The yummy Copen GR Sport Concept that we (OK, maybe just me) salivated over from this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon has made production, and as expected, it has made the transition from “concept” to showroom floor unchanged. The Copen GR Sport is based on the Daihatsu Copen, but it will be sold in Japan by Toyota.
The Copen GR Sport is the first sports car in the “GR” series, developed by Toyota Gazoo Racing and made by Daihatsu, which is of course a subsidiary of the big T. With no scope for extra performance – as kei cars are limited by regulations – the Gazoo team focused on body rigidity and suspension tuning.
They added a front brace to the convertible, and changed the design of the centre brace. The suspension spring rates were optimised to match (coil springs in red), and the Copen GR Sport gets unique shock absorbers that deliver a “smooth ride with supple movement.” Also exclusive is the electric power steering tuning.
As mentioned, the production Copen GR Sport looks identical to the TAS 2019 showcar, and it wears the “Functional Matrix” grille reserved for GR cars.
The face looks more simple and purposeful than the standard Copen Robe front, and is dominated by a big lower grille flanked by square fog lamps. The distinctive LED “tails” of the standard Copen headlamps have been chopped off. Toyota says that the new front bumper improves aerodynamics.
The rear end has a large black bumper section, which integrates a diffuser and two downward-pointing exhaust tips. And of course, who can miss those matte grey 16-inch BBS forged alloys and the Copen’s Active Top folding metal roof. The LED headlamps and LED rear combi lights have darkened housings. GR badges are on the front, rear and sides.
The branded stuff continues inside, where you’ll find Recaro seats and a leather-wrapped Momo steering wheel, both with GR logos. That same badge can be found in the exclusive meter panel, which gets a red needle and red illumination. The snug cabin’s theme is black, and the dashboard gets a mixture of gloss black and carbon-style trim.
The 660cc turbo KF engine has the regulation 64 PS/92 Nm, and is mated to either a CVT with paddle shifters or a five-speed manual gearbox with LSD. In Japan, the auto is priced at 2.38 million yen (RM92,088) while the manual goes for 2.435 million yen (RM94,221). Choose from eight colours.
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GALLERY: Copen GR Sport Concept at Tokyo Auto Salon 2019
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Toyota so deprived of hip cars they even resort to robbing their subsidiary for their Copen car? Such a pity for such a huge brand. Middle aged crisis brand dy.
only crazy people would pay more to drive the manual version.
Call me crazy, but I would totally pay more for a sporty manual transmission turbocharged Kei-car!
Wah so cute. This goes well with the Honda S660.
Now if only Perodua develop a passion for these type of cars and start producing them locally.
Proton could have rebadged Honda S660 as Proton Putra replacement model.
Honda Accord already replaced 1st gen Perdana.
oh waii…