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Tokyo 2011: Daihatsu to debut D-X sports car concept

November 14, 2011 at 3:01 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Cars, Daihatsu


Daihatsu will be bringing this D-X sports car concept to the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, a machine that the small car experts bills as a “proposition for a new aesthetic of sports car that exerts a one-of-a-kind presence”. They’re calling the D-X “a new kind of a sports car”, we’re thinking of a new kind of Copen!

Among the unique features of the D-X (for d-cross) is a resin-based body that allows owners to enjoy a multitude of variations, according to Daihatsu. It’s seen here with some “4X4 style” body cladding normally seen or superminis and MPVs, but rarely sports cars. We presume that the black stuff can be taken off by owners for a more conventional look, as and when they please. Not seen here, but Daihatsu says the interior is “spartan feeling”.

Under the hood is a two-cylinder engine with direct-injection and turbo, said to strike a balance between the joy of driving and fuel-efficiency. No more details, but read more on Daihatsu’s planned two-pot engine in our previous post here.

The company adds that the D-X offers a driving experience with that “sense of oneness between person and vehicle that only a compact car can provide” a line that’s not too unlike Mazda’s Jinba Ittai message for the MX-5.

A future affordable sports car for the rakyat via Perodua?

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Daihatsu Mira e:S launched in Japan – 30km/l on this one

September 22, 2011 at 1:06 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Daihatsu, International News

Daihatsu has thrown its latest Kei car contender into the fray, with the introduction of the Mira e:S in Japan. The minicar, which reinterpretates the three-door e:S Concept of two years ago into a five-door form, is available in both two- and four-wheel drive guise domestically, with four level variants (G, X, L and D) for the former and two (Gf and Xf) for the latter.

All versions wear the same KF transverse three-cylinder twin-cam 658 cc mill, offering 52 PS at 6,800 rpm and 60 Nm at 5,200 rpm, mated to a CVT transmission. The company is touting the car’s fuel economy as its biggest selling point – claimed figures for the 2WD version on the new JC08 mode test cycle is a healthy 30km per litre (and on the older 10-15 mode, 32 km per litre), close to hybrid territory.

Features on the 730 kg vehicle (790 kg for the 4WD versions), which is 60 kg lighter than the old Mira, include a pre-stop idle reduction system, and all the models wear 14-inch wheels and 155/65 profile rubbers; there are optional Sporty and Premium interior/exterior dress-up packs available for the car, as well as what is tagged an “earth colour interior.”

Domestically, Daihatsu is ambitiously aiming at moving 10,000 units of the Mira e:S per month in the first year, according to reports, and says that it will apply the technology used for the e:S to other models and vehicles produced overseas, including that in Indonesia, which was where the Daihatsu A-Concept was introduced in July, at the IIMS.
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Next generation Perodua Viva wishful thinking rendering based on 2011 Daihatsu A-Concept

August 10, 2011 at 12:06 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Daihatsu, Feature Stories, Malaysian Makes, Perodua

Remember the lime green Daihatsu A-Concept that was showcased at the Indonesia International Motor Show earlier this year?

It was a concept car developed with the involvement of Indonesians with the technical support of Daihatsu Japan. They were pretty vague about what segment the A-Concept was competing in though – it looked a little bigger than a typical A-segment car, but it had a lower roofline than a typical JDM B-segment tall hatchback like the Myvi – shaped more like a Fiesta or Mazda 2.

Imagine if the Daihatsu A-Concept was toned down for production and given a Perodua badge for sale in Malaysia – that’s what Theophilus Chin sought to achieve with his latest image manipulation project.

The A-Concept was given production side mirrors, a rear wiper, door handles, mud guards, a more production-looking rear light cluster, a hatch-mounted number plate holder (as with all Perodua cars), body colored roof and A pillars, and a revised front to carry a look similar to the new Myvi’s face. It’s colour was also given the popular bluish grey Perodua paint.

What do you think – do you like it?

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Daihatsu Sirion launched at IIMS – it’s a Perodua Myvi!

July 23, 2011 at 4:51 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under 2011 Indonesian International Motor Show, 2011 Perodua Myvi, Cars, Daihatsu, Malaysian Makes, Perodua

PT Astra Daihatsu Motor has launched its latest model at the Indonesian International Motor Show (IIMS) 2011 with with plenty of song and dance (not Bollywood, but Party Rock Anthem!). Readers of this website would have already known that the Sirion is a rebadged 2011 Perodua Myvi, and that the car is built in Malaysia and exported to Indonesia – we caught a trailer of Daihatsu badged Myvis heading to a port in June.

