Welcome To The Daihatsu Playhouse!

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Between Suzuki’s decision to show off its latest Tokyo Auto Show concepts and Scion’s possible collaboration with Daihatsu, now seems like a good time to show you Toyota’s kei car partner’s latest trinkets. From the fuel cell-powered, Tokyo-apartment-on-wheels, the FC Sho-Case (above), to the sweet little turbo-two-pot roadster, the D-X, Daihatsu’s got every kind of future vehicle you might possibly want… as long as it’s small and strange. They’re even taking on BMW’s see-through “i” brand, with the Pico, a semi-transparent plug-in. Because your car could always be a little smaller, weirder and more Japanese…



Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • PJ McCombs PJ McCombs on Nov 10, 2011

    Looks like a drivable version of the Lego cars I put together as a kid. Or a moon rover (does the side-hinged door have a 'dry-ice/hiss effect' option?). In either case, cool stuff.

  • JuniorMint JuniorMint on Nov 10, 2011

    I would love a Scion "collaboration" with Daihatsu (doesn't Toyota own Daihatsu already? collaboration is an interesting term for that). I cite that Japan got a bB replacement I would actually purchase, where we got the sales-killing xB2 and the xD. And of course global corporations should run on my whims and desires. In any case, getting back to Scion's roots (small, cheap, efficient and freakishly bizarre in every way) seems to be the only hope left for the brand.

  • Corey Lewis Think how dated this 80s design was by 1995!
  • Tassos Jong-iL Communist America Rises!
  • Merc190 A CB7 Accord with the 5 cylinder
  • MRF 95 T-Bird Daihatsu Copen- A fun Kei sized roadster. Equipped with a 660cc three, a five speed manual and a retractable roof it’s all you need. Subaru Levorg wagon-because not everyone needs a lifted Outback.
  • Merc190 I test drive one of these back in the day with an automatic, just to drive an Alfa, with a Busso no less. Didn't care for the dash design, would be a fun adventure to find some scrapped Lancia Themas or Saab 900's and do some swapping to make car even sweeter. But definitely lose the ground effects.
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