Toyota Tiny New Roadster is Smaller Than a Miata, Features RWD and Manual Transmission -5 Cool Facts About This RWD Manual Sports Car

Toyota Tiny New Roadster is Smaller Than a Miata—But Looks Just as Fun

The spirit of the beloved Daihatsu Copen is set for revival with the unveiling of the Daihatsu K-Open concept at the Japan Mobility Show. This pint-sized, rear-drive roadster clearly previews the next-generation Copen, aiming to reignite enthusiasm for fun, personal mobility within the tightly regulated Kei car segment. Critically, the K-Open ditches the front-wheel-drive layout of past Copens for a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive (RWD) setup, promising a livelier driving experience and making it a cheekier rival to the larger Mazda MX-5 Miata in the Japanese market.

RWD Ambition in a Kei-Sized Package

The K-Open is a showcase of clever engineering, fitting an enthusiast-focused RWD platform into the smallest legal dimensions.

• Size Comparison: Measuring 133.7 inches long and 58.1 inches wide, the K-Open is significantly smaller than the Mazda MX-5 Miata (which is around 154 inches long), making it a tiny convertible for the masses.
• Rear-Wheel Drive: The move to a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout is a major shift from the original Copen, which was FWD. This platform choice guarantees the “fun of driving” that the concept is built around.
• Engineering Challenge: Daihatsu engineers had to face an “enormous” packaging challenge to mount the engine low, fit a propeller shaft and transmission, and still leave space for pedals within the Kei-sized body.
• Powertrain: For now, the K-Open sticks with a traditional internal combustion engine, although specific performance details (likely adhering to the 660cc Kei car engine limit) have not been released.
• Interior: The concept was shown with a manual transmission and a minimalist, driver-focused interior.

A Revival for the Copen and the Kei Segment

The concept’s debut signals a determined effort by Toyota and Daihatsu to revitalize the beloved micro-roadster.

• Copen Comeback: The concept previews the next-generation Copen, as the current model is set to end production in mid-2026.
• Toyota Leadership: Toyota CEO Koji Sato described the car as bringing “Mobility for All” closer to the individual. Furthermore, Sato announced that Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda will personally take on the responsibility of “driving and breaking the Copen a lot” during testing, a clear sign of commitment to ensuring the car is engaging to drive.
• Design Options: Daihatsu displayed two distinct prototypes: a sleek grey version and a red, slightly taller race-ready version, hinting at a dynamic production range.
• Mischievous Rival: If the RWD Copen makes the jump to the showroom, it will become a smaller, cheekier rival to the Mazda Miata, injecting enthusiasm into the small sports car segment in Japan.

Final Thoughts

The Daihatsu K-Open is a compelling concept that proves fun in driving does not have to be tied to massive size or complex electrification. By successfully engineering a lightweight, RWD platform within the tiny constraints of the Kei car class, Daihatsu is demonstrating genuine ingenuity. This focus on “lightweight fun, clever design, and just enough mischief” ensures that the spirit of the Copen lives on, offering a refreshingly analog driving experience that will appeal directly to purists and city dwellers alike.

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