Christmas Comes Early For First Daihatsu Copen Customers
Published: 7th December 2003
Luggage capacity with the roof up is sufficient for a weekend away. With the roof down, there is space for a soft sports bag.
The front-wheel drive Copen measures 3,440 mm long, has a 1,475 mm width excluding mirrors and is 1,245 mm high. Its wheelbase is 2,225 mm, overhangs are tiny and the driver sits perfectly between front and rear wheels for extra handling intimacy. The engine is transversely-mounted in the front.
Perky Powerplant
All Japanese K-Cars are limited to a 660 cc engine capacity with a 64 PS power limit. As a result, Daihatsu has been able to spend many years perfecting its engines to provide high levels of performance, refinement and durability.
Daihatsu constantly competes with Suzuki for Number One place in Japan’s mini-car segment and sells over 600,000 cars worldwide per year.
The Copen features a 16 valve, 659 cc engine with four cylinders for extra smoothness and a bore and stroke of 61.0 x 56.4 mm and compression ratio of 8.2:1. Its turbocharger with intercooler were designed exclusively for this car and provides strong response from as low as 2,000 rpm.
For the UK, maximum power is 68 PS at a surprisingly low 6,000 rpm while peak torque of 74 lb.ft is at an even more remarkable 3,200 rpm, providing good low-speed flexibility.
At the other end of the rev-scale, the Copen’s chain-driven twin overhead-camshaft engine will spin uncomplainingly to 8,500 rpm. The raised gearing over the home-market and prototype cars is now 15.9 mph per 1,000 rpm in top.
Engine changes, which allow the Copen to pass EWVTA regulations, also include a revised electronic control unit (ECU) to alter the high-speed fuel delivery and revisions to the turbocharger.
Standard transmission is a five-speed manual although a dual-mode four-speed automatic gearbox is also available in Japan.
Daihatsu Copen
Our Daihatsu Copen Guide lists the full specification of the current UK Copen range, including car prices, fuel consumption, dimensions and other vital data.
Price : £11,495
Body Style:
Fuel:
Model in the range: 1
We have road tested the Daihatsu Copen, to read our in-depth car review:
Daihatsu Copen Review - Aug 2008
Our Car Buyer’s Guide covers all of the UK’s major new cars and includes CO2 ratings and car insurance groups. Data updated on the 21st Sep 2008
