Daihatsu News

It seems that even though we’re a few decades behind Europe (and a few ahead of North America), the forthcoming Toyota GR Yaris – with its turbocharged three-cylinder engine, promise of big performance and super-compact footprint – proves that the baby hot hatch is, indeed, a thing.

Global new-vehicle sales are on track to reach the 100-million mark in the next couple of years, with the Chinese market responsible for more than a quarter of that number.

Boxy cars are back in vogue, if the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show is any guide. But how many will actually make it to showrooms?

Toyota-owned badge Daihatsu retired from our market in 2005, but a void in Toyota’s line-up could see some of the Daihatsu product return in the form of the small Terios SUV rebadged as a Toyota Rush.Toyota is keen to capitalise on a growing sub $25,000 compact SUV market segment. Sales are thriving, with a new Nissan Juke, Suzuki SX4, Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport and Fiat Panda all joining the Mitsubishi ASX in the search for a slice of the market. Toyota doesn’t currently have a competitor in this segment, with the bigger RAV4 starting at $28,490.But Toyota has an advantage in this rivalry: It owns Daihatsu – Japan’s oldest car manufacturer and small car specialist. The first generation Daihatsu Terios sold in Australia between 1997 and 2005, creating the same compact 5-door SUV segment that is now thriving. But the current model never made it to our shores due to Daihatsu’s local retirement.Toyota has successfully sold the Rush in overseas markets for over a decade, and the current model since its introduction in 2006. It is powered by an 80kW, 141Nm 1.5-litre VVT-I engine, featuring a five speed manual and four speed automatic. But unlike other cars in this segment, it has permanent four-wheel drive and a central differential lock, which combined with short overhangs, gives the Rush more offroad credibility than most of its competitors.However, a two wheel drive version is also on offer, for buyers who prefer the extra height and space but not the extra capability of a small SUV. With a kerb weight of just 1180kg for the four wheel drive model, the Rush is a relative lightweight, which should help keep running costs low.If Toyota Australia decides to tackle the compact SUV market with the Rush, it will be the first time a car manufactured by Daihatsu is sold in Australia since 2005. However, a new Rush is expected sometime next year, featuring improvements to power, safety and refinement. This means it’s likely Toyota Australia will wait until then to introduce the Rush into Australian showrooms. 

Datsun 1600Ok, so it’s officially known as the Nismo IDx concept but Nissan isn’t fooling anyone. Fans are going to call this the Datsun 1600 regardless of what badge is fitted. It even has a 1.6-litre engine (albeit turbocharged). It was designed by a team of 100 youngsters who grew up getting to know the Datsun 1600 -- a car that has been around since before they were born -- on video games. Here’s hoping the rear-drive Toyota 86 rival comes to market quicker than the Nissan GT-R, which took seven years to become a showroom reality.Nissan GT-R NismoYou could be forgiven for dismissing the latest Nissan GT-R as just another special edition, but that would be a big mistake. This one is the fastest and most powerful (441kW and 652Nm) version of “Godzilla” yet. The 0 to 100km/h times are yet to be published but there are rumours it’s as low as 2.5 seconds. Powered by massive, oversized turbochargers and with chassis input from the Wiliams F1 team, the GT-R Nismo can lap the Nurburgring is a staggeringly quick 7 minutes and 8 seconds.Honda FCEVIt’s 1997 all over again. Back then, Honda and Toyota were in a race to bring petrol-electric hybrid technology to the masses. Honda pipped Toyota to market but Toyota ended up producing a more successful hybrid system. Toyota has sold more than 5 million hybrid cars since. Now both brands are in a race to introduce hydrogen power to the masses, with a target of 2015. Honda has had a small number of hand-built Clarity fuel cell vehicles in customer hands since 2010, but this FCEV concept is a pointer to its replacement.Toyota FCVThis oddly shaped Toyota FCV sedan concept with its gaping mouth is the company’s play for the world’s first hydrogen car for the masses. Toyota says a production version of this concept will be in showrooms in 2015. Here’s hoping Toyota follows its tradition of toning down its concept cars by the time it makes full production.Daihatsu FC DeckIn Tokyo, small is big and big is small. That’s the case with the Daihatsu FC Deck, by far the coolest concept from the pint-sized car-makers. It looks like a shrunk semi trailer, or a candidate for a new show that could be called “Ice Rink Truckers”. It is, in fact, a cute way for Daihatsu to get customers familiar with the new design theme for its next generation of flat-nose vans. Which is a shame. Daihatsu should build it as is.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling _______________________________________ 

