THE three-inch jellied strip low on the passenger door spells a name revered in automobile styling circles.
Only under close examination do you spot those two words Design Giugiaro, and mischievously wonder whether the discretion is in fact deliberate.
The Daewoo Kalos, first new car to appear since the ailing Korean producer was taken under the wing of General Motors, is a hit and miss affair.
And if the celebrated Italian design house is satisfied - as it should be - with the job completed on the Kalos exterior, then perhaps its sights weren't raised quite so high once inside.
That's because the modern touches that make the Kalos stand out as an attractive-looking supermini are tempered by brittle, cheap plastics in what is a bland interior, made even worse by those squidgy seats so favoured by oriental manufacturers.
If this sounds unkind, well so be it. The point is that competition is hot in this area of the car market, and the thoughtful effort that goes into making a model appealing to buyers can be wasted if the whole package isn't right. And in this case it isn't.
Where the Koreans have succeeded though is in providing a level of space rare among cars of this size. Legroom and headroom is better than adequate wherever you sit - In fact even the dreaded centre rear spot affords a fairly comfortable, if slightly crowned, position.
A small pocket in the side of the front passenger seat is a useful touch to go with cleverly concealed cup holders and a pleasant, simple dash layout.
Outstanding feature of the Kalos though is the test car's 1.2 litre engine which, along with a new 1.4 litre 16-valve unit, now offers a sensible alternative to the dated eight-valve 1.4 engine that launched the range.
It's a really nippy little powerplant and ideal for the city and suburban roads where the Kalos spends most of its time.
Hardly the most dynamic of cars, the long-throw gearshift feels rubbery and there's not much feedback through the steering. Otherwise there's little else with which to find fault.
As the entry-level Kalos model, the 1.2S comes well equipped for a car that costs a very reasonable £7,495 and offers excellent fuel economy.
Included as standard are the likes of twin airbags, electric front windows, anti-lock brakes, central locking, immobiliser, tiltable steering column, 60/40 split rear seats, three-point seat belts at all five positions and radio cassette.
Whether these are enough to swing buyers away from the more established marques is another matter.
FAST FACTS
Daewoo Kalos 1.2S.
Price: £7,495.
Mechanical: 71bhp, 1.2 litre petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-speed manual transmission.
Max speed: 98mph.
0-60mph: 13.7 secs.
Combined mpg: 42.8.
Insurance group: 3.
CO2 emissions: 159g/km.
BiK rating: 15 per cent.
Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles, 6 years anti-rust.