When most gearheads hear the words “Kei car,” a certain type of vehicle comes to mind. Kei regulations, created by the Japanese government in the years after World War II, were meant to promote personal car ownership to stimulate the country’s economy. The category put restrictions on things like overall dimensions, engine size, and even power output. In exchange, owners benefited from lower insurance premiums, tax rates, and more lax parking requirements.
Most Kei cars are hatchbacks, vans, or pickup trucks, used by people in Japan (and increasingly, America) to run errands, operate businesses, or commute—you know, normal car stuff. But throughout the history of the Kei car, there have been a few real-deal sports cars built to fit within the Kei rules. You’ve probably heard of the most popular models—the Honda Beat, the Autozam AZ-1, and the Suzuki Cappuccino—since they’re now legal for import in the United States and relatively affordable.
The Kei sports car craze began to die off in the early 1990s once Japan’s economy crashed, and people didn’t have as much money to blow on barely usable sports cars with two seats and next to zero storage space. But against all odds, Daihatsu, a subsidiary of Toyota, decided to launch a Kei sports car of its own in 2002: The Copen, a front-engine, front-wheel drive two-seater convertible with an instantly recognizable smile.
Though it doesn’t have the mid-engine layout of the Beat or the AZ-1, or the rear-drive purity of the Cappuccino, the Copen is still one of the coolest JDM cars around. It sold me on looks alone when I first learned about it in the early 2010s; those insect-ish eyes feel like a mash between a new Beetle, a Porsche 911, and a TVR Cerbera. The rear, meanwhile, sort of harkens back to the limited-production Tommykaira ZZ, a different kind of obscure Japanese sports car.
The Copen’s party trick is its power-folding hardtop, a world-first for “mini vehicles” upon its 2002 debut, according to Daihatsu. It’s a two-piece unit that folds under a lifting trunk piece like so:
Like all Kei cars, the Copen’s engine size was limited to 660 cubic centimeters in Japan. It was sold with a turbocharged inline-four domestically, but got a bigger 1.3-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder in other markets like the United Kingdom as an option. Buyers could choose between a five-speed manual or a four-speed auto. In a review of the 2003 model on Top Gear, James May called it “rather good,” despite criticizing its high starting price and harsh ride.
Daihatsu briefly killed off the Copen in 2013 before resurrecting it the next year with an entirely new look and chassis. It retained the same drivetrain layout and power hard top, but got a new turbocharged inline-three engine. As with all prior model years, it was rated at 63 horsepower to stick to Kei regulations. The second-gen Copen also got something Daihatsu called the “D-Frame,” which, according to CarThrottle, brought more rigidity and safety improvements.
The second-generation Copen launched with two variants to choose from, the standard Robe and the plastic-clad, crossover-looking X Model, described by Daihatsu as expressing “a sensation of a new genre and liveliness.” I’d just describe it as weird:
A year later, Daihatsu launched a third design called the Cero, with a softer fascia and round headlights, harkening back to the original model. The company did this, according to its announcement, to show off the Copen’s changeable exterior and interior components, suggesting an owner could swap out their Copen Robe body panels for the Cero’s should they prefer that look. For 350,000 yen (just under $3,000 at the time), you could even pay Toyota to perform the swap for you.
Then, in 2019, Daihatsu launched the coolest Copen yet: The GR Sport. Not only did the car get a cool fascia inspired by Toyota’s GR models, but it also got a host of real mechanical upgrades. From the release:
Compared to existing models, the GR SPORT features increased body rigidity, achieved by adding reinforcing materials to the underbody and adjusting its shape; this reduces body torsion and results in a smooth and stable ride. By optimizing its suspension, and by adopting parts that enhance aerodynamics, the car boasts improved nimbleness and stability.
The Copen has lasted for 23 years, surviving through a worldwide economic recession and a worldwide pandemic. It’s the last Kei-style sports car on the market, beating out even the Honda S660, a mid-engine convertible built from 2015 to 2022. But in August 2026, it’ll end production. Daihatsu made the announcement earlier today, revealing plans to throw a Copen-themed event in Japan to send off the model to the great junkyard in the sky. The company’s even made a website dedicated to the event, which has yet to nail down a date or location.
The door isn’t totally shut on a new version, according to Daihatsu. The company says it’s “continuing various research to bring the Copen back to the market,” though it doesn’t go into any specifics. With real-deal, platform-specific sports cars becoming tougher for companies to justify, I’d be surprised if it ever makes a return (as much as I’d want it to). That leaves me with 10 months to gain Japanese residency and get my name in the order books.
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I worked as a Toyota salesman at the local dealer 20-something years ago. I was there exactly when the Copen was introduced. It had a whole section of the showroom just for it.
It had the cool roof, Recaro seats, the 660cc engine and a completely unrealistic price tag. I don’t think we sold more than a handful of them. You used to see them driving around but they’re gone from the streets nowadays. My guess is that either owners are keeping them as garage queens now or parts scarcity killed them.
I’m 6’2″ and I could barely fit in it. That newer Copen Cero is a great iteration on the original design. I don’t like the other, angrier versions, they don’t fit the spirit of the car.
It’ll come back as a crossover.
When most gearheads hear the words “Kei car,” a certain type of vehicle comes to mind.
…a nice reliant automobile?
