The Daewoo Lanos is a B-segment subcompact car produced by Daewoo from 1997 to 2002, succeeding the much bigger Cielo. Like its predecessor, the Lanos is a front-engined car with a front-wheel drivetrain. Its initial production version was coded as T100, which featured four-door sedans and three-door and five-door hatchbacks. An update in 1999, designated as T150, featured the facelifted Lanos. 

In 2006, the Daewoo-licensed ZAZ in Ukraine produced a two-door panel van version of Lanos. Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign, who designed the Leganza, was also the designer of this small car. The Lanos wears other nameplates in some markets, including Chevrolet Lanos, Daewoo Sens, ZAZ Lanos, and ZAZ Chance.

While Daewoo has stopped producing it, the Lanos (and its rebrands) continue to exist on the roads because licensed producers, like ZAZ, manufacture them up to the present. 

Development & Prototypes

In 1993, Daewoo’s R&D studied the next-generation cars that would replace the previous GM-based models. One of these projects was the Lanos (codename: T100), which was created along with J100 (Nubira) and V100 (Leganza). Daewoo saw the Lanos as the small family car that would compete with Opel Astra, Toyota Tercel, and VW Golf.

Several design studios vied for the interior and exterior design contract, which would later be awarded to Italdesign. As with the other projects, the technical development and supply of components were commissioned to various partners. AC Rochester supplied the engines, GM the automatic transmission, Delco for the ABS and brakes, Porsche for the vehicle concept, and Italdesign for the electrics and prototype construction. 

The development phase produced around 150 prototypes, which were used for extensive testing under various conditions to ensure its safety, stability, and durability. Tests were done in England, Austria, Canada, Sweden, Russia, Death Valley in the US, Oman, Australia, Spain, and Italy to gauge how the Lanos performed in different temperatures, speed, and accident situations. By 1997, production for the European production was all set.

Trims & Engines

The UK market enjoyed many trim options, including the base S, SE, SE Plus, SX, and the Sport model. In Australia, only two trims were initially available in 1997 – the basic SE and the equipment-loaded SX. A limited-edition came in 1998, followed by the Sport in 1999 and the SE limited edition in 2002. Only two engines were ever used for the Lanos – the 1.5-litre SOCH E-TEC and 1.6-litre DOHC E-TEC inline-four petrol engines, with the latter exclusively used for the SX and Sport trim levels. Here are the details of all models offered in Aussie with the years and variations per year:

1997

Hatchback

• SE, 3-door model – 1.5-litre SOCH E-TEC I4 engine mated to either 4-speed auto or 5-speed manual (63 kW, 130 Nm, 7.15L-7.75L/100km); equipment included cloth trim and radio cassette with four speakers
• SE, 5-door model – 1.5-litre SOCH E-TEC I4 engine mated to either 4-speed auto or 5-speed manual (63 kW, 130 Nm, 7.15L-7.75L/100km); equipment included central locking, cloth trim, power steering, and radio cassette with four speakers 
• SX, 3-door model – 1.6-litre DOHC E-TEC I4 engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox (78 kW, 145 Nm, 7.1L/100km); equipment included cloth trim, radio cassette with four speakers, alloy wheels, CD player, central locking, front fog lights, power mirror, power steering, power front windows, and a rear spoiler

Sedan

• SE – 1.5-litre SOCH E-TEC I4 engine mated to either 4-speed auto or 5-speed manual (63 kW, 130 Nm, 7.15L-7.75L/100km); equipment included cloth trim, power steering, and radio cassette with four speakers 
• SX – 1.6-litre DOHC E-TEC I4 engine mated to either a 4-speed auto or 5-speed manual (78 kW, 145 Nm, 7.1L-7.45L/100km); equipment included cloth trim, radio cassette with four speakers, alloy wheels, CD player, central locking, front fog lights, power mirror, power steering, power front windows, and a rear spoiler

1998

This year carried over the same models from the previous but added a Limited Edition with the following specs:

• LE 5-door hatchback – same powertrain as the SE of the previous year; equipment included CD player, central locking, cloth trim, power steering, power front window, radio cassette with four speakers, and a rear spoiler
• LE 4-door sedan – same powertrain as the SE of the previous year; equipment included CD player, central locking, cloth trim, power steering, power front window, and radio cassette with four speakers

1999-2000

All variants received modifications under the T150 updating. Base equipment now included air conditioning, cloth trim, power steering, and radio cassette with four speakers. New models, the Sport and X (replacing SX) trims, were also introduced. By this time, only the Sport models have the bigger engine. Below are the details:

• Sport, 3-door hatchback – 1.6-litre DOHC E-TEC I4 engine mated to either a 4-speed auto or 5-speed manual (78 kW, 145 Nm, 7.1L-7.45L/100km); equipment included air-conditioning, alloy wheels, body kit, central locking, cloth trim, leather steering wheel, power front windows, radio CD with four speakers, and a rear spoiler
• X, all body types – same 1.5-litre engine as the SE and added alloy wheels and a rear spoiler to the base equipment package

2001

Daewoo retained all 2000 versions, but as it did with the Leganza at about this same period, added engine immobilizer to the basic package. The rest of the offering remained the same until its phase-out. Daewoo Kalos succeeded it in Australia via imports by Chevrolet. In some parts of the world, the Lanos continues to sell as Lanos or its other names. 

Daewoo Lanos in the Used Car Industry

The UCSR rated the Lanos for MY 1997-2003 as ‘worse than average’ in terms of protecting its occupants in case of a collision or crash. 

The ANCAP, on the other hand, conducted crash tests on a 1998 three-door Lanos hatch and gave it a score of 0.31 out of 16 (Offset front crash test) and 6.98 out of 16 (Side impact test). 

If you have a Lanos and don’t want to use it any more or have difficulty selling it as an entire car, we can help you sell it as parts. It could actually be a case of the sum of parts being greater than the whole! So get the best price for your old car and sell it in parts now at Carpart.com.au! 

-JMSL