The Daihatsu Copen was always about being super-cute rather than super-quick. And that formula will continue as Daihatsu unveils five concepts under the Kopen (with a K) name as successors to one of Japan’s smallest sports cars. All five concepts will appear at the Tokyo motor show later this month, with the version that draws the strongest response potentially bound for the production line. The similarity of the Kopen concepts with the 2011 D-X concept also suggests development for the Copen is in the advanced stages, with only the surface design to be finalised. The Copen is a halo model for Daihatsu, which specializes in small cars, so it’s important for the brand to nail an appealing design. The Copen was also one of the last Daihatsus sold in Australia before Japan’s oldest car manufacturer was removed from our market in 2007 by parent company Toyota. It continued to sell overseas until production ceased earlier this year, making a replacement model imminent. When it launched in 2003, the Copen combined a 0.66-litre four cylinder turbo engine into a light body on a diminutive footprint. Its 50kW and 100Nm were enough to power the small sports car, but not enough to break any records. A folding aluminium roof and a low centre of gravity and curved bodywork made this a popular cheap car in many markets worldwide - especially in its home market of Japan. The Kopen concepts stick to this formula, although the concept cars rely on a CVT automatic transmission (very popular in Japan) instead of the manual setup that was available in Australia. But the diminutive turbo engine, folding metal roof and toy car feel remain. The sports roadster concept will coincide with the Tokyo show unveiling of Honda’s S660 – another similarly sized roadster. Although there is a small chance we’ll see the latter in Australia, it’s unlikely Toyota will consider reviving the new Copen in our market.  

And the VE Commodore was given just three stars. The latest Used Car Safety Ratings, taken from Monash University's Accident Research Centre (MUARC) crash survey awarded five stars to the Camry and Aurion on models built from 2006 until 2008. The results show that almost one in three vehicles have a "poor" or "very poor" crash test result. The worst result was for the 1990-96 Daihatsu Mira, while the 2004-07 VW Golf was the safest. The 1999-2002 Ford Fairlane/LTD, Holden's Statesman/Caprice and the 2003-5 Mitsubishi Magna/Verada line-ups all rated four stars.  Three-star ratings were also awarded to the 2002-08 BA/BF Ford Falcon, the Holden Statesman/Caprice range from 1994 to 1998 and the 2002-07 Holden Commodore VY/VZ range. The results also suggest smaller cars have improved in recent years, with the 1996-200 Volkswagen Polo scoring five stars and the 2005-2008 Holden Barina rating four stars. The ratings list showed that (excluding light-commercial utes) every vehicle class has at least one vehicle with an "excellent" five-star rating and of the 199 vehicles examined, more than a third scored either good or excellent. The survey rates occupant safety, as well as how other road users (cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and other drivers) are affected in a crash, based on Australian and New Zealand injuries suffered by 5.4 million people from 1987-2008. FIVE STAR "excellent" Audi A4 01-08 BMW 5 Series 96-03 BMW X5 01-08 Chrysler Neon 96-99 Ford Explorer 01-05 Ford Transit 01-08 Mazda 6 02-07 Mazda MX5 Roadster 98-05 Mercedes Benz C-Class 00-07 Mercedes Benz M-Class 98-05 Mitsubishi Nimbus 99-03 Mitsubishi Pajero 00-06 Peugeot 307 01-08 Saab 900/9-3 94-02 Saab 9000 86-97 Subaru Liberty/Legacy/Outback 03-08 Subaru Forester 97-02 Toyota Aurion 06-08 Toyota Camry 06-08 Volkswagen Golf/Jetta 04-08 Volkswagen Polo 96-00 Volvo S40/V40 97-04 ONE STAR "very poor" Daewoo Espero 95-97 Daewoo Tacuma 00-04 Daihatsu Feroza/Rocky 89-97 Daihatsu Rocky/Rugger 85-98 Daihatsu Charade 93-00 Daihatsu Mira 90-96 Ford Festiva 94-01 Holden Commodore Ute VR/VS 94-00 Holden/Suzuki Scurry/Carry 82-00 Holden/Suzuki Drover/Sierra 82-99 Holden/Suzuki Barina/Swift 89-99 Hyundai Excel/Accent 95-00 Hyundai Getz/TB 02-08 Kia Ceres 92-00 Nissan Micra 95-97 Nissan NX/NX-R 91-96 Proton Wira 95-96 Subaru Impreza 93-00 Suzuki Vitara/Escudo 88-98 Toyota 4Runner/Hilux 89-97 Toyota Landcruiser 90-97