Now that we’ve seen and touched it in the metal, we can confirm that the Sirion is identical to the Myvi save for Daihatsu badges on the front, rear and steering wheel, which is a basic looking three-spoke unit (I prefer Perodua’s wheel). There’s also a “VVT-i” badge at the rear, which is DVVT for us, although the new Myvi doesn’t have badges for that.

Of the three variants we have in Malaysia (Standard, Premium, Elegance), PT Astra chose the mid-spec Premium, which has standard features such as Optitron MID, Bluetooth, USB and MP3 functions, power retractable wing mirrors and 14in alloys, among other kit.

According to Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, who looked relax blending in with the crowd instead of being on stage, PT Astra is looking at importing the top spec Elegance model at a later stage. For now, it’s the Premium with a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual. It was revealed that PT Astra is targeting sales of 500 units per month – not much, but still much more than the 100 units or so per month rate of the previous Sirion, which was also from Perodua. The majority seller will be the manual variant.

Priced at 139,500,000 to 150,500,000 rupiah (RM48,715 to RM52,556), the Sirion is costlier than basic versions of the Xenia, which is Daihatsu’s version of the 7-seat Toyota Avanza. This ties in with the relatively small 500 units per month and the more “premium positioning” of the Sirion in Indonesia.

The Sirion is also being launched in various locations throughout Indonesia today. Live gallery from IIMS after the jump.
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Daihatsu planning 2 cylinder direct injection turbo engine

July 23, 2011 at 3:50 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under 2011 Indonesian International Motor Show, Cars, Daihatsu

Daihatsu displayed a cut-through model of its upcoming 2 cylinder turbocharged direct injection engine enclosed in a glass case at the 2011 Indonesian International Motor Show, which is the “second stage” in its green technology road map.

The first stage is its eco-idle technology, which includes an i-EGR system to reduce emissions and enhance combustion, and a eco-IDLE system which turns the engine on and of automatically to help save fuel during heavy traffic conditions.

According to Daihatsu, the first stage has already been implemented in existing cars like the latest generation Daihatsu Move, and the car that it is expected to launch in September 2011 will also have it. The third stage involves replacing the combustion engine with a fuel cell, which is quite suitable for the kind of city cars Daihatsu makes.

Daihatsu does not reveal much about the two cylinder turbocharged direct injection engine except that it will have a low displacement and will be 30% more fuel efficient than existing Daihatsu engines.

But clues to the specs of this engine can be found in something Perodua managing director Datuk Aminar Rashid last year at the KLIMS 2010. He revealed the target specs for the engine to be 660cc in displacement – 330cc per cylinder, producing 63 horsepower at 4,500rpm and 100Nm of torque from 1,500rpm up to 4,000rpm.

These small 660cc turbocharged engines are really not unusual at all to Daihatsu or pretty much anyone else who participates in the JDM K-Car market. Daihatsu currently has a 658cc engine making 64 PS at 6,400rpm and 92Nm at 4,000rpm. Even Honda who has not toyed with turbocharged engines much in its world cars has a 660cc i-DSI turbo with 64hp and 93Nm in Japan.

But there’s quite a difference between the existing 660cc turbo engines in Japan and this upcoming Daihatsu engine. For one, the JDM engines are all 3 cylinder engines, while this new engine is a 2 cylinder. And if Datuk Aminar Rashid’s quoted specs come true, the planned 2 cylinder will also makes its peak power and torque at much earlier RPMs – 4,500rpm and 1,500rpm compared to the existing breed which only produce its peak power and torque at 6,400rpm and 4,000rpm respectively.

Look after the jump for photos we snapped of the cut-through two cylinder model.
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VIDEO: A 360 degree look at the Daihatsu A-Concept

July 23, 2011 at 1:24 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under 2011 Indonesian International Motor Show, Cars, Daihatsu, Daihatsu A Concept

It’s the first public day of the 2011 Indonesia International Motor Show, and the first thing we did when we got here was take a high resolution video of the Daihatsu A-Concept on display at the Daihatsu exhibition. Enjoy a closer look at the A-Concept in motion.

