Concept Car Of The Day: 1999 Daewoo Mirae - AllCarIndex
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The Daewoo Mirae car was unveiled on April 20, 1999 by Queen Elizabeth II at Daewoo's Seoul design studio 'Design Forum' and later at the 1999 Seoul Motor Show. The Korean word "Mirae" translates to "Future" in English. It was designed at Daewoo's UK Worthing Technical Centre and was showcased in two separate forms: one highlighting the exterior design and another showcasing the interior technology.
There were plans for production of the Mirae to begin in 2010, but unfortunately, this never came to fruition due to the collapse of Daewoo Group in 2000 and subsequent takeover by General Motors. The Mirae project was a joint effort between the motor manufacturer and the UK Department of Trade and Industry, timed to coincide with the British Queen's first state visit to Korea in order to strengthen financial and technology ties between the two countries.
Daewoo claimed that the Mirae was the world's first versatile sports car, with the ability to change seat layouts from a 4-seat MPV to a single seater. The pedal and steering wheel could also be adjusted to accommodate left-hand, right-hand, or central driving positions.
The Mirae showcased some innovative technologies, including a 2.5-liter DOHC compact in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine designed by former Daewoo Engineering Director, Dr. Ulrich Bez (who later became head of Aston Martin). The car also featured ZEFREDO (zero failure rate electronic design opportunities) ACTIVE (Advanced Camera Technology in Vehicle Ergonomics), a camera-based gestural in-vehicle control system, as well as drive-by-wire and steer-by-wire technology.
The seating in the Mirae was also advanced, with all seats being individually suspended and reacting to vehicle movement. Users could adjust the comfort levels and tilt of the seats during cornering to improve occupant comfort.
Despite its promising technology and design, the Daewoo Mirae never made it into production and remains a unique concept in the automotive world.
