- Daihatsu K-Open debuted as a pint-sized roadster concept in Japan.
- Reimagines Copen with sportier design cues and a minimalist cabin.
- The production model keeps kei size with a front-engine RWD setup.
Daihatsu has announced that the Copen will end production next year, news that struck a chord with fans of the plucky little kei car. Yet, only weeks later, the company eased the sting with a surprise debut at the Japan Mobility Show, a concept that seems ready to inherit the Copen’s spirit.
The K-Open concept holds on to the compact proportions that defined the original Copen, setting it apart from the larger, Miata-sized Vision Copen shown in 2023.
Daihatsu has also confirmed an internal combustion engine and rear-wheel-drive setup, a combination that hints at livelier handling than the front-driven versions of the past.
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Visually, the concept is clearly inspired by the original Copen with a clean retro-modern design. The front end features oval-shaped headlights and a more aggressive bumper. The vents on the hood and the front fenders enhance the sporty appeal, as with the sexier curves on the rear fenders and the central exhaust pipe.
The exposed two-seater interior is a testament to minimalism. There’s no infotainment screen in sight, only a curved digital instrument display tucked behind a three-spoke steering wheel.
The dashboard and center console follow clean horizontal lines, accented with metal trim and a handful of touch-sensitive controls that suggest a lightweight, uncluttered ethos.
Most of the interior surfaces appear to be covered in Alcantara, with the heavy-bolstered seats upholstered in some kind of special fabric.
What stands out is the gear selector, which looks like a manual shifter even though only two pedals are visible. Then again, these are renderings, so it’s possible someone simply overlooked the pedal layout. Rounding out the details are a classic handbrake and slim fabric straps in place of conventional door handles.
Fun To Drive Kei Car
While the specifications were not revealed, Daihatsu says it stays true to the Copen’s mission of bringing “the excitement than only a kei car can provide”.
Daihatsu hasn’t revealed specifications yet but insists the model stays faithful to the Copen’s purpose of delivering “the excitement that only a kei car can provide.” Regulations limit the engine to 660 cc, though a turbocharger is likely on board to boost performance. Combined with the car’s light weight and rear-drive layout, those figures suggest engaging dynamics despite modest power.
Toyota President and CEO, Koji Sato, said: “It might be hard to convey how amazing it is, but achieving rear-wheel drive in a front-engine car with such a compact body is truly incredible. You need to place the engine low, carefully package the transmission and propeller shaft, and design the pedal layout so that everything fits perfectly into this body.”
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He went on to note that chairman Akio Toyoda will be “breaking the Copen a lot” in his role as Daihatsu’s master driver. Sato admitted that developing such a car is demanding but added he “can’t wait to see what kind of car this Copen will be like.”
Daihatsu hasn’t shared a launch timeline for the next-generation Copen, but its arrival seems inevitable within the next few years. The current model’s production run will conclude in August 2026.
