We’ve missed the actual anniversary- Japan’s first “kei car” specifications were first announced on July 8 1949- but Japan’s city cars still deserve a party. Auto Motor und Sport has a 51-image gallery of Kei-cars throughout the years that is sure to delight fans of tiny, sub-liter whips. For those unfamiliar with the Kei class, can get an update at wikicars, but here are the broad strokes. Original Kei-cars were limited to 2.8 meters in length, 1 meter width and 2 meters in height, and could have no more than 150cc of displacement. The latest rule changes (in 1998) limited Keis to 3.39m in length, 1.48 meters in width and 2 meters height. Displacement is now limited to a heady 660cc, and thanks to Japanese OEM mastery of tiny engines, horsepower must now be limited to 64 hp. Otherwise, the tiny rides come in a staggering array of flavors, from work trucks to baby exotics. Though they’ll never be a viable option on American roads, let’s thank the gods of automotive diversity that these weird whips have flourished with such vigor.
These cars make superb sense in a crowded island nation such as Japan, or even the UK.
Daihatsu actually sells their Copen kei car roadster in the UK (with a larger engine than can be had in the Japanese domestic market).
The only non-Japanese kei car available is the Smart car, which interestingly enough, eschewed the original gasoline three cylinder engine for a Mitsubishi supplied engine in the last generational change.
There’s a company here that’s importing kei vans and work trucks to Canada and selling them locally. They actually seem to be pretty popular.
So saying that they’re not viable on our roads appears to be incorrect :-)
Though they’ll never be a viable option on American roads
Only because nanny government will not allow the import of them. They would make perfect sense in metropolitan areas such as SF Bay Area. I would love the open utility van in your picture.
Very few people who live in the cities drive across country in their city cars. They usually fly to the first destination and then rent a car.
Oh look, government intervention that works!
:)
It’s a pity that Toyota never really followed through with using Scion as a way to bring Kei cars to North America. They’re a useful market, especially in the more urban environments.
There’s a company here that’s importing kei vans and work trucks to Canada and selling them locally. They actually seem to be pretty popular.
There are actually several. The problem is that the cars they can bring over are usually really out of date, largely for regulatory reasons. It would be nice to see the more recent models here.
That little yellow MR-2 like thing looks like it would be CRAZY fun if it had a 3cyl turbo…talk about a psycho go-cart, God, I’d love a crack at that.
Of course, it makes my Miata look like an SL550 in terms of safety and crash protection. Guess a Miata is about as small as is practical in the U.S., and still I have friends who ask, “you feel safe in that thing?”
Sorry, but it just make me pissed at all the Hummer, Expedition and Suburban drivers…(almost always driving ALONE in their 6,000+lb ‘personal transportation choice’ and usually yaking on the cell phone). Not friggin’ fair to the rest of us, at all.
I’m in Canada and there are a decent number here – especially trucks. I love the Honda Beat that I see once and a while as well.
It’s always going to be a harder job to design a small car (especially one with as diminutive dimensions as a Kei) than a large car; a bit like the difference between a bowl of clam chowder and a piece of sushi if you will.
Maybe it was the fact that the Japanese had to learn to get 64hp or more out of a 660cc engine and make it reliable as well as relatively spacious and comfortable.
The upper limit on car-size seems to have had the effect of putting all marques on a level playing field. Honda, for example, can’t just decide to poach Suzuki’s sales by making a bigger Kei car because it would cease to be a Kei car.
I think that it was this restriction on the makers that allowed them to excel when it came to creating bigger machines like the Lexus LS, Nissan GTR, Mitsubishi Evo etc.
The naval shipyard where I worked had a fleet of Daihatsu pickups for use inside the shipyard. They had high gear locked out and could do about 25 or so flat out in third. They were great for going up and down piers in between pallets of material, bollards, other vehicles etc.
They had all the comforts of home…heater, defroster, automatic choke, a place in the dash for a radio, and all that good stuff.
These cars won’t (don’t?) work in the USofA because their emphasis is on practical utility for their application. That doesn’t fit with conspicuous consumption or urban SUV warfare.
How can you properly compete with your neighbour if you bring home a Kei car?
menno wrote:
Daihatsu actually sells their Copen kei car roadster in the UK … “
I have lusted after one of those ever since I first laid eyes on one. It was an inspiration–the first car in a long time that I’ve looked at and immediately started dreaming about how I could make it go faster. Appearance-wise the Copen needs no improving; it’s a truly sublime design.
I absolutely love the Suzuki/Maruti Alto Kei car… manic little 3-cylinder thing. You can drive like Marcus Gronholm everywhere without breaking the speed limit.
Not to mention the fact that the 3-cylinder sounds like 1/4th of a V12. Wonderful little thing.
AFAIK the smart is too wide to be a Kei car, plus all the engines in the latest one are too large to have it qualify.
The utilitarian comment was very good – not something that has wide appeal (especially from today’s branding point of view) but there is definitely a market for it and it’s getting increasingly less well populated, as most manufacturers slowly try to completely shy away from it. I am sure a modern Model T / 2CV type vehicle could be sold even in the US at semi sensible volumes, but it would likely need it’s own brand, as manufacturers would otherwise all get nervous about soiling the reputations of their other offerings with it.
I’d love to see Kei cars here. Can I swap a busa engine into one? Or, to keep in spirit of “3”, how about a triumph triple?
I think I’d still fear them on my 600cc bike. I’m sure they still weigh at least 2-3x what my bike weighs.
My dream key car would be Suzuki Cappucino. Kind of more miata-ish car then miata. Low weigth, engine high-revable like that of motorcycle’s and FR layout makes wonderful little 2 seater sport roadster tossable at those twisty mountain roads. IIRC it came from lotus – loosing weigth is greatest tuning for any car.