Daewoo Espero History

Launched in South Korea in August 1990, the Espero was Daewoo's first attempt at an in-house mid-size sedan. Its body was designed by Bertone — specifically a proposal Bertone had previously pitched to Citroën as a BX successor, which Citroën rejected — giving the Espero an unusually clean, European silhouette for a Korean car of the period.

Underneath, the Espero used the same platform as the LeMans (itself an Opel Kadett E derivative), so its underpinnings were familiar GM hardware. Despite a well-regarded 0.29 Cd drag coefficient, the Espero sold mainly in Korea and select export markets; it was never offered in the United States. Production ended in 1997 when the Leganza replaced it.