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1999 Daewoo Mirae

Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Daewoo Mirae, 1999
Images: Daewoo; www.dweb.hu/daewoofanpage
Rating:  46    -23    +69
The Ideas and Ethos Behind the Mirae

Concept cars have many roles. They allow a glimpse behind the scenes on future model programmes, they can provide pointers to the aesthetic and technical ambitions of a manufacturer, and they can provide a stimulus to the companies own creative staff. Each though, has it’s own specific reason for being. In the case of the Daewoo Mirae (Korean for "Future") It’s a glimpse in to the future. Officially launched at the 1999 Seoul Motor Show it was to explore the outer reaches of automotive technology in a car tilted for 2010 and to illustrate the positive attributes of a close working relationship between Korea and the United Kingdom via Daewoo’s Worthing Technical Center.

Responding to the Daewoo design statement - "Designed Around You", the Mirae is the clear understanding of the balance between functional design and the aesthetic communication of the cars identity.

The car to take Daewoo into the future had to be an image leading product to raise the profile of the company and display the confidence of a fresh automotive brand. It had to also combine the fun and sophistication of a sportscar with enough space for a young family with sporting lifestyles.

Using a system of versatile/removable seating, maximum use of interior space was achieved. Tailoring the car to the user, making the systems user responsive, the interior could eliminate traditional switchgear and be reconfigured to taste, and use technologies that reduce environmental impact and maximise occupant safety, whilst remaining affordable.

This original concept was developed by the Worthing Technical Center team under Design Director Ginger Ostle, The exterior excecuted by Guy Colbourne, and the interior by Paul Wraith.

In being aimed at 2010 the Mirae could employ, and seek to accommodate advanced development systems and communications technologies.

In many ways an embodiment of the spirit that produced the radical thinking and aesthetics of the 1950’s and 1960’s GM show cars, the Mirae was the star of the 1999 Seoul Motor Show and the subject of much media interest. The "Norman helmet" graphics first executed here have been re-employed on subsequent Daewoo show vehicles, and the VSC concept has been further developed in the 2000 Daewoo Musiro show car. It’s appeal would be broad being able to altered from single seat supercar to a 5 seat family car.

Exterior

The first and most important aspect of the Mirae exterior design is the fusion of the sports, family and estate car elements into a single form. The brief was to satisfy the many diverse criteria of practicality and excitement whilst sticking to a relatively small overall length. The decision was taken at an early stage to mount the engine amidships and on its side to take advantage of a more user-focussed package. The rear load-bay is above the engine, yet still low enough not to affect the sports profile of the exterior or the usability of the luggage space. The wheels are pushed right out to the corners of the car, with minimal front and rear overhangs, in order to give the most interior space for the passengers.

From the front of the vehicle, the first and most striking feature is the dark “T” graphic of the grille. A conscious decision was made to move away from the current Daewoo “Fan” chrome grille and produce something more fitting both for a sportscar and future 21st century Daewoo vehicles. The “T”-Graphic represents a Battle Helmet where the outer elements contain the headlights and the centre and lower the front air intakes. The use of chrome for the grille was rejected in favour of Aluminium, Polycarbonate and Teflon ( as these were felt to be more fitting for the new millennium). At the rear of the car the graphic is repeated for the tail lights, engine heat outlets and exhausts. This produces greater visual drama than a standard grille giving the car a more purposeful and aggressive feeling whilst retaining the three elements that are the basis for the existing Daewoo grille and logo. The integration of the helmet “face” to the car gives a more coherent identity that is allied to clear functionality as well.

When looked at from above, the car has an arrowhead form created by the sweepback from the bumper to the front wheel arches. The enlarged rear wheel arch and side step feature echoes this. This gives the car a taught, crouched feeling and shows that the cars’ strength is at the rear, where the engine is. When viewed in profile, the step builds from the front wheel arch into the rear, adding to this direction. The side intakes are small so as not to detract from the overall feeling of simplicity.

