Cute just got cuter.
Daihatsu is pulling the punches by giving its ultra desirable little roadster, the cute and timeless Copen sports car a new 1.3 liter engine, higher gearing to enhance refinement and a sharp new price of only £10,995 on-the-road. The new price is a full £2,500 less than the original model introduced for the 2004 model year -- a little machine that rapidly became a magnet for enthusiasts who fell in love with its youthful good looks, effortless electric metal folding roof and nimble handling.
For 2007, the Copen's newly transplanted engine will be producing 86 horsepower, a 19hp increase over the outgoing 660cc turbo engine, plus an extra 15 lb-ft of torque. The new engine is mounted transversely up front and features the world's first self-regenerating catalyst that has temperature-sensitive palladium crystals.
This new innovation effectively extends the life of the catalytic converter, enabling the owner to spend less on the car's maintenance as well as contribute lesser to environmental pollution as it keeps the catalyst 'healthier' over a higher mileage -- meaning the already low 140 g/km does not increase as the engine becomes older.
Because of the upgrading of auto body parts the revised sports car now has a 112 mph top speed (up 6 mph), 0-62 mph time of only 9.5 seconds instead of 11.7 seconds with stronger, more responsive throttle response throughout the rev-range.
For the environmentally-inclined, you'll be happy to note that the roadster's fuel economy is outstanding at 36.7 Urban, 56.5 mpg Extra Urban and 47.1 mpg on the Combined Cycle (was 35.8/50.4 and 44.1 mpg). Meanwhile, CO2 exhaust emissions drop from 151 g/km to 140 g/km.
The highly-advanced engine of the new Copen is shared with the Daihatsu Sirion supermini, which featured the world’s first self-regenerating catalyt through the introduction of the new Sirion 1.3 litre engine in 2005.
First displayed as a concept car at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show, the Copen car appeared again in 2001 before officially going on sale in Japan in the spring of 2002. Originally conceived for the Japanese Kei-car market only, the UK's importer, Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited, has persuaded the factory to re-engineer the tiny 660 cc turbo petrol engine to comply with European Whole Vehicle Type Approval. Today’s Copen has virtually remained unchanged in appearance from the original car.
Standard equipment for the new Copen includes alloy wheels, rear spoiler, electric retractable hard top that opens or closes in only 20 seconds, air conditioning, electric windows to name a few.
Daihatsu is pulling the punches by giving its ultra desirable little roadster, the cute and timeless Copen sports car a new 1.3 liter engine, higher gearing to enhance refinement and a sharp new price of only £10,995 on-the-road. The new price is a full £2,500 less than the original model introduced for the 2004 model year -- a little machine that rapidly became a magnet for enthusiasts who fell in love with its youthful good looks, effortless electric metal folding roof and nimble handling.
For 2007, the Copen's newly transplanted engine will be producing 86 horsepower, a 19hp increase over the outgoing 660cc turbo engine, plus an extra 15 lb-ft of torque. The new engine is mounted transversely up front and features the world's first self-regenerating catalyst that has temperature-sensitive palladium crystals.
This new innovation effectively extends the life of the catalytic converter, enabling the owner to spend less on the car's maintenance as well as contribute lesser to environmental pollution as it keeps the catalyst 'healthier' over a higher mileage -- meaning the already low 140 g/km does not increase as the engine becomes older.
Because of the upgrading of auto body parts the revised sports car now has a 112 mph top speed (up 6 mph), 0-62 mph time of only 9.5 seconds instead of 11.7 seconds with stronger, more responsive throttle response throughout the rev-range.
For the environmentally-inclined, you'll be happy to note that the roadster's fuel economy is outstanding at 36.7 Urban, 56.5 mpg Extra Urban and 47.1 mpg on the Combined Cycle (was 35.8/50.4 and 44.1 mpg). Meanwhile, CO2 exhaust emissions drop from 151 g/km to 140 g/km.
The highly-advanced engine of the new Copen is shared with the Daihatsu Sirion supermini, which featured the world’s first self-regenerating catalyt through the introduction of the new Sirion 1.3 litre engine in 2005.
First displayed as a concept car at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show, the Copen car appeared again in 2001 before officially going on sale in Japan in the spring of 2002. Originally conceived for the Japanese Kei-car market only, the UK's importer, Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited, has persuaded the factory to re-engineer the tiny 660 cc turbo petrol engine to comply with European Whole Vehicle Type Approval. Today’s Copen has virtually remained unchanged in appearance from the original car.
Standard equipment for the new Copen includes alloy wheels, rear spoiler, electric retractable hard top that opens or closes in only 20 seconds, air conditioning, electric windows to name a few.