The Daihatsu Copen, a 2-door roadster model from the Japanese car manufacturer is poised to arrive in dealer showrooms all over the United Kingdom. Although the Daihatsu Copen is exclusively sold for the Japanese Kei-car market, UK-based Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited convinced the Japanese automaker to revamp some of the vehicle's components including the small engine with only 660 cc displacement to adapt in the European vehicle standards.
In addition, to comply with the European Whole Vehicle Type Approval, Daihatsu equipped the Copen with a larger 1.3 litre petrol engine that now pumps out an additional 19 hp and a 14.5 lb.-ft. increase of peak torque, for a total of 86 hp at 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 88.5 lb ft at 4,400 rpm. Daihatsu said the Copen offers an improved fuel efficiency and low fuel consumption rate, thanks to the advance engine systems like Dynamic Variable Valve Timing (DVVT) which enhances low-speed pulling power, the compact twin overhead camshaft unit equipped with alloy head and block. Moreover, the Daihatsu Copen also comes with the first ever self regenerating catalytic converter made palladium, the most heat sensitive material used in catalytic converters. As a result, the catalytic converter has the ability to regenerate and prolong its function in reducing CO2 exhaust emission coming out from the Daihatsu Copen.
With the new engine, the Daihatsu Copen can now sprint from 0 to 62 mph time in just 9.5 seconds, about 2 seconds faster than the previous 660 cc engine. The Copen roadster can reach an electronically limited full throttle speed of 112 mph.
According to Paul Tunnicliffe, Daihatsu Managing Director, "We are all car enthusiasts here at Daihatsu and were instrumental in bringing the original model to market in the UK. With this lively new engine and a highly competitive price, we are delighted not only to have a 'halo' model in our range but to be able to offer fellow enthusiasts such a characterful and affordable fun car."
The revised Daihatsu Copen for the UK market received several facelift from the Japanese automaker. The small car retains its sporty and compact body styling with a rounded design. Compared to VW Fox parts like the trapezoidal headlamps, The Daihatsu Copen gets oval shaped headlamps as well as oval shaped rear lamps. The small rear boot spoiler is one of the new features of the vehicle. Of course, the Daihatsu Copen still features the electronically operated folding hard top roof made of lightweight aluminum.
Inside, the new Daihatsu Copen is equipped with standard safety components including front seats with pretensioners and force limiters, twin front airbags, dual side-impact door beams, Auto-locking restraints (ALR), and reinforced front side-members and front sub-frame. In addition, passive safety systems are also standard like twin roll-over bars, anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), and Daihatsu's impact-sensing system.
The Daihatsu Copen 1.3-liter will roll out in UK dealerships carrying a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of 10,995 British pounds or about $21,636 USD.
The vehicles have been chosen. The votes have been cast. The total has been counted. And now the winners have been announced.
Cars.com is one of the most trusted online sites which allow users to learn more about vehicles, auto parts, tips, techniques, and trends in the auto industry. As a way of giving back, the editors of the website decided to give awards to vehicles which have been popular and which are superb that they deserve accolades. The list of winners would also allow consumers to learn more about what are the best vehicles in the market and these winners have been carefully chosen by the editors of the web site.
Patrick Olsen is the managing editor for the site and he disclosed, “The Lifestyle Buying Guide and the Cars.com Lifestyle Awards recognize that different consumers need different things from their cars. Our Lifestyle Buying Guide lets shoppers search for cars across categories, comparing everything from trucks and SUVs to minivans and sedans. With so many choices on today’s market, and more features and options to consider, many consumers don’t know whether they want an SUV, a crossover or a sedan. Cars.com is providing them with the tools they need to cross-shop the SUV against the minivan against the crossover.”
The Lifestyle Awards winners for 2008 from Cars.com include the 2008 Mazda CX-9 which took home the Family Car of the Year title. With large crossovers taking the place that used to belong to minivans, the Mazda CX-9 proves to be the best of the lot. It comes with a really good cabin and it has a really powerful engine that would allow the vehicle to speed to its destination despite having quite a number of cargo and passengers inside. The seats have also been made to be comfortable so as to have Mom having to deal less with whining children because they have gotten uncomfortable in the back.
Cars.com also did not choose vehicles just because they came with a good reputation. The editors did choose the vehicles as per reviews and tests and statistics that they have collected on the automobiles in the market. It seems that vehicles with Daihatsu parts have not been included in the list of winners for there are not any new Daihatsu vehicles in the market as of present. The 2008 Honda Accord did take home the Work Car of the Year title, the 2008 BMW 335i Convertible was named the Play Car of the Year, and the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid was chosen as the Eco-Friendly Car of the Year.
The automotive world is not just an arena where auto manufacturers and its minions of vehicles would battle it out to get the most amount of share. Plus, it is also not just a place where these contenders try to defeat everybody else by being the most popular, the most spectacular, or the most sought after. In fact, this world is not just about who gets to sell the most number of Daihatsu car parts or who gets to take home the most number of awards. You see, the auto world is not just about fame, power, and fortune.
One perfect example that the auto world also deviates from what we think it to be would be one vehicle. This vehicle is an Xtreme Subaru WRX and it was donated by the Santa Monica Subaru arm. Later on, it was customized by Al and Ed’s Autosound. What is quite so interesting about this one is that this Xtreme Suabru WRX was auctioned off and all of the proceeds were actually given to children who were struck with life threatening medical diseases in the Los Angeles area. It was the Make A Wish Foundation which made sure that the money went to the right recipients.
So who bought the vehicle? It was Leon Rotella who had become the highest bidder for the customized Xtreme Subaru WRX. During a special event, the Make A Wish Foundation would be handing over the keys to Rotella. And in exchange, the organization would be receiving a check from the highest bidder plus it would also be receiving a check from three groups – Al & Ed’s Autosound, the Subaru arm in Santa Monica, and Free-FM.
The Xtreme Subaru WRX was auctioned off online and Rotella was the highest bidder when he offered $26,000 for the whole machine. It was actually just right for Rotella when he did mention that while he was thinking of purchasing the vehicle, his thoughts were that the proceeds would all be benefiting those who really do need the money most – children who were struck down with diseases.
You can catch the event on the 30th of November at the LA Auto Show.
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