Spied: New ‘Daewoo’ Matiz
August 23, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Judging from the big grins and thumbs up the engineers gave our photographers, they were very happy to see them. Not that we are complaining, it’s not everyday you get to see a glimpse of the upcoming “Chevrolet” Matiz development car.
Riding under various panelling, the new Matiz is currently undergoing some early testing in France. Code-named M300, a new, ultra small car platform will also underpin the next generation Chevrolet Beat and Spark.
This new platform actually has more names than we can keep track of. We’ve also heard it referred to as “Global Mini” and “GMDAT-M.”
While the Matiz and Spark should start production in Spring of 2009, the timing on the Chevy Beat still remains unclear.
Given the current desire for more fuel efficient and smaller cars, should GM Holden bring the new Matiz to Australia? If so, should it be sold under the Chevrolet brand (which is expected to launch in Australia soon) or Holden?
Print it: 
Must of been a slow news day if CA are talking about a Matiz
hmm… does this look very much like the “spied” hyundai i20 from 3 posts below… or is it just me?
Cool review as CARADVICE sniff out news and advise people and thats what its about…..informative and in depth!
Fact is nobody has copyright to look of car or any design areas (e.g. how a car looks under front lights) on a car and if you think it looks similar to Hyundai…..it is close looking I reckon. But hey you get that! Maybe they should reinvent the look and make shape round? Is that your point? LOL
Weird – the photos are taken in the exact same spot compared to the Hyundai i20 shot. Someone has the inside goss at what is happening at Daewoo/Hyundai.
I spy with my astute eye…….something beginning with “W”?
ANSWER………..Caradvice has put up WRONG PICTURE as same pic as Hyundai i20 thread! Get your nose to the grindstones and correct your faux paus and report the facts at hand!
Looks like only the war paint camoflauge is different…. rest looks identical! Is Caradvice stating this is a model swap as seems odd as no longer with Kia here!
CARADVICE has it right as not exact same car – but CRIKEY looks identical heaps.
since when has chevrolet been expected to launch in Australia? The only thing i can think of is that if the comaro comes here, it has been confirmed by holden that it will be badged as a chevy, but their are absolutely no plans what so ever to launch a full scale chevrolet model range in Australia. If it launched chevrolet here, it will be comaro only. The fact that most european chevy models are the daewoo derived products, and holden uses the daewoo derived products, i mean its just common sense that its not going to come here as a full car company! where do caradvice get this stuff from…
if anything,
i would have speculated this as being the new Barina if it came here
As this car is supposed to be quite a bit smaller then the current barina, their is an option here for holden to introduce this as a smaller cheaper small car option, and import the opel corsa as the slightly larger and premium small car. EG this thing as the next barina starting around around 13k and the corsa coming here as a larger premium option starting around around 16k.
This is what holden are already looking at for their astra/viva replacements. IE the viva replacement (the cruze) starting at around 19k and the astra coming in as a more premium option starting somewhere around 22-24k
I have a matiz and its a great litte car its done 90000 trouble free kls and would love to see a new model in australia not all of us want to waste money on big cars.
Thanks Ross……………..
If you think it looks like the Hyundai, then the camo must be working. And, if it were under a blanket, it would look like every other hatch that size….