GTPNewsWire
Contributing Writer
- 21,601
- GTPHQ
This is the discussion thread for a recent post on GTPlanet:
This article was published by Adam Ismail (@glassjaw) on October 27th, 2017 in the Automotive News category.
Daihatsu Brings a Stunning Tiny Four-Door Coupe to Tokyo
- Thread starter GTPNewsWire
- 19 comments
- 2,119 views
- 1,658
- Bristol
- MrCrynox
- Mr Crynox
The car looks great, I really like it's style.
That video shows the difference between Japan and the West and I'm not just talking about the cars. Despite being a car show notice how the atmosphere is so quiet and respectful.
If that were anywhere else it would be loud music, flashing lights, OTT salesman, pushing and shoving etc.
That video shows the difference between Japan and the West and I'm not just talking about the cars. Despite being a car show notice how the atmosphere is so quiet and respectful.
If that were anywhere else it would be loud music, flashing lights, OTT salesman, pushing and shoving etc.
Last edited:
- 1,998
- Ontario
- bloodyboyblue
This looks like a concept from 1999, not 2017. The retro trend jumped the shark 15 years ago. It also looks Korean or Chinese, not Japanese, with the front end from an early 00’s Buick and the taillights from a 2007 Cadillac. See Mazda, Honda and Toyota’s concepts (and to a lesser extent the other brands) at this show for what Japanese design looks like.
- 50,837
- Australia
- SpacedustDaddy
But, the Mazda looks like an Alfa, the Honda looks like an '80s Civic(or mkI/MkII Golf), the Honda Sports EV looks like an AMC Javelin(the Trans Am version). Which Toyotas?
The Daihatsu concept does take retro cues from their own history. As evidenced by the 1969 Daihatsu Compagno below.
So, maybe the 00's Buick and 2007 Caddy, actually, look like the Daihatsu.
glassjaw
Premium
- 1,472
- PA
- pioneerspine
- pioneerspine
I...actually kind of agree with you there. It kinda reminds of Nissan's initial Z concept from '99 in that way (not the one that became the 350Z).
But I also think that's why I like it so much. Japan was at the top of its automotive design game back then. They really had the market cornered for simple, sporty, elegant forms that weren't overly fussy or just plain devoid of taste (see most new Hondas and Toyotas). This does feel old, but in the best way possible. I wouldn't call it regression -- it's more like discovering that band you were obsessed with back in high school had an amazing song you never knew about, but end up loving just the same.
- 3,202
- Philippines
- skygrasper_550--
Only kids and midgets would fit in the rear passenger area, I mean look at that roofline 
Yes, it's a coupe, but still
Yes, it's a coupe, but still
- 9,401
- Western Sydney
- mustafur
So i guess that makes it the same as the other 4 door coupes then, Ever try get in the back of a CLA lol?Only kids and midgets would fit in the rear passenger area, I mean look at that roofline
- 5,051
- Netherlands
Hunchbacks also fit too!Only kids and midgets would fit in the rear passenger area, I mean look at that roofline
- 3,202
- Philippines
- skygrasper_550--
I'm just pertaining to this Daihatsu over here
The CLS comes to mind, though. I see a couple of those going about where I work, and their swooping roof line doesn't look much in the way of practicality. I could be wrong, though. 
Didn't want to go that far, but yes, they do as well
- 84
- Canada
- thegregfranklin
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
Unfortunately, advertising agency lingua franca is now official patter - a metaphorical book-burning of the OED; look for the 2-door Saloon coming soon, and maybe even a Sports Motorhome. The convertible Station Wagon may be in the works (if not already stashed way in some dark place) and somewhere the sun has stopped shining is a 3-wheeled bicycle.
Wikipedia bolsters these ideas:
Four-door coupé
A luxury sedan with classic coupé-like proportions. The low roof design reduces back seat passenger access and headroom.[21] The designation was first applied to a low-roof model of the Rover P5 from 1962 until 1973,[22] but was revived by the 1985 Toyota Carina ED, the 1992 Infiniti J30 and finally by the first model 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS, which stands in Mercedes hierarchy between the E and S class, and has the appearance of a classic coupé and sedan. The term was also used partly from marketing reasons. German press accepted the concept of a four-door coupé and applied it to similar models from other manufacturers such as the 2009 Jaguar XJ.[23][24][25][26] Also, other manufacturers accepted it, producing recent competing models like Volkswagen Passat CC, BMW F06 and even five-door coupé, Audi A7.[27] The organization ADAC on its website also adopted this concept.[28] In Germany the definition of the coupé was finally divided into the classic coupé and 4-door coupé. This definition and concept of four-door coupé (instead of saloon) are evident in Germany, but they are not widely known in the rest of the world.
Current examples of four-door coupes include the Volkswagen CC, Audi A5 Sportback, Audi A7, BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, and Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.
Me, too. I like the styling and the interior is killer. The CVT doesn't bother me at all.
Last edited:
- 13,143
- Seattle-ish
To quote a line from the South Park movie: "What the **** is wrong with German people!?" I know. I know. Carbiolets are now called roadsters. Station wagons are all CUVs. It would be one thing if actual new designs were being created. But this is just marketing, applying a sexy name to non-sexy body styles. Sigh. And you kids stay off my lawn while we're at it!
- 27,205
- United Kingdom
Not really. Most motor shows are pretty similar. At least on press days - lots of people walking around in suits, relatively few people around (at least when there's not a press conference on). It's not unique to Japan.
In fact I'd almost say the opposite - while Japan is among the friendliest, politest places I've visited, I've never been talked at by so many different things - from actual people telling you which side of the corridor to walk on, to escalators, vending machines and pedestrian crossings with synthesised voices relaying instructions, and virtually everything playing an annoying jingle.
Likewise. Would rather suit this sort of car. Both the suggested mild-hybrid 1.2 or the turbocharged 1.0 sound like the right kind of engines too.
It's a shame such a car is unlikely to make production, but I do hope it does.
I've seen this kind of description a lot recently, and I'm noticing a theme with the cars that people are applying it to: Simplicity.
I actually quite like modern car design, both in terms of production vehicles and concepts. But one thing that links most modern cars (again, production and concept) is a fairly complicated, busy design language. Sometimes this works better than others, but generally modern cars are about complex surfacing - even formerly clean and simple Audi is getting in on the act with its recent models.
I think it's notable that people are describing concepts that don't follow this language as looking old. While I don't agree that they look old - to me, this Daihatsu is a fantastic expression of older values (plenty of glass area, thin pillars, simple surfacing, beltline parallel to the ground, being just some aspects), it looks thoroughly modern in execution.
But it is a simple design. Some of that is undoubtedly down to it being inspired by the original 1960s model, though plenty of it is also down to the lack of pointless creases and slashes and the bold colour palette (easy to make concept cars look "modern" by painting them pearlescent white...).
I'm hoping, given Honda's Urban and Sports EV concepts also had similar characteristics (the Urban EV particularly) that such simplicity will begin to appear more often in future automotive design. Perhaps it won't dominate, but it'd be nice to see more companies taking a less complex approach to styling cars.
Similar threads
