TriShield

The S3X sport-ute is one of the stars in the City of Light.



BY RAY HUTTON
December 2004

A surprise to Paris showgoers was the head-turning styling of the Chevrolet S3X. The Chevrolet-badged, Korean-built Daewoo sport-ute introduces GM's new plan to use the Chevrolet name on Daewoos bound for Europe (it's doubtful, for now, that this SUV will be sold in the U.S.). The move will make Chevrolet a global entry-level brand and is designed to make Daewoo's product more palatable by erasing the memory of Daewoo's financial collapse in the late 1990s.

The S3X is Daewoo's first all-new product since GM took over the reins in 2001. A seven-seat mid-size SUV, the S3X shares styling cues as well as a platform with the Chevy Equinox. The production version, due in early 2006, will be the first Chevy-badged vehicle in Europe to use a diesel engine (1.5 and 2.0 liters). The engines are being built in Korea by Daewoo under license from VM Motori in Italy.

Although it's based on the Equinox's Theta platform, the styling and much of the development of the S3X were done by Daewoo in Korea. Daewoo has become increasingly important to GM. This year the Korean company is expected to make 800,000 cars and has become GM's largest brand outside the U.S.

TriShield

US engineered (Theta structure), Australian styled (Look courtesy of Michael Simcoe, Holden's chief stylist and Monaro Man), Korean assembly (Daewoo is the newest division of GM), and Euro bound.

Hopefully GM applies their global talents to make their US market products just as good if not better than the stuff they spread around the globe.

Simcoe is GM's new head of North American styling, hopefully he will be free to apply his talents to Chevrolet's next generation trucks, in addition to other brands that sorely need it.

This SUV is richly styled, it looks like it could wear a Volvo, or Audi/VW badge.

Fulton 1

iTrader: (9)

Yes, Volvo is exactly what came to mind when I saw pics #3 and #4. Looks good IMO.

Shinkaze

Wow, that's actually a good looking SUV.

GoldenVelvet

Thank god its not coming state side. You can by a three year old used Daewoo on Ebay for $500.oo

Daewoo =

Nice looking though.

TriShield

Old, crappy Daewoos (company and products) are not equivalent to GM Daewoos in any way. Night and day difference.

GoldenVelvet

Perhaps but father GM bought Daewoo for CAFE. I am interested in what may come from this.

And if you ever want to trade your GN for a truck let me know

TriShield

They actually bought Daewoo for their well established dealer network in Asia. GM has spent the time since rebuilding the operation from the ground up, and burying the brand name.

y2k_ta

iTrader: (80)

Thanks Daewoo! We needed another crackerbox car on the road like the Chevy Aveo. Did they even bother to change any styling about the car before rebadging it?

As for the "SUV" at the top, it looks like that jelly-bean Lexus to me.

badjuju342

iTrader: (3)

When did GM start using hackers to name their vehicles? S3X? OMFG!!!!! GM ROXXXORS TEH BIG ONE!!!!11!!!!!!!