Daihatsu News Article

You are here » Home » News » Daihatsu News » Daihatsu News Article Print

Search for Used Cars

Search for Used Cars

Search for News

Search for Reviews

Daihatsu Car News

Compucars Car Reviews

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR FIRST DAIHATSU COPEN CUSTOMERS

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR FIRST DAIHATSU COPEN CUSTOMERS

Christmas has come early for UK Daihatsu Copen customers as the eagerly-awaited £12,995 (on-the-road) sportscar with its Mercedes SLK-like electric folding roof has finally arrived.

And as an added bonus, the first 200 cars registered in December are fitted with free heated leather seats, leather door trim and leather Momo steering wheel – worth £500.

Standard equipment includes the electric folding metal hardtop, power steering, twin airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, air-conditioning, electric windows and door mirrors, remote keyless-entry central-locking, alloy wheels, front fog lamps, dual exhaust pipes and a radio/CD player.

Lively And Frugal

However, the good news gets even better as the 660 cc turbocharged Copen now has more power and improved economy following factory modifications to allow it to comply with European Whole Vehicle Type Approval.

Power rises from the Japanese K-Car restriction of 64 PS to 68 PS at only
6,000 rpm. This gives a 106 mph top speed and 0-62 mph time of 11.7 seconds – virtually identical to the Ford Streetka.

Meanwhile, thanks to its light 823 kg weight, raised gearing and highly efficient four-cylinder, twin-overhead camshaft engine, the Copen gives impressive fuel economy and low emissions.

For example, Urban/Extra Urban and Combined returns are 35.8/50.4 and 44.1 mpg compared to the Ford’s 26.6/44.1 and 35.8 mpg.

The Copen’s CO2 figure is 151 g/km against the StreetKa’s 189 g/km – meaning a company car tax liability of 16 per cent versus 23 per cent for 2004-2005.

However, many buyers will be more enchanted by the Copen’s cute looks. For others, its cool exclusivity will clinch it as annual sales are expected to be under 1,500 units. Enthusiasts, meanwhile, will be seduced by the Copen’s agile, involving handling and perky performance.

Initially intended for domestic production only, the diminutive Daihatsu was first seen in the UK at the 2002 Birmingham International Motor Show. It proved such a crowd-puller that 1,500 potential customers expressed an interest. This enthusiasm persuaded Daihatsu in Japan to investigate its export potential.

Largely thanks to the perseverance of Daihatsu’s UK management, the Copen is now being exported in right-hand drive form only to such diverse markets as Australia and Germany.

Disarming Looks With A Charming Party-Piece

The Copen’s disarming, cute looks perfectly express its fun image, with a rounded, teardrop design, minimum overhangs and oval front and rear lamps.

Its cockpit is especially inviting and intimate without being cramped. In fact, despite qualifying as an official Japanese mini-car (K-Car), the Copen has ample interior width and space for those exceeding six feet in height.

The Copen’s major ‘party-piece’, of course, is an electrically-operated folding hard-top – very similar to that on a Mercedes SLK – offering excellent security and weather protection.

All the driver has to do is unlock two windscreen catches and press a button on the centre console. The lightweight aluminium roof then folds into the boot in less than 20 seconds.

Luggage capacity with the roof up is sufficient for a weekend away. With the roof down, there is space for a soft sports bag.

The front-wheel drive Copen measures 3,440 mm long, has a 1,475 mm width excluding mirrors and is 1,245 mm high. Its wheelbase is 2,225 mm, overhangs are tiny and the driver sits perfectly between front and rear wheels for extra handling intimacy. The engine is transversely-mounted in the front.

Perky Powerplant

All Japanese K-Cars are limited to a 660 cc engine capacity with a 64 PS power limit. As a result, Daihatsu has been able to spend many years perfecting its engines to provide high levels of performance, r