TOKYO MOTOR SHOW: Daihatsu kooky concept trio
Daihatsu set to offer a glimpse of the future via multi-purpose roadster/coupe/hatchback, fridge-like fuel-cell MPV and ultra-light electric commuterSmall-car specialist Daihatsu will use the upcoming Tokyo motor show to whip the covers off a trio of wacky and eclectic concepts – the funky D-X roadster, fuel cell-powered FC Sho Case and puny Pico microcar, which allegedly bridges the gap between car and motorised bicycle.
Daihatsu claims all three concepts embody the company’s ‘big answer from small’ slogan and are touted as being a pointer to the technology that will be incorporated in the firm’s next-gen vehicles.
The star attraction will undoubtedly be the D-X (‘d-cross), which appears to be a spiritual successor of sorts to the pint-sized Copen roadster. However, the D-X offers added versatility over its ancestor as its resin-based body parts can be swapped, enabling it to take on the guise of roadster, coupe or hatchback.
The D-X’s tiny footprint – it measures just a 3.3m long and 1.4m wide – suggests it will be pitched as a stylish inner-city trundler, with its eco-friendly credentials likely to further benefit from a fuel-sipping 0.66-litre two-cylinder, direct-injection, turbocharged engine.
No performance figures have as yet been released, but even its ultra-light mass isn’t likely to endow it with anything more than modest performance.
The boxy FC Sho Case – seemingly inspired by an oven or toaster – is a concept of an entirely different ilk, showcasing Daihatsu’s nex-gen fuel-cell technology and small-car platform, which houses the fuel-cell stack under the floor. In Daihatsu’s words, the FC Sho Case eliminates the use of rare metals and secures a “free energy future”.
As per the D-X, the FC Sho Case is ultra compact, spanning just 3395mm from stem to stern and 1475mm across the bows – substantially smaller than even the diminutive Volkswagen Up.
The fact the liquid fuel cell is stashed under the floor means the cabin is essentially a large box, and the seats and even the steering wheel can be folded away to yield a giant ‘showcase’ – hence the concept’s name.
Also featuring on Daihatsu’s Tokyo stand will be the electric two-seater Pico (not to be confused with the Nissan Pivo), allegedly “geared to the times with an aging population”, even though its styling has a distinctly youthful feel.
The Pico’s novel features include scissor-style doors with integrated LED lighting, a flat floor to facilitate ingress/egress and a radar-guided ‘driving assistance’ system.
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