Nubira II Successfully Completes 100,000 Km Endurance Test

Daewoo's latest model, the Nubira II, recently completed a vigorous durability test conducted by Cartest magazine. The Nubira II underwent 24 hours of nonstop driving for 57 consecutive days, which amounted to over 100,000 kilometers. This is the first time that a Korean automobile has succeeded in such a strenuous test.

Except for the changing of engine oil for every 10,000 kilometers and for the changing of tires at 60,000 kilometers, the engine was never stopped during the 57-day test.

The test crew was composed of 12 main drivers and the test was conducted along the 50 kilometer stretch of road between the cities of Chinju and Hamyang. The total test length of 100,000 kilometers is equivalent to 120 times back and forth from the city of Seoul to the farthest point on the Korean peninsula, the Pusan port.

Automobile makers conduct actual road tests when developing new cars, but this is the first time that a mass produced car underwent such a vigorous road test. Mr. Kwon Oh Joon, publisher of Cartest magazine, said: "This durability test was conducted so that the consumers would be able to gain accurate information on the Nubira II's engine, transmission and other main components."

Through the success of this durability test, the prejudice held by consumers that foreign made cars are more durable than Korean made cars may now subside. The price for second hand cars in Korea may also see an increase due to the results of this test.

The average fuel consumption rate during the entire 100,000 kilometers was approximately 15.53 kilometers per liter of gasoline.

Daewoo plans to export 30,000 units of the Nubira II to Western Europe beginning with Spain, Germany and U.K. from June and plans to further increase exports of 80,000 units to Eastern Europe and South America in the second half of this year.

As of end of April, Daewoo had exported a total of 49,487 cars to Western Europe, which is an increase of 34% in comparison to the same period of last year. With the export of the Nubira II and the Musso and Korando which began sales in March of this year, the total amount of cars sold in this region is expected to increase in the latter half of this year.