Owners Can Dress Daihatsu 2-Seat Mini-Convertible
Following the concept of Daimler’s Smart minicar, Daihatsu rejects the notion it is difficult to alter a car’s design after it is bought, and instead is enabling customers to make post-purchase changes in line with their preferences.
TURIN – Daihatsu executes a full model change for its ultra-compact Copen 2-seat convertible.
The new generation introduces a design strategy banking on alternative styles that “dress” the car structure with different body panels. The goal is to give the minicar added value by allowing drivers to express their individuality, as well as offer impressive driving performance.
Daihatsu brings both a new perspective and new approach to development and production of this Copen.
The project uses a common framework structure, called D-Frame, that is equipped with varying interior and exterior components.
Following the concept of Daimler’s Smart minicar, Daihatsu rejects the notion it is difficult to alter a car’s design after it is bought, and instead is enabling customers to make post-purchase changes in line with their preferences. With the outer body panel comprising 13 separate resin components, owners can dramatically change the look of the Copen.
This requires a dedicated Copen factory, developed as an open facility designed to offer customers a familiar and friendly environment.
The car and its design are part of an experimental marketing program that will allow buyers to “assemble” their tailor-made minimalist sports car with the support of Copen specialists under the promotional claim, “Love Local by Copen.”
At launch time Daihatsu will propose its first design option, called Copen Robe (to express how the resin outer-body panel for the framework is worn like a robe), and is showing an alternative design tentatively named Copen X Model planned for sale this fall.
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