Daewoo Nubira 2000 test drive - 2003 sedan

Around the world

*Nubira (Korean) go around the world, travel around the world.
 
So far, our consumer is not admired by the first freshness of models, generously provided by Koreans for production in Russia, residents of the country, the second in a row observing the sunrise, are actively engaged in the creation of new cars. It is safe and with considerable benefit by shining outdated models to other countries and freeing its production capacities, Daewoo began the mass production of the updated gamut of cars.
 
Having extensive experience in cooperation with GM and having all the rights to engines and the transmission developed for Opel, the Koreans simplified their lives, designing new models not from scratch, but using the platform of existing machines. Instead of the views of Nexia, Lanos began to be released, and instead of Espero there are two models at once: Nubira and the top version of Leganza.


In recent years, most manufacturers have been going on this path, which allows them to update the model range every 3-4 years without unnecessary costs. The level of the world automotive today is such that it is difficult to create something fundamentally new. All cars are built in three to four tested schemes, and the designers remain to improve existing units, which can be done without even stopping the conveyor. The creation of fundamentally new designs on the shoulder is only the largest companies with huge engineering potential and very flexible production. A striking example of Mercedes A-Class is perhaps the only one over the past decade. The remaining whales of the auto industry prefer to unify their platforms for the production of cars of various classes as much as possible.


There is nothing shameful in the use of existing units for the new car, there would be a good car. So, Toyota was not afraid to make RAV4 SUV4 SUV, and VW-Audi concern to create six universal platforms for cars in general different brands.


Three new Daewoo models externally have little in common with predecessors. The restyled Opel twenty years ago, of course, could not serve as a role model when creating Lanos, and it would be unreasonable to modernize the work of Bertone Espero body.


To date, a rather powerful designer school with its traditions and a certain, characteristic style has developed in South Korea.


Of course, the basis was laid out samples borrowed in Japan, but Korean machines are more external heavyweight, which is probably explained by the persistent desire to strengthen in Europe, which requires the car to have a certain solidity. Updating the gamut, the Koreans did not rely only on their own design talent and again attracted Italians to create an image of their new models: when developing Lanos and Leganza, Daewoo collaborated with Italdesign, and when designing Nubira with I.D.E.A.


In Russia, the new Koreans are not yet officially sold, but we were lucky enough to find Nubira, who had just driven from Austria thanks to readers who did not bypass our magazine with their attention. Knowing the efficiency of Daewoo, on the eve of the next attack on our wallets, we are in a hurry to share impressions of the new car.


So, the Nubira sedan is in the editorial office. Seeing the car, the employees spilled into the courtyard chanted the already favorite phrase: Black, our photographer said with longing. The photographer who arrived a little later only smiles weakly. The owner protests: it is blue, the color is called regatta blue. But even when the car was washed, it still turned out to be completely black, only with some blue reflections.


At first, the appearance of the car seemed whole and logical, but then the sidewalls overloaded with horizontal stamping began to interfere slightly.


The absence of straight lines and sharp corners of the body sets up on a licked-fed appearance, and clearly defined, straight lines on the front and rear wings, turning to the doors, are somewhat contrary to this. Such elements would quite suit a more dynamic and aggressive machine, but with the calm appearance of Nubira, in our opinion, they do not really fit.


The front pays attention to very slanting headlights, harmoniously combined with the branded grille of the radiator. Finally, Daewoo designers found a successful element wandering from the model to the model and contributing to the easy recognition of the car. At the back of the huge lanterns, according to the last car fashion of bright red color with white inserts, under which the indicators of the turns and the light of the reverse are hidden.


The car’s interior made a rather modest impression. Not by dimensions, everything is fine here, but, let's say, with a discreet interior. There was a feeling that something important was missing, although everything seems to be in place. But there is no integrity. The dashboard, the vertical console and the ventilation grilles of the salon, although they are made in the same style, there are no unifying elements between them, they are all drawn on the torpedo, and different designers. However, this is a subjective assessment, but with the fact that the upholstery of the seats and the soft plastic of good quality for the machine of this class, you can’t argue. Devices and governing bodies are a complete set, everything is in sight, everything is available, made solidly, the inclusion algorithms are quite familiar.


The front seats are equipped with two standard adjustments, and the steering column moves in height, so you can take a convenient position behind the wheel without difficulty. The beveled hood opens a good overview, allowing you to feel the dimensions of the front of the car, and the trunk lid, although quite high, does not interfere with the orientation when reverse. The steering wheel, pedals and the gearbox lever went to the inheritance from Opel, so it is difficult to complain about them. Perhaps only the clutch has too much move and works in the upper position, but you can bring the pedal to normal with a simple adjustment, taking into account the habits of a particular driver.


The car has a 1.6 liter injector engine with a capacity of 104 hp. (In the gamut there is also a power more powerful 2 liters, 134 hp). Configured inlet, 4 valves per cylinder. A similar motor was at one time developed for tuned versions of Opel and was not installed on serial machines. But over time, the design passed the strength test and was recognized as suitable for mass cars. It is taken as the basis of the Nubira engine. The company reports that Ricardo himself had a hand in tuning the motor.


Despite the weight considerable for its class, Nubira with three bass fish when switching gears easily pours into the transport stream, without interfering with the following along the way to the cars. The engine is quite acceptable, its revolutions change in proportion to the effort of pressing the gas pedal. The programs are likely specially designed for the engine of a relatively small volume. While you get to the fourth, acceleration occurs equally evenly and intensively, the fifth is intended only to maintain a speed of more than 100 km/h on a horizontal surface or under the hill. However, the fourth is not enough for a sharp jerk or overtaking the capabilities of the motor, you have to go down the step. However, the checkpoint is well synchronized, and these actions do not cause discomfort.


The engine braking is very effective: having a slight inertia, he obediently reacts to the weakening of pressure on the gas pedal, and the car, slowing down, as if squatting. ABS for Nubira is offered as an option, and it was not on the car that was on the test, but the work of the brake system did not cause complaints.


Compared to Espero, the controllability of the machine has noticeably improved. A hydraulic booster with a variable characteristic interferes when maneuvering at low speed, and after 20 km/h, its effectiveness is noticeably dropped by the steering of the steering wheel, while the collision even on small bumps is accompanied by a tangible jerk of the steering wheel.


While driving along a winding road, the car holds a steady, again compared to Espero. The suspension has become tougher, and the body in corners is less rolling. But in general, it is quite soft, and the inevitable compromise between the comfort and handling of the car in Nubira is resolved in favor of comfort.


By releasing the Nubira model, Daewoo took a serious step forward. A fresh, well -developed design allows the car to look worthy next to any European competitor, and its owner does not feel like a second -class person. Well -known and therefore easily served engine and chassis make Nubira very attractive to consumers. All this (in combination with the main Korean trump card of low price) greatly strengthens the position of the new model in world markets. And, perhaps, the slogan embedded in the name of the car may well justify itself.
 
   
 
     
 
Evgeny Romantovsky
 

Source: Motor magazine [No. 11/1997]