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Daewoo Kalos - The Subcompact Automobile

Daewoo Kalos - The Subcompact Automobile

Daewoo Kalos is categorized as the subcompact automobile produced in 2002 by GM Daewoo. It was the South Korean company of General Motors. It was also known as the Chevrolet Aveo (T200).

First Generation Of Daewoo Kalos (T200)

The car successfully took over the market worldwide and was advertised and promoted under five different brands namely Suzuki, Pontiac, Holden, Daewoo and Chevrolet in 120 countries. In the native country; South Korea it was known as Daewoo Kalos latter got rebranded under the name Daewoo Gentra. In the Australasian markets it was known as Holden Barina, in china it was known as Chevrolet Lova, Pontiac G3 in the United States, and in Canada as Pontiac Wave and Pontiac G3 Wave.

The Daewoo Kalos was first launched in 2002. It was modeled by Italdesign. It was available in two different front-end styling. In South Korea and North America the T200 headlamps were removed from the horizontal amber turn signal strip and were fixed right below. A new modification was the semi-elliptical grille. In Europe the headlights were fixed as an incorporated part. In Australia, the Daewoo hatch backs were made available with integrated lighting arrangement and the detached style was used to distinguish the sedan models. In South Korea too, the integrated design of headlights was incorporated in the latter produced Daewoo.

Interior And Exterior

The T200 sedan and five-door hatchback featured a swage line running along the lower body to the rear door, which kinks downward prominently on the five-door. A swage line was continued from the lower body till the rear door of the T200 sedan and five-door hatchback. There was a side window available with a different angle in the C/D pillar. Motifs in rounded shape were used in the interior. The European model cars had Design Giugiaro as a symbol reading on the interior communicating the pride of the new and sophisticated designs of the car.

Body Styles And Models

The Kalos was made available in three available body styles a 3-door hatchback that was made available in some of the European markets and a 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback. All these body styles were in congregation with the size classifications of North American subcompact and European supermini or B-segment At the time of its introduction the interior room was not in harmony with the criterion for a compact vehicle even though it was categorized as the subcompact. Also the headroom was not matched according to its categorization therefore barely fulfilling the criterion of a compact car.

Design Features Of T200

The interior included Isofix child seat anchorages. In the instrument panel there is a slot specific to hold toll tickets. It is capable of holding the transmission, on being selected the option, the four speed automatic shifts to a three speed manual.

Even the entry level or basic models were made available with the features such as remote keyless entry, power sunroof, heated sideview mirrors, steering wheel mounted radio controls, power locks and windows and AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio. Common features included were remote fuel door, speedometer, trip odometer, lighting dimmer control, fuel gauge and a six-way adjustable driver seat.

Safety

The different models of Kalos have been analyzed and approved by least four international New Car Assessment Programs.
Safety features including side airbags, ABS, foglights and a rear center position three-point seatbelts and headrests are made available as extra cost options and on some of the models are unavailable.