Daihatsu Revives The Copen

by Derek Kreindler

Published: June 23rd, 2014

Daihatsu’s diminutive sports car is back after a two year absence, with a new look, but the same 660 cc displacement.

The Copen still puts out just 63 horsepower and 68 lb-ft from its tiny engine, but it’s also one of the more exciting kei-cars in existence. For 2014, Daihatsu has ditched the retro styling for something a bit more swoopy and modern. The impossibly tiny Copen (seriously, this thing makes a Miata look like a Ford Galaxie 500 in comparison) will start at $17,613 for the CVT model, and $17,825 for the 5-speed manual version.

#Daihatsu #DaihatsuCopen #KeiCar #Roadster

Derek Kreindler

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Varezhka on Jun 23, 2014

Definitely a better fit for the local road conditions than the Miata (whose primary sales market is US and designed as such). When I was in Tokyo last year, I was surprised to see how large the current NC Miata looked compared to its surroundings. Maybe not Galaxie big, but at least Murcielago. Given the new Caterham 160 and the upcoming Honda S660, it's looking to be a good time again for Kei sports cars. Now we just need to convince Suzuki to return with a Cappuccino revival and Mazda an AZ-1.

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TorontoSkeptic on Jun 23, 2014

Wow, I thought I knew plenty of obscure cars, but this is a new one for me. It's completely, totally ridiculous and I kind of like it. It's got that "don't underestimate me" thing going for it.

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- Rpn453 on Jun 27, 2014
  
  If you were a Gran Turismo player, you would know this as the boring FWD kei car you shun in favor of the mid-engined Honda Beat or Mazda Autozam AZ-1! The front-engined RWD Cappuccino is the best looking of the bunch, IMO. They're all very, very slow, but you can have fun with the RWD ones if you use terrible tires. I'm sure even the Copen would be plenty fun to actually drive around the city though. Well, one that isn't riddled with potholes.
  
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