The Daihatsu Copen is one of the coolest kei cars for petrolheads alongside the discontinued Honda S660. An owner from Japan though wanted to expand the capabilities of the roadster, transforming it into a genuine off-roader.
We found the model on Car Sensor, together with a pretty detailed list of the modifications. The most important change is the lifted suspension allowing for a pretty generous ground clearance that puts some modern SUVs to shame. The lift kit is combined with a new set of 15-inch alloy wheels by OZ Racing, shod in grippy Yokohama Geolandar M/T tires. Add the tiny overhangs, the short wheelbase, and the low weight of the kei car and you have a pretty capable off-roader that is only limited by its FWD nature.
Read: Tiny Nissan GT-R Is A Daihatsu Copen With A 658cc Engine
The model is based on the XPlay trim of the Daihatsu Copen which was intended to make it look more adventurous right from the factory. Thus, crossover-style features including the black-painted fenders and bumpers are factory-fit options. Still, the owner took things a step further by adding more bits and pieces to the unique build.
At the front, there is an aluminum skid plate, two IPF LEDs mounted on the bonnet, red tow hooks on the grille, LED foglights, and darker headlights sourced from the Copen GR Sport. An ARB sand ladder and a Rotopax tank are mounted on a custom roll cage at the back, making the Copen look like it is prepped for Dakar. The tail looks really cool with the dual tailpipes of the HKS muffler, while a custom hitch allows the Copen to tow small trailers.
The retractable roof got an auto kit by Takeoff so it is not manually operated like in the stock roadster. A decorative roof scoop was added with double-sided tape, but everyone knows this feature couldn’t possibly be functional on a roadster. Moving inside there is a pair of red Recaro seats, and Momo badges on the steering wheel and the shifter.
The tiny turbocharged 660cc engine under the bonnet of the kei car remains completely stock, sending power to the front axle through a CVT gearbox. According to the listing, the car has 96,055 km (59,686 miles) on the odometer since it was bought new back in 2015. The unique off-roadster is priced at ¥1,698,000 ($13,215), which is close to the price of a brand-new Copen in Japan. Would you like to take it for a spin or do you prefer the sportiness and handling of the stock model?
