Daewoo Leganza History

Launched in 1997, the Leganza was the top of Daewoo's three-model late-1990s lineup, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign and developed under ex-Porsche and ex-BMW engineering chief Dr. Ulrich Bez — a remarkably short 30-month development cycle. It replaced both the Espero and the larger Daewoo Prince in Korea, positioning Daewoo squarely against European mid-size sedans.

The Leganza was sold in the United States from 1999 through 2002 as Daewoo's premium offering, distinguishing itself with a well-appointed interior and competitive pricing. When Daewoo went bankrupt and GM acquired the assets in 2002, the Leganza was discontinued; its successor in Korea was the Magnus.