Daihatsu D-X Concept: The Copen at Risk
Established in 1907, Daihatsu is a veteran of the Japanese automotive industry. That said, their first vehicle, the BEE, didn’t come off the production line until 1951.
The company has always set out to design and build small city vehicles.
Today, Daihatsu is owned by industry giant Toyota.
From the Copen to the D-X Concept
Launched in Japan in 2002, the Daihatsu Copen is the smallest roadster in the world. In the land of the rising sun, it fits into the “K” category, which stands for “Keijidosha.” To qualify for this category, cars have to keep their length under 3,400 mm and width under 1,480 mm. Plus, their engines are not allowed to exceed 660 cc.
Owners of Keijidosha cars are elegible for a tax break upon purchase.
The Daihatsu Copen is due for a complete overhaul, if it’s not replaced altogether by an all-new roadster.
With that in mind, the presentation of the is D-X Concept starting to make a whole lot of sense…
The Daihatsu D-X Concept
This petite concept car is a chameleon of sorts, as it can be transformed into various shapes, including:
- A dune buggy
- An attractive racing Spider
- A sporty micro van
And three more concepts for the Tokyo Show
In addition to the D-X Concept, this Japanese automaker will be introducing three other bold concept vehicles at the Tokyo Motor Show:
FC ShoCase Concept: Minivan powered by fuel cell technology
Mira e:S Concept: Mini sedan with a 660 cc engine
Pico Concept: Electric micro car designed for city driving