The New Daihatsu Terios

Daihatsu’s striking new - and considerably larger - Terios 4x4 sport utility goes on sale in early May, heralding an exciting new direction for the Japanese compact car specialist.

The Terios follows on from last year’s new Sirion in offering a strong European flavour to its styling, packaging and dynamics.

As a result, Daihatsu aims to boost European sales from the 32,000 of 2003 to 80,000 in 2008.

And so confident is parent company, Toyota, of the new Terios’s appeal that it plans to sell 1,500 per month of its version in Japan, badged ‘Rush’.

The home-market Daihatsu equivalent is named ‘Be-go’ with a monthly goal of 500 units.

Traditionally its best seller, Daihatsu expects the new Terios to regain this position although there are already worldwide supply constraints due to its success in Japan.

The new Terios UK line-up will comprise the Terios 1.5 S - initially available in Black Mica only at £12,995 on-the-road, the higher-spec 1.5 SX at £14,295 OTR - expected to be the best-seller - and the 1.5 SE automatic at £14,995 OTR.

The latter two models are offered in Black Mica, Blue Mica, Grey Metallic, Silver Metallic or Red with these colours becoming available on the Terios 1.5 S from August.

A low insurance rating of Group 7D for the Terios 1.5 S and 8D for the SX and SE will further add to its appeal.