Photo: Daihatsu
There’s nothing like a kei car out there, and further still, a sports kei car amounts to a unicorn of the automotive world. The Daihatsu Copen is one of few such models, and for the 2020 model year, Toyota Gazoo Racing had its way with the design, suspension, and aerodynamics.
Priced at 2.4 million yen in the Land of the Rising Sun, the Copen GR Sport isn’t exactly cheap. That retail price equivalates to $22,070 at current exchange rates, the kind of money an American would spend on a well-equipped Yaris or an entry-level Corolla for the 2020 model year.
The GR Sport in the lightweight sports kei car’s name includes a front brace and a more rigid center brace while the spring rate of the suspension was optimized for the superior torsional rigidity. Sports shock absorbers and specific tuning for the electric power steering are also featured, along with the Functional Matrix grille that improves cooling performance.
A KF intercooled turbo engine with 660 cubic centimeters of displacement is what you’ll find under the hood of the front-driven convertible, available with a five-speed manual or a CVT with seven-speed Super Active Shift simulation and paddle shifters. The front spoiler, corner spoiler, side skirts, rear side spoiler, and trunk spoiler are all optional, ranging from 22,000 to 66,000 yen ($205 to $610). All told, these parts cost 211,200 yen ($1,195).
The diffuser-shaped rear bumper is complemented by black trim for the LED headlights and taillights, BBS matte-gray forged wheels, and the GR Sport emblem on the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle. Entering the Copen GR Sport further reveals Recaro bucket seats with Gazoo Racing embroidery, sports instrument cluster, MOMO steering wheel, and lots of piano black garnish on the door cards and on the transmission tunnel. Carbon-fiber detailing is also included, but that’s actually plastic made to look like CFRP.
The tiny roadster is only available in Japan, so don’t get your hopes up about getting one in the United States. The oldest Copen dates back to June 2002, which means that the U.S. can get it in June 2027 under the 25-year import rule. From 1994, your best options for 2019 include the Audi RS2 Avant, Renault Clio Williams 2, Alfa Romeo 164 Q4 sedan, Mitsubishi FTO, Peugeot 106 Rallye, and often overlooked Toyota Chaser.
The GR Sport in the lightweight sports kei car’s name includes a front brace and a more rigid center brace while the spring rate of the suspension was optimized for the superior torsional rigidity. Sports shock absorbers and specific tuning for the electric power steering are also featured, along with the Functional Matrix grille that improves cooling performance.
A KF intercooled turbo engine with 660 cubic centimeters of displacement is what you’ll find under the hood of the front-driven convertible, available with a five-speed manual or a CVT with seven-speed Super Active Shift simulation and paddle shifters. The front spoiler, corner spoiler, side skirts, rear side spoiler, and trunk spoiler are all optional, ranging from 22,000 to 66,000 yen ($205 to $610). All told, these parts cost 211,200 yen ($1,195).
The diffuser-shaped rear bumper is complemented by black trim for the LED headlights and taillights, BBS matte-gray forged wheels, and the GR Sport emblem on the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle. Entering the Copen GR Sport further reveals Recaro bucket seats with Gazoo Racing embroidery, sports instrument cluster, MOMO steering wheel, and lots of piano black garnish on the door cards and on the transmission tunnel. Carbon-fiber detailing is also included, but that’s actually plastic made to look like CFRP.
The tiny roadster is only available in Japan, so don’t get your hopes up about getting one in the United States. The oldest Copen dates back to June 2002, which means that the U.S. can get it in June 2027 under the 25-year import rule. From 1994, your best options for 2019 include the Audi RS2 Avant, Renault Clio Williams 2, Alfa Romeo 164 Q4 sedan, Mitsubishi FTO, Peugeot 106 Rallye, and often overlooked Toyota Chaser.
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