The 57-year-old Brisbane car salesman has been selling Hyundais, Daihatsus, Daewoos and Toyotas most of his adult life, so it makes sense that he would be a fan of Japanese models. He now has three in various stages of restoration, including a rare 1969 Diahatsu Compagno Spider that is one of only three in Australia.He bought his first car, a 1966 Honda S600 convertible, when he was 18 living in Essendon, Melbourne."It had four carbies and a twin cam motor," he enthuses. "It was like a racing engine. What a great little car. "When you put it in fourth gear at 60mph (96.5km/h) it was doing 6000 revs, at 70mph (112.5km/h) it was 7000 revs. So gauges were the same. I got it up to 10,500 revs once on the freeway which was, of course, the wrong thing to do. But it used to really scream along."Wallis and his brother, Geoff, both owned S600 Hondas."We've always loved Japanese sports cars because they were made much better," he says. "Back then people were getting around in HR Holdens which were so agricultural by comparison. They had push-rod engines, not overhead cams like the Honda. For a little car they went pretty good and were far ahead of their time. The Japanese just copied and refined all the British cars of the time."In 1974 Wallis moved to Queensland and sold his Honda to buy a Toyota Celica."I couldn't buy a new one because there was a six-month wait," he says. "They were $3800 new and I bought a 12-month-old one for $3300. I had it for five years, but then I needed a bigger car when our second child was born so I bought a Toyota Crown."You can see a pattern developing. Fast forward past myriad Japanese cars to 2000 when Wallis was selling Daihatsus and Daewoos."I saw this Daihatsu Compagno Spider advertised for sale in the paper and asked the guys at work what it was," he says. "No one knew. Then I saw a brochure for a Charade and on the back cover was a pic of it. They were brought in by a Daihatsu dealer and there were only three in Australia; one in Tasmania, one in Victoria and here. I like it because it's unique."Wallis admits that while he admires the technology of Japanese engines, it was the low-tech appeal of the Spider that got his attention."The trouble with Hondas was that because they were so hi-tech when they got to 75,000 miles (120,700km) you had to rebuild them," he says. "What I liked about the Daihatsu was that under bonnet it looked just like a Datsun 1200 motor. I like hi-tech, but I don't like the expense."The Spider is powered by a one-litre, push-rod, four-cylinder engine with a single twin-throat carby and linked to a four-speed gearbox."It drives extremely well for its age," he says. "I've done all the mechanical work, had the leaf springs re-tempered, new shock absorbers, brakes, done all the body, etc. But it looks a little bit sad in the paint. The guy I bought it off painted it metallic blue. They didn't have metallics in the '60s. I want to get it painted in an original colour some time. I see people who do these projects who pull them apart and never put them together. I don't want to do that; I want to enjoy my car."His Spider is on full rego and he drives it most Sundays. He has also recently bought a 1970 Honda 1300 coupe which has a four-carby air-cooled engine with a dry sump. He paid $2500 for it and in a few weeks plans to have it up and running. He's also bought another 1966 Honda S600 convertible just like his first car."That's my long-term retirement project when I'm 65," he says. He has joined the Classic Japanese Car Club formed in the past few months by likeminded Japanese car fans. "There are only 20 members, but our numbers are growing," he says. "If I'd joined the Daihatsu Compagno Spider club there would only be three of us in the club."

