The Daihatsu Kopen is a 2-door convertible kei car built by the Japanese car company Daihatsu. It debuted at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show, as the Daihatsu Copen concept. The second generation model debuted as the Kopen (Future Included) at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show.
First generation (L880; 2002)
The Copen was originally designed with a 660 cc
Turbocharger engine in order to meet Japanese
kei car regulations. However, since this engine did not meet environmental emissions standards in several other countries, the Copen was fitted with a more powerful but cleaner 1.3-litre, naturally aspirated engine in these markets since October 2007. Styling was inspired by the
Nissan Figaro and
Audi TT Roadster.
The leading characteristic of this model was the active top, a motorized hide-away hard roof. However, between 2002 and 2007 there existed a variation with a detachable top. This version was about 30 kg lighter than the regular model.
The Copen was never built with left-hand-drive for the first four model years (2002-2005). The right-hand-drive Copen with the smaller 660cc engine was officially sold in Germany and some European countries from 2003 to 2005.
The Copen has been featured on the UK show Top Gear where James May attempted to find the best convertible car. The contestants were the Mercedes-Benz CLK, Audi A4, Citroën C3 Pluriel, Volkswagen New Beetle, and the Copen. May loved the Copen, but he had one small problem: it felt "toy-ish".
On 13 January 2011, Daihatsu announced that it would withdraw the Copen from the European market in 2011 due to the increasing strength of the Japanese Yen and sharp decline in sales from 2006 to 2011.
File:Daihatsu Copen 008.JPG|Rear view
File:Daihatsu OFC1.JPG|OFC-1 at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show
File:Copeninterior.jpg|Interior
Second generation (LA400; 2014)
Less than one year after the car's discontinuation, Daihatsu announced the Copen would be returning to production with a new model.
At the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, Daihatsu unveiled two Copen concept cars called the
Kopen, with the tagline "Future Included".
The name "Kopen" was a combination of
kei class car, and "open" for convertible roadster. The spelling was changed from "k" to "c" for "convertible". Production of the new model was announced on June 19, 2014.
The Copen has been restyled to be more angular than its predecessor with a new monocoque chassis structure called a D-Frame. The structure allows owners to select the interior and exterior design of the car according to their preferences.
For the Gran Turismo Sport video game, a specially tuned model called the Daihatsu Copen RJ Vision Gran Turismo was included as part of the series' Vision Gran Turismo program of concept cars.
The Copen Robe was officially exported to Indonesia and sold between 2015 and 2019.
Copen Cero
In 2015, Daihatsu launched the Copen Cero; with its round headlights and taillights it is similar in form to the first-generation model.
Copen Coupe
At the 2019 Tokyo Auto Salon, Daihatsu unveiled the Copen Coupe, a fixed-roof coupé version of the Copen Cero. The CFRP roof features an optional sunroof. Standard features include a Momo leather wrapped steering wheel, limited-slip differential, BBS aluminum wheels, and serialized plates on the centre console. Options include a sports muffler and HKS suspension. Daihatsu produced a limited run of 200 units in April 2019 to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the second generation Copen.
Copen GR Sport
The Copen GR Sport went on sale on October 15, 2019. It is sold under both Daihatsu and
Toyota dealership networks (as the Toyota Copen GR Sport).
This variant neither carries a Daihatsu nor Toyota logo, a neutral oval-shaped 'C' Copen logo is used instead for the front and rear badging. The Copen GR Sport gets sporty exterior looks with BBS wheels, a Momo-branded steering wheel and a specially tuned suspension for body rigidity.
Gallery
File:Daihatsu COPEN Robe (L400K) rear.JPG|Copen Robe rear view
Daihatsu COPEN XPLAY (LA400K) front.JPG|Daihatsu Copen XPLAY
Daihatsu COPEN XPLAY (LA400K) rear.jpg|Copen XPLAY rear view
File:Daihatsu Copen Cero.jpg|Daihatsu Copen Cero
File:Daihatsu Copen Cero rear.jpg|Copen Cero rear view
File:Osaka Auto Messe 2019 (159) - Daihatsu COPEN Coupe (DBA-LA400K-KMPZ).jpg|Daihatsu Copen Coupe
File:Osaka Auto Messe 2019 (163) - Daihatsu COPEN GR SPORT CONEPT.jpg|Daihatsu Copen GR Sport
2019–2021 Daihatsu Copen GR Sport in Black Mica Metallic, rear left.jpg|Copen GR Sport (rear view)
Toyota COPEN GR SPORT (3BA-LA400A) front.jpg|Toyota Copen GR Sport
File:Daihatsu Copen Robe interior.jpg|Copen Robe interior
Daihatsu Copen Cero interior.jpg|Copen Cero interior
File:Osaka Motor Show 2013 (76) Daihatsu KOPEN FUTURE INCLUDED.JPG|Daihatsu Kopen RMZ Concept
File:Osaka Motor Show 2013 (75) Daihatsu KOPEN FUTURE INCLUDED.JPG|Daihatsu Kopen XMZ Concept
Specifications
2002–2012 Japanese and international markets
- JB-DETi engine
-
0.66L (659 cc) 16 valves turbo DOHC 4 cylinder
-
Power — @ 6000 rpm
-
Power — @ 6000 rpm for UK market
-
Torque — @ 3200 rpm
-
Torque — for UK market
-
Top speed — UK version (MT)
-
Top speed — Japanese version (MT)
-
Top speed — UK version (AT)
-
Top speed — Japanese version (AT)
-
Combined fuel consumption —
-
0–62 mph time — 11.7s (MT)
2006–2011 international markets, not available in Japan
- K3-VE engine
-
1.3L DVVT engine DOHC 16 valve
-
Power — @ 6000 rpm
-
Torque — @ 4400 rpm
-
Top speed — (MT)
-
Top speed — (AT)
-
Combined fuel consumption —
-
0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) time — 9.5s (MT)
2014 Japanese market model
- KF engine
- Transmission
-
Manual — KPMZ 5-speed with ratios 3.181, 1.842, 1.250, 0.916, and 0.750. Final reduction, 5.545. Tires: 165/50R16.
-
Automatic — KBPZ CVT with ratio 3.327 to 0.628. Final reduction, 4.800. Tires: 165/50R16.
- Body
-
Layout — Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
-
Weight — 850 kg (MT) or 870 kg (AT)
-
Wheelbase —
Vision Copen (2023)
The Vision Copen is a
rear-wheel-drive concept car showcased at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show. According to Daihatsu, it is powered by a
carbon-neutral 1.3-litre engine.
Sales
Prior to its release, Daihatsu sets monthly sales target for the Copen at 500 units. The Copen managed to exceed its target in the first five annual sale years. However, it underperformed in the later years, except in 2015.
+
!Year
!Japan |
| 2002 | 6,248 |
| 2003 | 10,838 |
| 2004 | 7,138 |
| 2005 | 6,410 |
| 2006 | 6,190 |
| 2007 | 5,703 |
| 2008 | 5,997 |
| 2009 | 3,322 |
| 2010 | 2,490 |
| 2011 | 2,006 |
| 2012 | 1,979 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 5,691 |
| 2015 | 7,274 |
| 2016 | 5,152 |
| 2017 | 2,853 |
| 2018 | 3,170 |
| 2019 | 3,822 |
| 2020 | 2,829 |
| 2021 | 3,454 |
| 2022 | 4,793 |
| 2023 | 4,655 |
| 2024 | 2,776 |
External links
