According to a press statement issued by the company, over 4,000 orders have already been placed for the brand new Daihatsu Copen roadster. The Japanese brand says this happened in a relatively short period between June 19th and July 22nd, and that this is six times the usual sales numbers of 700 per month.
And why wouldn't it be popular? When it looks so interesting and is relatively cheap to own. Those sharp lines and keen design have appealed manly to male buyers, which Daihatsu says make up 80% of the customers. Most of the people who ordered the new Copen are young and 70% ordered the optional CVT gearbox.
Like most of Daihatsu's lineup, the Copen is a relatively unknown little sportscar designed to appeal primarily to Japanese consumers. However, because it's built in right-hand drive car, the Daihatsu Copen was marketed in Great Britain as well. The tiny two-seat car arrived in the country back in 2004, retailing from about £10,000, which made this the cheapest convertible on the market. With a 1.3-liter engine (that's just for exports), it could never hope to keep up with the big boys, but the SLK-like folding metal roof did compensate for that to some degree.
Toyota has not announced any plans to bring the new Copen to the UK. But in case they do, here's an in-depth walkaround taken a month ago at a dealership in Japan.
The all-new model is built in accordance with kei car regulation and is thus powered by a 660cc turbocharged KF type three-cylinder engine making 64 hp and 92 Nm (68 lb-ft) of torque. Two transmissions are available, a CVT or a 5-speed manual. Prices in Japan start at ¥1,798,200 which is approximately $17,600, not cheap for a tiny 3,395 mm long two-seater.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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