DAIHATSU

Daihatsu K-Open & Daihatsu K-Vision

Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. is showcasing several new products at the Tokyo Motor Show, including a concept for a small roadster called the K-Open.

Production of the current Daihatsu Copen will end in August 2026, but the K-Open concept reveals what its successor will look like.

Toyota CEO and President Koji Sato revealed that Chairman Akio Toyoda will take on the role of “driving and breaking the Copen a lot” during development and testing. Daihatsu hasn’t confirmed whether the new model will continue to meet kei car regulations or grow into a larger vehicle.

The K-Open is described as a vehicle that allows people to enjoy open-air driving, in the form of a lightweight and affordable two-seater that features a low center of gravity and optimal weight distribution.

Daihatsu hasn’t disclosed what’s under the hood, but the outgoing Copen uses a 0.66-liter three-cylinder turbo engine rated at 63 horsepower. Modest as that figure sounds, it’s enough given the car’s light 1,874-pound (850-kilogram) curb weight with a manual transmission. The earlier Vision concept featured a larger 1.3-liter engine, presumably with more power, but sadly paired with an automatic transmission.

The car uses a new platform with rear-wheel drive, while retaining all three pedals. However, specific technical details have not been announced.

The original Copen arrived in 2002 with a two-door body and an electrically folding hardtop, which was a first in the kei car segment. Production ended in 2012, while the second generation arrived in 2014. This version introduced sharper styling and modular body panels, while remaining within the kei dimensions. 

In 2019, the Copen GR Sport also appeared, with a tuned chassis and sportier design details. Now, after more than a decade on sale, the curtain is slowly coming down on this generation, but a new generation is clearly already on the way.

Autonews