sold as the Optra and the sportsback version was sold as Optra S-RV (formerly known/sold as Chevrolet SRV), which the company planned to produce with a 2.0-liter diesel engine in the near future.
The 1.6-liter petrol produced 104 bhp (78 kW) and allowed a top speed of 177 km/h (110 mph), while the 1.8-liter petrol sibling was capable of producing 114 bhp (85 kW) and a limited top speed of 191 km/h (119 mph). However, the 1.8-liter automatic was capable of 176 km/h (109 mph).
In 2007 GM India introduced a facelifted diesel-engined Optra called the Optra Magnum. The Magnum sported the family nose, and better interiors as compared to the petrol version, also a new 2.0-liter TCDi engine capable of producing 121 bhp (90 kW). Subsequently the petrol version received the new nose treatment (as that of the Optra SRV, but with a slightly different front grille) and tail lights, and was sold as the Optra Magnum petrol.
The S-RV succumbed to competition from cheaper cars and was eventually discontinued in 2009. It had a 1.6-liter petrol engine with a maximum power output of 101 bhp (75 kW).
The Optra sedan continued selling in India until 2013.
Nexus Automotive, importers and assemblers of General Motors and Daewoo vehicles in Pakistan, sold the car as Chevrolet Optra. It was available in three variants: 1.6-liter SE and LS and the 1.8-liter CDX. SE trim models came with manual transmission only, whilst LS and CDX models came with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions. Sales however, were poor as Chevrolet was a recent entrant in Pakistan market, without many dealerships, and it was not sold for long.[citation needed]
In Japan, Suzuki briefly distributed the Lacetti as the Chevrolet Optra wagon.[17] It was available in two trim levels, the LS and the LT. Both came with either a five-speedmanual or 4-speedautomatic transmission with aconsole shift. The Optra Wagon was powered by a 1.6 or 1.8-liter engine. For model years 2004 and 2005 the Lacetti sedan was also sold in Japan as the Chevrolet Optra LT. The Optra was limited in sales due to the exterior dimensions exceeding 1,700 millimetres (66.9 in), thereby causing Japanese owners to pay a yearly tax for a vehicle that exceeds Japanesedimension regulations.
In Mexico, the Lacetti came to the market in 2006 as Optra to replace theChevrolet Cavalier, and it was sold only as a sedan. The Optra was phased out after the 2009 model year in favour of theChevrolet Cruze, although for now, the Mexican Cruze is an imported model from South Korea.
The Lacetti as a best seller was launched inColombia, under the Chevrolet brand as Chevrolet Optra, in 2004 with the sedan version having the following engine options:
In 2006 the hatchback version was introduced, with only the aforementioned 1.8-liter engine. By 2006, the 1.4-liter engine was replaced by the 1.6 LFamily I E-TEC II, 109 hp (81 kW) at 5800 rpm. In addition, the design of wheels, and the grille were updated for all models offered.
The Vehicle was sold in LT and LTZ trims. LS trim wasn't available in the Colombian market.
In 2009, the saloon version received a facelift marketed as Chevrolet Optra Advance, with a sportier interior and front styling similar to that of the hatchback, it was sold with GM's 1.6 and 1.8 engines, with the 5 Speed Manual Transmission and 4 Speed Automatic Transmission. Assembly at the Bogotá GM plant (GM Colmotores) ceased in 2013 due to the modernization of GM Colmotores lineup.
In South Africa, the Lacetti came to the market in 2004 as Chevrolet Optra, and it was sold only as a sedan. The Optra was one of the first models brought in when Chevrolet made its comeback into South Africa. The Optra was phased out after the 2009 model year in favour of theChevrolet Cruze.
In Singapore, the name "Chevrolet" has replaced the Daewoo nameplate after GM bought Daewoo. It still offers the same line-up as did GM Daewoo, naming the Optra sedan, Optra station wagon and Optra5 hatchback inMalaysia,Thailand, and thePhilippines. InIndonesia, the sedan is simply called Optra or Optra Magnum for the facelift model, and Estate for the station wagon. The vehicles use the 1.6- or 1.8-liter engine with an automatic transmission option for selected models.
