Compact cars in the U.S. are what Europeans and other countries call midsize. It makes it much easier for them to have a suitable classification for very small cars, such as the Smart Fortwo, or in this instance, the new Daihatsu DN Trec concept. This diminutive crossover concept is one of the main attractions of this brand at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show.
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The compact SUV (or micro in U.S. parlance) is only 156.7 inches long, 66.9 inches wide and 63 inches tall. It uses a hybrid powertrain with a 1.2-liter engine attached to an electric motor, but it will also have the option of a 1-liter turbocharged mill, according to Daihatsu. This is a curious admission for a vehicle that theoretically is only a concept.
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Daihatsu has said it aims to introduce a new generation of vehicles to the public. These models will be built on the brand’s new platform, called DNGA (for Daihatsu New Global Architecture—much like it’s Toyota’s parent’s TGNA for Toyota New Generation Architecture). Do not take “global” as a rhetorical statement: Daihatsu really has plans to reach more markets. The idea is for it to be a low-cost alternative for Toyota in developing markets. Even though Daihatsu has been sold in America, it says it has no plans to return.