The “designed around you” ethos shows through with the use of a bold, large glasshouse (most sportscars have a tight, claustrophobic feeling inside). It was felt that the car should echo the openness and functionality of the interior by wrapping the glass around the car from the A pillar back. The front doors open in the normal way but the rear doors are of a rearwards sliding “plug” design. The use of a sandwich floor structure allowed the removal of the normal B-pillar without affecting overall crash performance or strength and gave improved access for the driver and passengers. We also wanted to be able to load the vehicle from the side doors as well as the rear tailgate. The doors have no handles as such; there is an aluminium contact strip on each door that the driver touches whilst holding a “smartcard” transmitter to complete a low voltage circuit. The door then opens electrically. This greatly improves security as there are no standard locks to pick or radio “plipper” transmissions to scan.

The C pillar girder structure is visible through the glass giving a link to the aesthetics and features of the interior. The wheel design contains another reference to the girder form giving a lightweight and dramatic yet visually simple 6-spoke 18in design. This girder idea is also taken up in the supports for the wing mirrors.

The car was given a hatchback profile at the rear as this allows the largest and most versatile load area. The rear tailgate is hinged both at the top and just below the glass allowing it to “scissor” open. This makes easier for shorter users to reach the tailgate (when it’s open) in order to close it.

Finally, The lighting systems on the car are the very latest in HID ( high intensity Xenon gas discharge) and neon tube systems. These combine far greater lamp performance with greater durability and longevity.

Interior

The most striking thing about this interior is that you could be forgiven for thinking that it doesn’t have one. The mission to maximise interior space has removed a conventional instrument panel and centre console by fully utilising original technologies. The challenge was to package an MPV within a mid-engined supercar whilst inside and out the car was to be both practical and dramatic. The openness of the interior is punctuated by highly revolutionary minimal seating solutions. In order to extend the sense of spaciousness the seats are of minimal section, and unusually are translucent allowing light to permeate to all interior areas. Each seat frame is independently actively sprung on four electronically controlled theological spring units, the user setting the desired firmness whilst benefiting from anti-roll/pitch/submarine characteristics. Gel seating pads further cosset the occupant, heated and cooled to taste. Although the seats cannot be spun round on the spot through an original fixing method possibly the most flexible seat system perceived in recent years is possible.

When the Straight-6 engine is started the seats clamp automatically to the floor, when the ignition is turned off they disengage allowing easy movement via rollers on the flat sandwich floor forward and back, side to side, and even diagonally, located in "cups" on the floor. Seats can be removed without detriment to interior aesthetic, the car purchased empty and specified according to owner need. Each seat is fitted with 4-point retractable seatbelts for maximum occupant safety which also reflect Mirae’s sporting intent. The steering, brakes, and accelerator are electronic. With no mechanical connection the steering and pedals can be moved independently. In Mirae the control unit is movable side to side offering left and right, as well as central driving positions. The instrument panel is deleted altogether with conventional manual controls replaced by voice and gestual activated alternatives. Ancillary components from this area are housed within the sandwich floor. Opening up this area further increases the sense of interior volume and is utilised for storage when required.

The boot area in separated from the occupant space via a sliding glass partition which helps lower cabin noise and contains luggage in transit. If required this can be lowered and the movable boot floor (when rear seats are removed) slid forwards providing room for mountain bikes, when slid backwards it allows easier loading. The Mirae, although as long as a Toyota MR-2 (strictly a 2 seat, one bag sportscar) has the luggage space of an estate car.


В БРИТАНСКОМ дизайн-центре компании Daewoo построен спортивный концепт-кар с однообъемным кузовом Daewoo Mirae. Машина приводится 2,5-литровым двигателем V6 от седана Daewoo Leganza, который расположен за задними сиденьями. Среди особенностей Mirae — распашные боковые двери без центральной стойки, электрический усилитель рулевого управления. Корейцы утверждают, что при необходимости они могут запустить Daewoo Mirae в производство через три года.
Source: conceptcar.co.uk - Daewoo Design; «Спортивный минивэн Daewoo» - Газета «АВТОРЕВЮ» №13-14, 1999
Comments
oto
Sunday, December 16, 2007
tachka prosta zver
Rentik
Friday, December 28, 2007
Я б на такой покатал.
oleh
Sunday, December 14, 2008
tachka prosto bomba a v serijy pojdet
Alejandra
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
hello, I'm Alejandra, I'm iterested in the Daewoo Mirae, I would like to know how much cost it. Waiting for an answer. Alejandra.
luca
Thursday, June 28, 2012
e un pò troppo bombata peri miei gusti
dhdb1264
Thursday, March 25, 2021
1999 Daewoo Mirae
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