Daihatsu’s lineup for the upcoming Japan Mobility Show 2023 will run the gamut from sporty cars to utilitarian vehicles, but they have one thing in common: They’re all adorable. And we mean that as a compliment, because the brand—and Japanese carmakers, in general—have really mastered the balancing act between cutesy looks and superb functionality for their kei cars.
Daihatsu’s exhibit theme for the show is ‘staying close to our customers and enriching their lives.’ Perhaps that sounds more succinct and less awkward in Japanese, but the concepts previewed here are not the least bit awkward-looking. Here’s what Daihatsu will be showcasing at its Tokyo display.Nothing like a boxy little kei car to put a smile on your face, right? The me:MO is a battery electric vehicle —one of four that Daihatsu will launch at the show.
The Osanpo is 3,395mm long, 1,475mm wide, and 1,330mm tall, with a 2,440mm wheelbase. It rides higher than what is sportily ideal, so despite the super-compact footprint and very short overhangs, this does seem better suited to slower-paced journeys.The Copen is one of the most recognizable and beloved kei cars in the automotive world. We remember being positively chuffed when a GR Sport version came out in 2019—and the despair that followed when we realized we’ll likely never get to own one.
The Vision Copen follows the rounder, more cartoonish look of the first generation, as opposed to taking the direction of the current model, which looks like a child indignantly trying to prove it’s all tough and grown up. The engine listed in the press release is a 1,300cc unit powering the rear wheels. That’s bigger than the standard 660cc for kei cars, but Copens sold outside of Japan in the 2000s were powered by a 1.3-liter engine.
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