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DAIHATSU Applause Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 2
First production year: 1989
Engines: Gasoline
DAIHATSU Applause photo gallery

In 1997, Daihatsu refreshed the Applause and dropped the carburetor engine while improving the car's look.

Despite its efforts to offer an affordable, dependable, comfortable vehicle, Daihatsu was forced to admit that the Applause was not doing well on the market. In Europe, its main competitors from France, Germany, and Italy had an edge, and the customers were reluctant to spend their money on the Applause. In 1997, the carmaker tried a final refresh for the seven-year-old small-segment vehicle.

Daihatsu updated the car's look and installed bigger bumpers both front and rear, increasing the vehicle's length. The front fascia was adorned by a chromed surrounding for the grille, but the headlights kept their original shape. Its front bumper sported a lower apron with another air intake and two side scoops. To complement the front turn signals, Daihatsu installed two additional side lamps on the front fenders. At the back, depending on the trim level, the carmaker added chromed rims around the redesigned taillights.

For the interior, better upholstery fixed a part of the problem while the sunroof and the four power windows offered as an option should have brought more customers, but the result was not the expected one.

Under the hood, Daihatsu kept the 1.6-liter, fuel-injected engine, which was paired with a five-speed manual or, as an option, a four-speed automatic.

full description and technical specifications
DAIHATSU Applause photo gallery

Daihatsu introduced the Applause in 1989 to compete in the small-segment market with a vehicle that was half a three-box sedan and half a hatchback.

Being the oldest internal combustion engine manufacturer in Japan didn't make it an excellent carmaker. Still, it had some decent results with a few models, such as the Charade or the Rocky off-road vehicle. But it was not enough, and the company's management decided to come with something different, and that was the Applause.

From the outside, the Applause looked like a regular, small-size sedan, but it wasn't. At the front, it featured two horizontal headlights that didn't go around the corner, like most of the other cars from that era. Its turn signals were placed on the wrapped-around plastic bumper. Depending on the trim level, it sported an apron on the lower side. From its sides, the flush-mounted door handles looked good and built to improve the car's aerodynamic. In the rear, the Applause was an original design. While it looked like a three-box sedan, the trunk lid opened together with the rear window. It was like a hatchback, but with an added body element.

Inside, the carmaker followed the straight-line design concept, with a flat and low-mounted dashboard. Its center stack featured the radio and the climate control vents, the latter being on the lowest part. The instrument panel provided information about the revs and speed, along with those for the coolant temperature and fuel level. A few additional warning lights completed the necessary information about the car. A unique car feature was for the rear seats, which were tilting rearward, but they couldn't fold flat.

Under the hood, Daihatsu offered the Applause a choice of two engines and three gearboxes: a five-speed manual, a six-speed manual, and a three-speed automatic.

full description and technical specifications