For parking lot hooliganism

The 2014 Daihatsu Copen

 JAPANESE petrolheads don’t have a lot of space to have fun in, but in the Daihatsu Copen and Honda S660 they can make their own rally in a parking lot.

Daihatsu last week released the second generation of the Copen, which ­established a name for itself as a pure little driver’s car, with a new 660 cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine that makes 47 kW at 6 400 rpm and 92 Nm at 3 200 rpm.

It comes with a five-speed manual transmission to the front wheels, with a cheaper CVT also available.

Like all second-generation models, the 2015 Copen has gained weight, tipping the scale at 870 kg thanks to a new 40 kg electric roof.

The 2014 Honda S660

The new Copen is built onto what Daihatsu calls a ‘D-Frame’, which allows body panels to bolt on and off for easy replacement after a bit too much understeer.

Prices start at just under 1,8 million Yen (about R188 000 at current exchange rates) and manual models are actually R2 000 more expensive. The Copen never sold well in bigger-is-better South Africa and there are no plans as yet to bring them in.

Honda has subcontracted Yachiyo Industry’s Yokkaichi plant to make the S660 micro sport car.

Fitting within the confines of the Kei cars, it has a turbocharged 660-cc three-cylinder engine, but this is mounted in the middle of the car to achieve a claimed 50:50 weight distribution. No formal power specifications or price are yet available, but it will not be far off from that of the Copen.