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 Geneva Motor Show is also known as the Salon International de l’Auto. Each year in March, auto aficionados, car makers, auto journalists, and just about everybody in the auto industry all trudge up to the city of Geneva in Switzerland. You see, this auto show is one of the largest gatherings of everybody in the industry.
For years, this auto show has showcased almost all kinds of vehicles and automobiles. It has also been the place wherein great vehicles have been unveiled. It has also become the venue for the boasting of automakers of tons of concept vehicles and production vehicles.
This year, it does look like the Geneva Auto Show has gone with what the auto industry is clamoring for and they are going to be dwelling on green vehicles, green techniques, and everything environment friendly that could be used in the industry. And journalists are saying that such can be because the auto makers themselves are making the move towards creating greener vehicles that would battle out the pollution issue that has been quite hot in the past few months.
It sure does look like the Geneva Auto Show is going green. In fact, at the days meant for the media, the organizers of the show did state that they would be looking into new vehicle models that are greener as well as looking into new green technologies. “This time we will have an environmental show in Geneva,” shares Willi Dietz. Dietz is an expert from the Nuertingen University of Germany and he looks into the trends going in the car industry. So most possibly, if a vehicle can be equipped with tail lights or catalytic converters that would not add to the pollution or the additional heat to the environment, most auto makers would be going for such.
What vehicles would possibly be joining in the show? It does look like the Toyota Motor Corporation would be joining in with its new concept car named the Hybrid X and this one is said to come using an electric motor and would be getting its power from a battery. Honda would also be showing off a new concept vehicle that comes as a hybrid sports car. Daihatsu would also be showing of its environment friendly small car named the Cuore.
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.
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