In fact we don't deserve any decent car. As a nation we deserve nothing more than the Daihatsu Sirion.That snoresome 1.0-litre device should be reactivated for a nation of inept milksops who have lamely allowed government to treat them like revenue raising milch cows. Nor, on the whole, can Australians – to use the indelible expression of a certain V8 supercar pilot and trainer of advanced road techniques – “drive a greasy stick up a dead dog’s arse”.Spending several days in Sicily to drive this latest example of Marinello magnificence and a few more around Modena in Italy’s north messing about in Maseratis has served to reinforce two things: such pedigree beasts are completely wasted in our country; and how rubbish we’ve become.“The police are aware of our presence and there is a speed limit here,” a Fazza official reminded us. “We would say only to drive safely and be conscious of the conditions.”But while the driving conditions in Sicily are as ordinary as in most Australian states, the locals can and do drive safely on the open road at a rate that would cause the sanctimonious twerps who bill themselves as safety experts in this country to have a fit of vapours. The bureaucrats listened to by government here wouldn’t last a minutes over there.That’s not to say it’s a free-for-all. Due caution is taken in urban areas and as the occasion demands. It helps that Europeans are taught to drive. They learn all sorts of useful things, such as that blocking the fast lane is actually pretty moronic.Having had to do more to get a license than fill out a form, pay a fee and demonstrate the ability to reverse park enhances life on the road more than anyone who has had the misfortune of knowing only Australian driving could understand.Another refreshing contrast, especially in Italy, is that the sight of something a bit special on the road occasions not middle digits raised and barked abuse, but unfettered joy. There’s a mutual respect among road users.By dismal contrast we’ve accepted a state of affairs in which we can drive legally at a rate that’s slower than in Dad’s day, despite cars that, while faster, are incomparably safer.We meekly accept without a word of protest fixed speed cameras despite overwhelming evidence that these do absolutely nothing to contain the road toll and the sure knowledge that they raise hundreds of millions of dollars. And then we obediently vote the very same crowd back in.  Perhaps worse than being such authority worshipping jellyfish, few of us take responsibility for ourselves and those who drive with us by seeking the expert tuition that driving any sort of vehicle by definition requires. We don’t hafta so we’re not gunna.Actually, even the Sirion is too good for us.  

While a rose by any other name is supposed to smell as sweet, there's a whiff of weird to some of the bizarre car names manufacturers dream up.The Mum 500 is far from being the only example of what an obviously fevered marketing brain thinks might be an attractive label.Joining it in the cheery Mitsubishi family was the Chariot Happy, while Suzuki has also dipped into the smiley juice with the Every Joy Pop Turbo. Honda launched a Joy Machine and Toyota had the Estima Lucida G Luxury Joyful Canopy.Was it an after-effect of the ubiquitous smiley symbol? Or could a hint to what was in the water cooler at the time be found in the hippie-flavoured Mitsubishi Mini Active Urban Sandal?Human body parts have also been an inspiration and an indiscretion. There was the innocuous Nissan Big Thumb and Ford Synus and Daihatsu's revealing Naked.Mitsubishi's blunder with Pajero (Spanish for err, self-pleasure) was matched by Honda's Fitta and Opel's Ascona, words for female genitalia in Swedish and Spanish.Spanish also offered pitfalls for Mazda's La Puta, translated as “the prostitute”, while Toyota's Fiera was “hideous old crone”.The light commercial segment also tried to enhance a vehicle's utilitarian base with an expressive name. You can understand the thinking behind Mazda Bongo Brawny and perhaps even Bongo Friendee and Mitsubishi Canter Guts. But Isuzu takes it to peculiar extremes with the Giga 20 Light Dump.But no matter what language you try to translate them into, others are simply incomprehensible and illogical, like the Suzuki Van Van.