After more than two decades on the road, the fun-sized Daihatsu Copen is officially reaching the end of the line. Production will stop in August next year, marking the end of one of Japan’s most playful kei cars. Still, Daihatsu isn’t fully closing the door — the company says it’s exploring the idea of a third-generation Copen, though nothing has been decided yet.
The Copen first launched back in 2002, following in the footsteps of the Suzuki Cappuccino and Honda Beat, two other quirky kei sports cars that had already disappeared. The current model has been around since 2014, with a special hardtop edition introduced in 2019. Despite its tiny 0.66-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that makes just 63 horsepower, the lightweight 850-kilogram (1,874-pound) roadster has always been more about fun and smiles than raw speed.
Pricing has also been a big draw. The outgoing model starts at just under 2 million yen (around $13,300), even with a manual gearbox. The sportier GR Sport trim tops out at only $17,200, making the Copen one of the most affordable drop-top cars on the market. Measuring just 133.6 inches long, it’s so small that even a Mazda Miata looks big next to it.
Sadly, with kei sports cars fading into history, the Copen was the last of its kind. Concepts like the Vision RWD teased a different future but never made production. Whether Daihatsu revives the nameplate or not, fans will remember the Copen as one of the quirkiest and most cheerful little cars Japan ever built. And while Japan might be saying goodbye, Europe is exploring its own kei-like category of tiny, low-cost cars — but chances are, they’ll be electric and won’t capture the same charm as the Copen.
