Daihatsu Preps 'Little Car'

TOKYO: Daihatsu Motor will introduce a 1000-cc "little car" in February. Daihatsu's compact Charade (1300cc to 1600 cc) is its mainline model, but the car is considered too large for customers making the move from the light vehicle class.

To help the maker pick up that customer base, Daihatsu based its new auto on the light vehicle design. It targets a minimum of 2,000 sales per month.

The so-called little-car class has fared reasonably well as exemplified by the March from Nissan. Toyota is also gauging an entry into the market. The engine is what distinguishes the new car.

Daihatsu based the engine of the 660cc three-cylinder in-line unit used in the Move light car, giving it greater bore to raise output to 1000cc while keeping development costs down. One step larger than light vehicles, the model will share parts with the Charade and the new Mira coming out next year.