Take a squizz at facelifted Matiz

DAEWOO has pulled the wraps off a facelifted version of its pint-sized Matiz at the Birmingham motor show.

Expected here in mid-2001, the updated version features new headlights, bonnet, bumpers and fog lights that endow it with more than a passing resemblance to the VW Lupo.

It also gains redesigned tail-lights, a new tailgate and improved interior trim.

Other enhancements to the Matiz include the provision of better anti-lock brakes, a stronger front-end structure, larger seats and electronic front seatbelt pretensioners.

Under-skin changes include the availability of a new 1.0-litre, four-cylinder engine to supplement the existing 800cc three-cylinder unit.

Daewoo Australia spokesman Mr Silvio de Denaro said the larger engine is more than likely to be offered here.

This would enable the Matiz to compete on level terms with the 1.0-litre Daihatsu Sirion.

But even as things stand, the Matiz outsells the Sirion. The two baby cars notched up 2781 and 1853 sales respectively until the end of September.

Daewoo also used the Birmingham motor show to unveil its eye-catching Musiro concept car.

Designed at Daewoo's Worthing Technical Centre, the Musiro is a striking two-plus-two coupe that has a reconfigurable interior and a unique folding roof system.

Daewoo says the Musiro could one day spawn a production car to compete against the likes of the Hyundai Coupe.

Union vow on Daewoo sell-off
SELL-OFF plans for debt-ridden Daewoo Motor could hit more stumbling blocks after the car-maker's union vowed last week to block any self-rescue plan involving layoffs of any of its 13,000 members.

The union is against the sale of Daewoo Motor to GM because it believes this would trigger massive layoffs.

Daewoo Motor's management is expected to submit a renewed restructuring plan to creditors this week in an effort to seek support loans, officials said.

Analysts said Daewoo was expected to propose cutting the workforce by about 30 per cent.

"The failure of Daewoo Motor is not the workers' responsibility," the chairman of the Daewoo Motor union, Mr Kim Il-seob, said.

"So we will not accept any plans demanding our sacrifice, such as layoffs.

"If the government and creditors push forward with such plans, our union members will organise massive industrial actions." Company employees have not been paid since August.