Daewoo Matiz I (M100) gallery (1998–2000)

The first-generation Daewoo Matiz, carrying the factory code M100, debuted in 1998 to replace the aging Daewoo Tico. The subcompact city car was engineered around an overhauled Suzuki Alto platform, featuring a front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam suspension. Its distinctive rounded exterior design was created by the renowned Italian studio Italdesign Giugiaro, evolving from the 1993 Fiat Lucciola concept car. The Matiz M100 was exclusively produced as a five-door hatchback, maximizing interior cabin space relative to its minimal footprint. It was powered by a 0.8-liter three-cylinder S-TEC gasoline engine producing around 51–52 horsepower, developed in technical partnership with Tickford. The powerplant was paired with a five-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in select markets. Thanks to its low purchase and maintenance costs, tight turning radius, and modern safety engineering for an A-segment vehicle, the M100 became an international sales success across South Korea, Europe, and Asia.