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IIMS: Daihatsu A-Concept – by Indonesia, for the world

July 22, 2011 at 7:45 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under 2011 Indonesian International Motor Show, Cars, Daihatsu, Daihatsu A Concept, Feature Stories, International News

Daihatsu has unveiled its latest concept car at the 2011 Indonesian International Motor Show – the Daihatsu A-Concept, which includes the involvement of Indonesians with the support of Daihatsu Japan.

After learning the name of the concept car from the scale model we photographed and featured earlier today, we had initially thought that the letter A in the name meant an A-segment vehicle. While this could still be (or not be) the fact, the official explanation for the letter A is that it represents the first letter in the alphabet and thus signifies the start of a new life for Indonesian society.

According to PT Astra Daihatsu Motor president Sudirman MR, there are currently a group of personnel from his company transferred to Japan for the purpose of knowledge transfer, covering various fields from car design down to production.

And there’s also the fact that Sudirman MR has been recently appointed to the board of directors of Daihatsu Motor Company, firmly cementing Indonesia’s importance in Daihatsu’s plans for the future. Indonesia is being used as the launch (and possibly production) hub for this car, much like India was the center for the concept and production of the Suzuki A-Star/Alto.

This car may very well be a preview for the upcoming affordable and economical car capable of 30km/l that Daihatsu plans to launch. Or it may be not, but from the way the car was presented, this is something that Daihatsu really wants to put into production.

We are guessing that Daihatsu Japan will be introducing the next generation Mira this September, since it has already been five years since the current generation was launched (end 2006). Daihatsu is likely to style the new JDM Mira according to quirky Japanese tastes, but perhaps the design of this A-Concept will be used to create an ASEAN/world version of the car, just like how there is a separate JDM Passo/Boon design for Japan and a Myvi/Sirion design for Malaysia and Indonesia.

Look after the jump for a full photo gallery of the A-Concept.
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Daihatsu to launch car capable of 30km/l in September 2011

July 22, 2011 at 5:51 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Daihatsu


Daihatsu e:S Concept – previewed in 2009

Daihatsu has revealed that it will be launching an affordable and fuel efficient car as near as September 2011, which is just a few months away. The new car will be Daihatsu’s most fuel efficient car as well as its most affordable car, helping save you money in terms of both purchase cost and running cost. The entry price to purchase will be as low as 800,000 yen (RM30,400) and the car is claimed to have a fuel economy of 30 km per litre – which is one of the highest fuel economy claims for a non-hybrid vehicle so far.

Daihatsu’s 30 km/l mileage claim (on the JC08 mode) is achieved through a set of technologies and processes that Daihatsu collectively calls “e:S Technology”, or Energy Saving Technology. We first heard the term e:S when Daihatsu displayed a very small concept car called the e:S Concept (shown above) at a past Tokyo motorshow.

e:S mainly tackles three areas to produce an increased fuel economy – the powertrain, the vehicle construction, and energy management. Basically, you optimize the source of the power, what the source needs to move, as well as how efficiently the vehicle uses the power produced.

In terms of powertrain improvements, Daihatsu has upped the engine’s compression ratio to 11.3:1 from 10.8:1. They’ve also used new improved injectors that can spray smaller particles for better combustion. There’s also a new “i-EGR” system which uses EGR to reduce pumping losses. There are a host of 11 other improvements which improve general efficiency such as a reduction in chain tension by cutting the chain width, a tension reduction in the piston rings and modification of the oil seal. And finally, there’s an electronic throttle body made of a lightweight resin.

The engine is mated with a CVT transmission that has also received design modifications to improve efficiency. There are a total of 8 improvements which include the use of a high efficiency oil pump and lowering the CVT control pressure. The gear ratio has also been optimised to lower engine load. The CVT works hand in hand with the input from the electronic throttle to optimize the gear ratio for the best fuel economy.

In terms of vehicle construction improvement, Daihatsu says they have identified ways to achieve a weight reduction of 60 kg – in comparison to a Daihatsu Mira 2WD with CVT transmission. This comparison leads me to believe this vehicle may in fact be the preview for a future Daihatsu Mira (eventually Perodua Viva hopefully?).


Daihatsu A Concept – previews 30km/l car styling?

Lightening of the chassis alone contributes to 30 kg, or half of the total weight shaved, thanks to revision to the layout of frame components, the redesign of many components to be a straight in form as possible to reduce the need for reinforcements, and a more effective layout of high tensile steel plates.

