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Filed under: Budget, Japan, Hatchback, Toyota, Daihatsu
Kei cars may be small in size, but they're big business in Japan. The latest arrival to the category is the little hatch you see above, the
Toyota Pixis Epoch.
It's the fourth vehicle produced by the
Daihatsu division but sold under the Toyota brand. As with other keis, power comes from a 660cc engine. It's mated to a continuously variable transmission driving either just the front wheels or all four. In both configurations, the Pixis Epoch features a stop-start system that helps its emissions and fuel efficiency figures come in well below even the Japanese government's stringent standards.
The whole package measures just 3,395 mm (133 inches) long, 1,475 mm (58 inches) wide and 1,500 mm (59 inches) tall, but offers a relatively spacious and utile interior, plus a tight turning radius of just 4.4 meters. Pricing ranges from 795,000 to 1.2 million yen - that's less than $10,000 (and no more than $15k). Further details in the press release after the jump.
Continue reading Toyota launches new Pixis Epoch kei car in Japan
Toyota launches new Pixis Epoch kei car in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 May 2012 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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May 12th, 2012
Filed under: Convertible, Budget, Japan, Daihatsu
You may not have ever heard of a car called the
Daihatsu Copen, but it's ending production and we're sad to report it. The
Copen is (or was) made by the budget
Toyota brand and stands as the only convertible kei car - those being the whimsical little cars that zip around Japan - still on the market.
A tiny two-seat roadster with a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Copen was a favorite among customers for being just downright fun. But apparently after ten years of production, there just aren't enough of those customers left to justify its continued production.
As a result, Daihatsu is reportedly discontinuing the line, with no
apparent plans to replace it. Before it does, however, a 10th anniversary edition is reportedly in the works, with production limited to just 500 units. But with only 2,000 Copens sold last year, that represents a full quarter of production.
Daihatsu Copen, Japan's last kei convertible, ending production originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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April 6th, 2012
So you've probably heard about the Kia K9 (definitely not shown above). The K9 is Kia's upcoming rear-wheel drive flagship sedan, and it's expected to go on sale in Korea during the first half of this year. With handsome...
March 4th, 2012
So you've probably heard about the Kia K9 (definitely not shown above). The K9 is Kia's upcoming rear-wheel drive flagship sedan, and it's expected to go on sale in Korea during the first half of this year. With handsome...
March 4th, 2012
Filed under: Concept Cars, Wagon, Tokyo Motor Show, Crossover, Electric, Daihatsu
The one thing that's been missing from this year's
Tokyo Motor Show are the inevitable rolling living room concepts of years past. But
Daihatsu has come to the rescue with its FC Case concept.
The rolling bread box might not look like much from the outside, but inside it's packed with folding seats and a host of infotainment gadgets. Just as important is the FC's method of propulsion, a variant of hydrogen called hydrazine hydrate or N2H4 H2O (yes, we had to look it up) that's synthesized from nitrogen and hydrogen. Daihatsu says the fuel has a higher energy density and lower flammability, but more intriguing is the delivery. Hydrazine hydrate can supposedly be transported and inserted into the vehicle much like gasoline, which takes care of that pesky infrastructure situation. Couple that with some kind of autonomous driving system and it's not hard to imagine a fleet of FCs running down the highway at speed, bumper-to-bumper, cleanly and quickly delivering employees to work in 2035... or something.
Daihatsu FC Case Concept is autonomous, high-tech transportation originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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December 1st, 2011
Everything comes in a box in Tokyo. Press kits, our lunch, the Starbucks latte and scone we ordered at the train station this morning, and certainly, personal transportation. There are good reasons for this: One, boxes are inherently...
December 1st, 2011
