Update (huge thanks to all GMI forum members, including Bravada, Butz, Tagline, WishIHadATruck, and biggestGMfan): an interesting discussion on GM Inside News Forums has revealed that the original article might be inaccurate: the Tosca/Epica uses the old Daewoo V250 platform. This platform is an evolution of the V200 (Daewoo Magnus), which itself is a stretched variant of the V100 platform from the Daewoo Leganza (the Magnus is the “mega” Leganza, get it?). Opel may have been involved in the V200/V100 design, since Daewoo vehicles were hand-me-down Opel models. Also, The Daewoo T/J/V 100 models were developed in cooperation with several GM subsidiaries and suppliers, but nothing more than that.
As for the Kizashi – it might or might not have any relationship with any GM architecture. Suzuki tends to use certain GM platform components, such as the Suzuki Grand Vitara, which is more or less based on GM’s Theta platform. However, the Grand Vitara contains a longitudinally-mounted engine while the Theta is set up for the transverse application. So at this point, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that the Kizashi is in any way related to the V250/Epica/Tosca or the Epsilon. It’s also important to keep in mind that the Epsilon architecture is in no way related to the V250. In any event, here is the original article:
In the most recent Money Pit segment, I expressed my concern about GM using two completely separate platforms to serve the international midsize sedan market. More specifically, the Chevrolet Epica (aka Holden Epica/Daewoo Tosca/Chevrolet Tosca) – available outside of North America – is the same size as the Opel Insignia (Epsilon II) and the Chevy Malibu (Epsilon), but is underpinned by a completely different platform! We don’t know much about this platform, other than it’s a derivative of a legacy Daewoo architecture. In any case, the fact that GM is using two completely different platforms for vehicles in the same class results in increased costs and contributes to GM’s current financial position.
So you could imagine my surprise when I discovered that the newly-unveiled Suzuki Kizashi actually shares its 106.3 inch wheelbase platform (2700 mm), part for part, with the Chevrolet Epica! Now if you aren’t familiar with the Kizashi, it’s a larger-than-usual compact car that will replace the Suzuki Verona, and is due to go on sale in the beginning of 2010. The reason the Kizashi shares what otherwise is a GM-developed platform is because of a long-standing arrangement between GM and Suzuki, with Suzuki having made such vehicles as the Geo Metro and Geo Tracker for The General.
I thought you may have enjoyed this little tid-bit of information. It’s definitely news to me!
Check out the high-res shots of the Chevy Epica/Tosca and the Suzuki Kizashi after the break!
Comments
I actually own a 2004 Epica…despite recieving middle of the road reviews I am really happy with the car. I have done several long trips 1600(+) miles and couldn’t have asked for a better ride. For the money it was great value and I think these new platform will offer the same. I especially like the lines of the car, much better than the Malibu which really shut the car out of the US market. As you probably know the 2004 Suzuki Verona was basically the same car as the Epica so Suzuki and Chev are doing nothing new here with the Kizashi…I’d much rather be showing the chev badge though.
Cool! You don’t like the Malibu looks? I think it’s the best-looking mid-size in the US – although we don’t have the Epica here. Going forward, the plan is to replace the Epica with a Malibu in Europe and elsewhere globally. So the next-gen Epica will be a Malibu in all but name. Perhaps they’ll even rename it to Malibu.
PS: see your point regarding Suzuki and Chevy. Although it looks like (from the update) that they don’t actually share a common platform, with the Kizashi using a modified Epsilon II platform that underpins the Malibu/LaCrosse/Regal.
Cheers!
Alex
I had Epica 2007
I done with over 40,000 KM it is a great car and for the price i wont look for other cars
sold it as moved from country to other.
people knows what is Malibu and it garbage car really
you will end up at the meddle of street checking the engine off faulty car.
maybe in US Malibu is good but not in EU as it cant replace with Opel Insignia.
Glad you liked it.
You know, the Malibu and the Insignia are very similar mechanically. In fact, the next-generation Malibu will be even more mechanically similar to the Insignia. And, word on the street is that the Malibu will replace the Epica all over the world in everything but its name. It’s a great car, so I think your opinion is a bit skewed?
i have a Chevy epica 2007 2.0 VCDI, till now 30.000 Km i had any problems, the VM diesel Engine is really noisy , the suspension too.
In France with the arrival of the chevy Cruze in November 09 the Epica is no more sell
Hey Adriano,
That’s interesting – the Cruze may eat into Epica sales – it will be interesting to see.
Given that the Epica is based on an old (really old) Daewoo V250 platform, so it may be that the suspension issues you’re experiencing are related. Or not.
Personally, I can’t wait for the day when Chevy has a modern Epsilon 2-based mid size sedan to replace the Epica/Tosca in Europe.
Cheers! Alex.
Hey Alex,
The problems of Epica was that the first sale year, epica was sale in France just with the 2.0l engine MT and the 2.5L AT, due to the high gasole price that we have in europe (1.16 euro 1 liter) nobody buy this kind of engine., second problem was the epica is too big car for France (very difficult to park in crowded city),
In 2007 Epica was sell with the new 2.0 diesel engine , the problem was that Chevrolet do any advertisement (Tv, news paper…) for the Epica so nobody know this car .
when the Cruze arrive in Mai 2009, Chevrolet France stop to sell the Epica (just 200 Epica sell in 2008!!). The Cruze is sell with the 1.6L, 1.8L, 2.0 diesel 125 Hp2.0 diesel 150 Hp.
The suspension i think is a big problem because for Europe, GMDAT put a different suspension more “hard “then in USA. This year i was driving a Chevrolet Aveo in USa and the suspension is soft (i love), when i try the European Aveo the suspension is too “hard” for me.
Hey Adriano, thanks for the details about the Epica.
It’s an underperforming car that will finally see its demise soon. For the next generation Epica/Tosca (if the name remains), I expect to see an Epsilon II based Malibu. But that may not happen, as the Malibu may be too big for certain European tastes – as you mentioned.
And I did not know that about the different tuning in suspension between European and US products. That’s interesting!
Alex the DAEWOO V250 platform can you find in other GM cars?
This platform is derivated from Daewoo Leganza platform?
Is very difficult to find information about this daewoo platform
Not that I know of. I think it was a stop gap (temporary + cheap) platform until they could figure out what to do with Opel and Chevrolet in Europe.
All the legacy Daewoo platforms are slowly going away and should be completely gone by 2012.
I hope is not a bad news for the future , on Chevrolet Italy forum, some people have problems with Chevrolet Captiva with the VM MOTORI 2.0 Diesel made in korea,. At aabout 120.000 KM people have the camshaft broken! this problem arrive always at about the same mileage .
Is very Bad because this engine is the only diesel engine for Chevrolet in Europe and u can find in Chevrolet Captiva, Epica, Cruze, Lacetti, Nubira.
For GM this problem can be very bad!
Well, this is not good. 120,000 KM isn’t even that much! I wonder what the problem is – whether it’s an error by VM MOTORI or GM. Like you said, this engine is so widespread throughout the European Chevrolet lineup that if there is – in fact – a problem, then they have a big recall on their hands.
Maruti suzuki kizashi in india
MARUTI SUZUKI is all set to launch its much awaited D-segment car Kizashi, a sedan by the end of January. Pronounced ‘Kee-Zah-Shee’ which in Japanese means ‘something great is coming’, it is an executive sedan to be launched in the third week of January 2011.
Launch Date and other details on >> Automobile Industry India.