The new Copen moves away from the curves of the original in favor of being a touch more angular and aggressive. The front-wheel-drive Copen adheres to Japan’s kei class regulations, which means the power is modest. It uses a 660cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine making 63 horsepower and 68 pound-feet of torque with the choice of either a five-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission with seven speeds.
What is unique about the all new Copen is the roadster now features a monocoque chassis. Daihatsu have developed a ‘D-Frame,’ that allows almost all of the car’s body panels to bolt up to it. As a result it should make any damage easy to repair, and more importantly it should make it easy to customize.
Prices in Japan start at 1,798,200 yen ($17,613) for the basic CVT model or 1,819,800 yen ($17,825) for the five-speed.
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