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Suzuki marketed a rebadged Lacetti as the Forenza and Reno beginning in the United States in 2004—following the end of Daewoo's North American operations in 2002 and replacing theDaewoo Nubirastation wagon andsedan. The Forenza/Reno falls between theAerio (laterSX4) and the now-discontinuedVerona. In the territories ofGuam andNorthern Mariana Islands, it was sold as a Chevrolet Optra, but it was only available as a sedan.
The US model line features the 2.0-liter four-cylinderD-TEC made by General Motors, developing a maximum power of 132 hp (98 kW) at 5600 rpm.
The Forenza and the Reno were discontinued during the 2008 model year, the Reno being replaced by theSuzuki SX4 sedan after the 2008 model year and the Forenza by theChevrolet Cruze.
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The Chevrolet Optra entered the Iraqi market in 2004 with the 1.6-liter engine; a few years later the LS term version was used as a traffic police patrol vehicle.
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In Uzbekistan, the Lacetti has been produced byGM Uzbekistan since 2008, in a plant located inAsaka, and marketed as the Chevrolet Lacetti.[18] In 2013, the partner companyUz-Daewoo Avto began producing the facelifted sedan version as the newDaewoo Gentra. It is marketed throughout theCIS countries.[19] In 2015 the car was renamed the "Ravon Gentra".
AfterUzAuto phased out the Ravon brand in 2020, the Ravon Gentra/R5 was renamed again as Chevrolet Lacetti.[20] The Chevrolet Lacetti received the same facelift of the Daewoo Gentra.[21] On July 26, 2024, the last Chevrolet Lacetti left theUzAuto plant.
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It was sold as the Chevrolet Lacetti and includes 5-doorhatchback, sedan and station wagon models.The entire line of models were produced at theAvtotor plant inKaliningrad with full cycle of manufacturing until 2012.
In 2014, UzDaewoo, GM's subdivision in Uzbekistan, started importing the Lacetti sedan as Daewoo Gentra. After license agreement between GM and Daewoo ended, UzDaewoo (now GM Uzbekistan) re-branded all of its lineup as Ravon, due to impossibility of using both Daewoo and Chevrolet names in Russia (Chevrolet withdrew from the Russian market in early 2015 due to the economic crisis).
The Russian models are available with the followinggasoline-poweredfour-cylinder engines:
In 2020, the Ravon Gentra was discontinued along with the whole Ravon Brand in Russia.[20]
| Year | Mexico[23] |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 10,444 |
| 2007 | 21,798 |
| 2008 | 16,828 |
| 2009 | 10,518 |
| 2010 | 2,954 |
The second-generation, built on theGM Delta II platform, is sold in most markets as theChevrolet Cruze. In South Korea it was originally branded as the Daewoo Lacetti Premiere, until the Daewoo brand was replaced by Chevrolet in 2011.
For the Chinese successor of the Lacetti-basedBuick Excelle, seeBuick Excelle XT andBuick Excelle GT, which are twins of theOpel Astra J hatchback and sedan respectively.
Chinese versions also included the newSAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture calledBaojun 630 manufactured inLiuzhou,Guangxi, China.[24] It was launched at the 2011Shanghai Auto Show,[25] and went on sale in August 2011.[26]
The car has been used in the FIA'sWorld Touring Car Championship from2005 until2012, and in theBritish Touring Car Championship from2008 until2011.
The Chevrolet Lacetti was chosen as the new "reasonably-priced car" forTop Gear's "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car"[27] segment for series 8 in 2006, replacing theSuzuki Liana, which had ceased production. In this segment of the show, celebrity guests set timed laps of theTop Gear test track driving the Lacetti.
In the first episode of series 15 ofTop Gear, broadcast onBBC2 on 27 June 2010, the Lacetti, that had been used for the power laps, was given a "Viking Burial" by presenterRichard Hammond. An industrial chimney was demolished, collapsing over and almost completely burying the car under rubble. Soon afterwards, the new reasonably priced car, aKia Cee'd, was unveiled to viewers.
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