The other 30 kg in weight savings have been achieved via redesigning the way the interior parts are made, such as reducing the thickness of the instrument panel and door trims. The CVT transmission’s idle reduction unit has also gone on a diet – using thinner walls for the CVT case, an aluminum oil pump cover and an aluminum planetary carrier, and the introduction of an integrated molding for the secondary sensing gear and the piston.

As with any vehicle with eco ambitions, e:S Technology also employs tyres with low rolling resistance. The entire body is also designed to be more aerodynamic via CAE simulation and wind tunnel testing. The layout of the openings in the bumper and air cleaner ducts have been optimised and the air flow pattern has been improved for better thermal management.

The car’s alternator intelligently boosts power generation during vehicle slowdown – the battery has also been modified to more efficiently handle the increased input during drive situations where the alternator decides it’s a good time to use engine braking time to recharge the battery. The alternator works the other way as well – it cuts power generation by decoupling its clutch during normal operation and acceleration, helping free the engine from the alternator’s parasitic drag.

Daihatsu says this new car will be the world’s first vehicle equipped with a CVT transmission that has “pre-stop idle reduction”. What it basically does it to take the automatic start-stop feature that has been making its way into many cars a step further – now the engine is shut off even while coasting to a stop. The engine will shut off when vehicle speed reduces to 7 km/h or less. Naturally for any automatic transmission to work with the engine off, modifications has to be made – so the CVT now uses an oil pump that is not driven by the motor.

The new Daihatsu A Concept set be unveiling this evening might just showcase how this new compact car due for a September 2011 launch will look like. We certainly hope these technologies will eventually trickle down for usage in Perodua cars.

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Daihatsu A Concept scale model – is this the new 30km/l concept car for IIMS?

July 22, 2011 at 12:56 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under 2011 Indonesian International Motor Show, Cars, Daihatsu

As we mentioned yesterday, Daihatsu’s latest concept compact car is due for unveiling at the 2011 Indonesian International Motor Show today, but the press conference is only scheduled for 5pm today so the car is still covered up.

However, we found this little scale model tucked away in some corner of exhibition – model called the “A Concept” that we’ve yet to see before. This should be the car that Daihatsu will be unveiling later today.

Look after the jump for the rest of the pix of the scale model.
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LIVE from Jakarta: Daihatsu to give small car concept a world debut tomorrow, watch this space for updates!

July 21, 2011 at 7:26 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under 2011 Indonesian International Motor Show, Cars, Daihatsu, Daihatsu A Concept, International News, Spyshots


Click to enlarge

Greetings from Jakarta, where we will bring you live coverage from the 2011 Indonesian International Motor Show (IIMS). The press day is tomorrow, one day before the gates are open to the public, but in the process of collecting our press cards this afternoon, we stumbled on what should be the star of the show – a world debut concept car by Daihatsu.

This small car brand is big in Indonesia, and it will have three main exhibits at IIMS. One is the launch of the new Sirion, which readers of this blog will know is a new Perodua Myvi with Daihatsu badges. The Toyota controlled brand will also preview its upcoming tech that focuses on fuel efficiency, appropriate for a maker of affordable small cars. The other big news is this concept car, which we snapped under wraps.


Click to enlarge

You know all about the new Myvi already, so let’s jump to the other stuff. Last week, Daihatsu announced its “e:S Technology” (Energy Saving Technology) initiatives, which comprise improvements to the powertrain, chassis and energy management systems. For engines, maximising combustion efficiency is the goal, and things like upping compression ratio (from 10.8 to 11.3) and creating a finer spray for the fuel particles are talked about.

An i-EGR system and reducing mechanical losses are also in the plan. For transmissions, Daihatsu has an improved CVT gearbox. Coupled with measures such as “pre-stop idle reduction” (shuts off engine below 7 km/h) and regenerative braking, e:S Technology is aiming for 40% better fuel efficiency in a new model due to be released in September this year. The target is 30 km/l in the JC08 mode and a starting price of below 800,000 yen (RM30,400).


Click to enlarge

We’re not sure if the model with all this e:S goodness will be the production version of tomorrow’s world debut concept. What we know about the concept car is what we see so far, which is a nose that has hints of Volkswagen’s iROC concept (Paris 2008, previewed the Scirocco). It’s a five-door hatch, with wheels pushed to the extreme corners of the car for almost zero overhang. It appears larger than a Perodua Viva and Suzuki Alto, with a long wheelbase and a relatively low roofline.

The profile has a rising shoulder line that works hand-in-hand with a glass area that narrows on the way back. To view it fully naked, watch this space!

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