1999-2002 Daewoo Lanos: Year-to-Year Changes

2000 Daewoo Lanos: Little was changed in the Lanos's second season on the U.S. market, except that more dealerships were appearing. At the same time, the South Korean company was starting to face serious financial woes, prompting consideration of a possible takeover by one of the Big Three automakers. By now, the Lanos had another competitor in the U.S., in the form of the comparably-sized Kia Rio.

2001 Daewoo Lanos: The increasingly embattled Daewoo company continued to send cars to the U.S. market, but financial troubles were mounting rapidly. Prospective suitors emerged, then backed away, and Daewoo's fate was increasingly uncertain. Minor rear-end styling changes were evident. The Lanos SE hatchback and SX four-door sedan were dropped (including the option of antilock braking). That left only mainstream S models, available with a new Premium Package that roughly duplicated formerly standard top-of-the-line equipment. A new Sport hatchback got body-colored side skirts, bumpers and mirrors--plus a rear spoiler, black/red leather upholstery, air conditioning, power windows and locks, power mirrors, and a CD/cassette stereo.

2002 Daewoo Lanos: In spring 2002, General Motors bought a sizable share of the assets of the Daewoo organization--but not its sales arm in the U.S. That move left dealers hanging, selling only leftover cars, and owners unsure how their vehicles would be repaired under warranty. The Lanos came as a two-door hatchback in S or Sport trim, and as an S four-door sedan. Power steering was now an option on the S edition, and alloy wheels no longer were available on the Lanos Sport.