GM's Daewoes
Businessweek reports that GM’s Korean Daewoo Automotive Technology (GM-DAT) partner is in as much trouble as the Detroit-based mothership. GM-DAT, which develops much of GM’s small-car capability, has seen its sales fall nearly in half in June (particularly in Russia and Korea), prompting some to question whether the firm will emerge from a mounting liquidity crunch. Last year GM-DAT exported 900,000 vehicles and one million knock-down kits last year, accounting for a quarter of GM’s global sales. But as the firm’s Chevy and Buick brands have sagged, so to has GM-DAT’s income. The Korean unit is seeking loans from the Korean Development Bank, which owns 28 percent of the firm. KDB reportedly will only back GM-DAT if it becomes a full-line vehicle developer, rather than a small-car specialist. This would threaten GM’s Holden subsidiary in Australia, which has put the kibosh on such talks. Meanwhile, we’re hearing rumblings that the GM-DAT liquidity crisis is being caused by GM underpaying for its imports.
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menno: NSU K70's design lived until last year as the VW Gol/Amazon/Fox built in brazil. Look at the car's diagram: http://www.lunaticfringe.org/vwfox/pictures/voyage/VW-Voyage82-06.jpg You can read more here: http://www.lunaticfringe.org/vwfox/specs/Fox-origins.html
Yes, to my knowledge, the K70 was a technological dead-end at VW. I'm pretty sure it had to do with politics, not engineering; why Audi engineering was boosted instead of NSU or Porsche, I have no idea (I'm referring to the proposed mid-engine Beetle replacement which died). Bertel probably knows all about it and hopefully could add it to his book. Which I'd buy. The only component re-cycled from the K70 to my knowledge, were the rear drum brakes which ended up on the Porsche 924. The Audi front wheel drive transaxle was much like the VW Beetle's only turned 180 degrees. The VW (NSU) K70 transaxle was more akin to the Oldsmobile Toronado design; the differential was in the oil pan (actually under the engine), while the transmission was behind the engine with a shaft forward to the final drive (differential). The first generation front wheel drive Toyota Tercel also used a very K70 like drivetrain design, then switched to a much more typical transverse (crossways) engine design for the next generation Tercel.
The reviews for the Cruze in Europe are in and it is not good news for GM. Car magazine basically stated the Cruze was another mediocrity from Daewoo. I was surprised they gave it two out of five stars though. It is then probably better than the execrable Aveo. The Cruze will join the Cobalt, ION, and G6 as another over-hyped GM car that fails to compete with the best imports.