Copen finally cops out after 10 years

Shaped like a domestic bathtub, and not much bigger, the Daihatsu Copen sold only 56 000 units worldwide in 10 years.

Shaped like a domestic bathtub, and not much bigger, the Daihatsu Copen sold only 56 000 units worldwide in 10 years.

Published Apr 10, 2012

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Daihatsu's bathtub-shaped Copen roadster - famous only for being the smallest convertible on the market - will go out of production in August 2012, after 10 years of production yielded just 56 000 sales worldwide.

The tiny mid-engined roadster with the folding aluminium roof was sold outside Japan (including South Africa) with a 63kW,1.3-litre naturally-aspirated engine, while domestic models came with a 46kW, turbocharged 660cc screamer to meet Japanese 'kei car' regulations.

To add further absurdity, the standard transmission in Japan was a four-speed auto - the five-speed manual cost ¥200 000 (R2000) extra!

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