Daihatsu Copen for business

Compact car specialist Daihatsu has unveiled its road-ready Copen compact car following its concept car preview – as the Kopen – at the 2013 Tokyo motor show.

Available in Japan, the new Copen is priced from 1,798,200 yen, which is about $18,000, and will be offered with both manual (five-speed) and CVT (seven-speed) transmissions.

Several grades are available, all with an electric folding hard-top roof.

The simple and affordable two-seat drop-top is propelled by a compact 0.7-litre three-cylinder petrol engine expected to pump out around 47kW/92Nm through the front hoops.

Smaller than some micro cars, the hobbit-sized car measures 3395mm long and just 1475mm wide, which should make parking a cake walk.

However, the most interesting aspect of the new car is its smart phone-like interchangeable exterior panels. True to the Kopen concept cars' design, some of the Copen's exterior panels can be replaced with different colour options.

Car-makers have dabbled with such customisability in the past and it's a trend that appears to be gaining momentum, with companies such as MINI, Citroen and Audi already offering broad customisation schemes, both for interior and exterior parts.

The Daihatsu Copen has a compact, uncomplicated design, its compact cabin crammed with an array of mod cons, including an optional touch-screen infotainment system, automatic climate-control, push-button engine starting, plus a heated windscreen and seats.

The Copen is tipped to be sold in Japan only at this stage, and despite being sold in Australia between 2003 and 2006 is unlikely to return here.

Daihatsu quit the local market in 2006, although second-hand versions of the original 50kW/100Nm Copen can be found Carsales for between $8000 and $12,000. It was originally priced at $29,990 in Australia.