Interestingly, Copen was also sold in Germany from 2004 to the end of 2005 with right-hand-drive system and 600cc engine.
Thanks to the successful German sales, Daihatsu reengineered Copen for left-hand-drive and larger 1.3-litre engine for 2006 model year. The sales jumped from 178 in 2005 to 802 in 2006. The sales continued until the production ended in 2010 for the first generation.
I used to see Copen in both LHD and RHD everywhere in Munich and Nuremberg for a while, then they disappeared from the street…
Quick!
Let’s all buy Japanese stock or other assets. We will create a new Japanese bubble and then we will see interesting cars again.
Like Game Stop stock. 🙂
I want to import an S660
It, and to a slightly lesser extent the Copen, are the two kei cars my better half wants me to import. She’s very anti-kei due to safety concerns with all the ridiculously large vehicles here in the US, but those two she loves enough to overlook that. Given she was next to me when a Ram crushed my Civic and ruined my brain, I understand her concerns. Hoping to have both of them once the S660 can be imported.
Lies, kei trucks will still be the fastest cars on the road
Sad I always loved the copen. I was able to squeeze myself in and drive one a few times in markets they are available. There is more room then there looks but not a lot. But automatic probably not a bad idea if you have long legs. A great little car. I bet there will be tons brought in in to the US in a few years. I’ve seen left hand drive versions in a few places.
how tall are you. I am just hitting 6 foot mark, always wondered how I’d fit in something like this or even a miata.
6’2, but more torso then legs. I think if you can squeeze into an economy plane seat you are fine. Manual was a bit too much but can crunch in and use one leg for the auto. Most of the miatas seats go back further I think. Keis are funny like that. I knew a guy probably 5’10 kept yelling he doesn’t fit in kei trucks they are terrible and uncomfortable. We were laughing about it but put him in one and sure enough his legs were too long.
Thank you!
I love Kei cars a lot. Too bad I’m 6’4”… sad to see the end of sports car kei’s still.
You might fit with the top down depending on leg to torso ratio. I was in one with 6’7 friend but people definitely noticed.
Will have to at least try it one day!
Jeremy Clarkson getting into one of these was fantastic.
Meh. “Affordable sports/sporty” cars are a dying niche worldwide. I would bet that Mazda sells more CUV in a month than it sells Miatas in a year. I was surprised that new kei sporty cars were still being made at all.
“… people didn’t have as much money to blow on barely usable sports cars with two seats and next to zero storage space.”
Define “barely usable”.
Some of us don’t make a living hauling junk around – and don’t have 2.5 kids. All we need are two seats and space for a couple small duffle bags for our weekend trips.
Because living in Japan – you don’t even need a car to buy groceries. You buy enough for a couple meals on the walk home from the train station.
Do you have one of these cars? Or just talking out your ass about people wanting them and how useful they are.
I lived in Japan for nearly 2 years, and have driven Kei cars while there more than a few times.
Have you?
I don’t even live in Japan but could still live with a Copen daily because I’m not dragging home six months worth of food and toilet paper from Costco or Sam’s Club every two weeks.
People act like you need a trunk big enough to hide a body in to count as storage space, forgetting that most of the time you’re by yourself when you go get groceries and there’s an entire passenger seat and footwell it can all fit in.
Bingo – That’s the way most urban and suburban dwellers on the planet live.
The US is the outlier.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 🙁
The Caterham 7 is still available! Yeah, a version of it has a 660cc engine and is certified as a kei car. Better yet, it as 80 hp, making it the most powerful kei car ever. Japan told them to keep it at 80 hp and not lower it to 63 because 80 is how it’s certified in the UK, and that it should remain unchanged.
Maybe Daihatsu will make an electric kei roadster with “63 hp” in Japan and a higher number elsewhere.
Sorry this isn’t a sports car it’s a go cart. Fun to drive but clearly it isn’t a performance vehicle it is a vehicle that feels and possibly is dangerous just to drive at the height of its power. Ever had a forklift at full speed and turn? Scary as hell, not a sports forklift.
Have you ever driven a Kei?
They’re perfectly suitable little cars for Japan – not very powerful for a reason, so not dangerous at all.
Yup! (and wouldn’t even bother since all they post is gibberish nonsense)
There used to be a company in England under the BMC banner that made cars 10 feet long with transverse engines and front wheel drive. Small, under powered, but they still got quite a following, they were even used in motorsports although they didn’t look like sports cars. You’ve probably heard of the Mini? I even hear they were imported and quite popular in Japan at one point.
I remember a forward “Rockford” is rather instant with a small sporting forklift not for the easily surprised.
If you want to see some interesting racing, watch a mixed field of mini coopers and Porsche 930s.
Porsche guys: “Why aren’t they braking? Now they are on two wheels, are they supposed to do that?”
Mini guys: “What’s with all the flames in the corners and slowing down? Are they supposed to do that?
They did that at Laguna Seca one year for the historics and it was hysterical.
I gotta find video of this, sounds like a fantastic watch.
Kei cars aren’t really any smaller than the littlest British Sports Cars like Spridgets and Spitfires. And bigger than an original MINI. Similar power too.
It’s a sportscar for sure – all the sports kei cars are. I have an s660 and it is a total hoot to drive, enough pace to be fun, all the right noises and handles like it is on rails. Would highly recommend you try one and change your mind.