Daewoo LeMans: История, Модификации и Производство в России и Узбекистане.

The Daewoo LeMans is a compact car, first manufactured by Daewoo in South Korea between 1986 and 1994, and between 1994 and 1997 as Daewoo Cielo — a car mechanically identical to the LeMans, differentiated only by its modified styling cues. Like all Daewoos preceding it, the LeMans took its underpinnings from a European Opel design. In the case of the LeMans, the GM T platform based Opel Kadett E was the donor vehicle, essentially just badge engineered into the form of the LeMans, and later as the Cielo after a second more thorough facelift. In markets outside South Korea, the original version of the car bore the Asüna GT, Asüna SE, Daewoo 1.5i, Daewoo Fantasy, Daewoo Pointer, Daewoo Racer, Passport Optima and Pontiac LeMans names. The "LeMans" nameplate was not used at all for the facelifted model. Five door hatchback models exported to Europe were badged Daewoo Nexia with the Daewoo Racer name used seemingly at random on various bodystyles. The Daewoo Heaven name has also been used. The Cielo was subsequently replaced by the subcompact Daewoo Lanos and the compact Nubira in 1997, except in Russia where the production lasted from 1996 to 1998 and Uzbekistan where the production started in 1996 and lasted until the end of 2016. In Uzbekistan the local manufacturer UzDaewoo Motors (later GM Uzbekistan, now UzAuto Motors) produced exclusively the second generation of the LeMans and badged it as Daewoo Nexia.

The original series Daewoo LeMans was available as a three door hatchback and a four door sedan when introduced in July 1986. The LeMans was one of the first aerodynamically designed cars to be sold in South Korea, and the first to feature a digital dashboard. The LeMans was also sold in Canada through General Motors' Passport International Division as the "Optima." This car was sold in Australia as the "Daewoo 1.5i", with both hatchback and sedan bodywork. The five door hatchback body style was known as the Daewoo LeMans Penta5 in South Korea, while the three door was called Daewoo Racer and only the sedan was called LeMans. Korean market cars received a 1.5 litre engine (with ) as there was a severe tax penalty for cars with larger engines.

Model Engine Code Years Displacement Weight Power Torque 0–100 km/h(0 62 mph) Emissions L4 1.5l A15MF 1986–1994 1498 cc Non Euro L4 1.6l G16SF 1986–1994 1598 cc Non Euro L4 2.0l C20LZ 1986–1994 1998 cc Non Euro

The second generation LeMans launched in 1994, available as a three and five door hatchback and four door sedan with a 1.5 litre eight valve or a 1.5 litre 16 valve engine. These new models were still based on the Opel Kadett E, underpinned by the "T car" platform. There were various trim levels available. Unlike the Kadett, there was never a station wagon version available. Some European markets got the "Lifestyle" trim level; Spain and Portugal badged their GLi/GLXi equivalents "Chess"; the Benelux countries kept the GLi/GLXi trim levels and some markets added ETi and STi specifications. The GLi has an average performance with a 0–100 km/h time of 12.5 seconds and at 5,400 rpm. There was also a version with single point fuel injection and for lower spec versions. The Cielo was made in India by DCM Daewoo Motors until the Korean Daewoo company went bankrupt. GM did not take over the Indian plant in Surajpur near Delhi and it was liquidated. Production in South Korea came to an end shortly after the 1996 introduction of the Daewoo Lanos, an original design.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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. It was offered only with the sedan body style, and was exported to most countries in Central and Eastern Europe. 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. 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.

In Uzbekistan, UzDaewooAuto continued to manufacture the four door sedan version of the Nexia, production of which began in June 1996. 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 , 1.5 litre DOHC and 1.6 litre DOHC 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. 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. All three body types were available. Production terminated in 1997.

Model Engine Code Years Displacement Weight Power Torque 0–100 km/h (0 62 mph) Emissions 1.5 SOHC 8V G15MF 1996–2000 1498 cc at 5400 rpm at 3200 rpm 12,5 s Non Euro 1.5 DOHC 16V A15MF 2000 2004 1498 cc at 4800 rpm at 3400–4600 rpm 12,2 s Euro 2 1.5 SOHC 8V A15SMS 2004–2007 1498 cc at 5600 rpm at 3200 rpm 12,8 s Euro 3