Sydney Show: Daewoo's Dream debut

THE Kalos Dream small car has been flown straight from its debut at the Frankfurt motor show last month to Sydney to take pride of place on the Daewoo stand.

The all new six-cylinder Magnus sedan and a facelifted Matiz mini car will be the other fresh faces on display.

The presence in Sydney is the first time in six years the Australian Daewoo distributor has participated in the Sydney show, and comes just weeks after a memorandum of understanding was signed for General Motors to assume control of the financially moribund South Korean manufacturer.

The new Matiz will be the first of three new models that will be launched in 2002. The Magnus sedan, which is the replacement for the medium Leganza, will be the first to feature Daewoo's inline XS6 six-cylinder engine.

The Magnus will be offered to the Australian public in two styles - the Classic and a sports package to be known as Eagle.

It will also be offered with the choice of two engine specifications - a 103kW double overhead camshaft 2.0-litre 4 cylinder or the 125kW dohc 2.5-litre six.

The Kalos (Greek for beautiful) Dream is also due for release in Australia in late 2002.

The Kalos was first shown as a concept at the Paris show in 2000, but was presented again in Frankfurt closer to production form.

The five-door is expected to appear first, with a three-door hatch and four-door sedan to follow.

Daewoo says the Kalos Dream represents a fusion between small car and MPV styling and that it is aimed at the 20-30 age bracket.