2009 Tokyo Motor Show: Daihatsu e:S Concept
By Andrew C., 30 Aug, 2010. 0 Comments
Daihatsu e:S Concept
Daihatsu may not be famous in the US but in Japan, it makes a huge splash. Daihatsu has a 30% share of its native K-car market, the largest of any carmaker at the Tokyo Motor Show. It displays three small 660 cc minicar concepts. The first is the e:S Concept, a 3100mm two-door hatch that appears like a smaller version of BMW'S Mini. The design looks ready to be produced but Daihatsu says that it hasn't decided yet whether to do so.
The e:s has a new two-cylinder 660cc engine and can return 85mpg. Like most carmakers, Daihatsu is concentrating on an eco theme with its concepts. However, it thinks that hybrids are too complex, heavy and costly and it doesn't consider diesels to be a viable option.
And so, to improve economy and reduce C02 emissions, Daihatsu decided to make the cars physically smaller and lighter. The e:s is 300mm shorter than a normal 660cc mini and is very light at just 700kg. It has refined its existing three-cylinder technology and so has been able to have the e:s deliver 30 km/l (85mpg) in Japan's 10.15-mode fuel cycle, which is identical to Honda's hybrid-powered Insight.
Latest Auto Shows
