Photo: Daihatsu
Toyota's sub-brand Daihatsu has revealed several new concepts that will blow our minds at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. Among them is this, the DN Compagno, a car unlike any other, at least not one that's currently in production.
Is Daihatsu testing the water to see if Japan is ready for a little sedan? Maybe; all the other concepts are drawn with straight, boxy lines, just like something that came from a sci-fi universe where space is at a premium. But this is DN Compagno is what the people in the 60's probably thought we would be driving right now. Coincidently, that's when the Japanese made Vignale-designed models that looked a little bit like this one.
There's no question that it brings sexy back. The Compagno features a bubble-like roof with silver rails and a blacked out frames to hide the fact that it's a sedan. The front handles are flushed into the sheet metal, while the ones at the back are ticked away a la Alfa Romeo.
The concept is powered by a 1-liter turbocharged engine, though the company also wants a 1.2-liter hybrid drive. Yes, you heard that right, it "wants." The market for kei cars is shrinking, and now Daihatsu is after new types of customers.
Like a Peugeot RCZ, this is a 2+2 that mainly caters to the front seat passengers. Putting adults in the back is a contortionist exercise.
If you're fans of the Daihatsu Terios that you saw on the Top Gear fox hunt, there's a concept for that too. It's called the DN Trec and takes the form of a rugged urban high-rider with red accents. Measuring 3980×1695×1600mm, this would be a direct rival for the current Juke, but still a very small car.
Not big enough? Then how about the DN MultiSix? It's a preview for a 6-seater with a 1.5-liter engine and a CVT, also taking the shape of a crossover. At 4310×1720×1695mm, it would be one of the largest cars Daihatsu has ever made.
It's joined by the DN Pro Cargo, inspired by the Midget 3-wheeler, as well as other futuristic boxes on wheels.
There's no question that it brings sexy back. The Compagno features a bubble-like roof with silver rails and a blacked out frames to hide the fact that it's a sedan. The front handles are flushed into the sheet metal, while the ones at the back are ticked away a la Alfa Romeo.
The concept is powered by a 1-liter turbocharged engine, though the company also wants a 1.2-liter hybrid drive. Yes, you heard that right, it "wants." The market for kei cars is shrinking, and now Daihatsu is after new types of customers.
Like a Peugeot RCZ, this is a 2+2 that mainly caters to the front seat passengers. Putting adults in the back is a contortionist exercise.
If you're fans of the Daihatsu Terios that you saw on the Top Gear fox hunt, there's a concept for that too. It's called the DN Trec and takes the form of a rugged urban high-rider with red accents. Measuring 3980×1695×1600mm, this would be a direct rival for the current Juke, but still a very small car.
Not big enough? Then how about the DN MultiSix? It's a preview for a 6-seater with a 1.5-liter engine and a CVT, also taking the shape of a crossover. At 4310×1720×1695mm, it would be one of the largest cars Daihatsu has ever made.
It's joined by the DN Pro Cargo, inspired by the Midget 3-wheeler, as well as other futuristic boxes on wheels.
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