Daihatsu Applause (1990 - 1996) Car Review
The Japanese have long been clever lateral thinkers. Adept at taking an undeveloped concept and spotting the potential for leveraging a big profit they seemed onto a winner with the Daihatsu Applause. Market research had shown that hatchbacks sold cars due to their versatility, but many buyers wanted the security of a boot. Daihatsu came up with an ingenious solution. The Applause looks like a saloon, but pop the rear ŌbootlidÕ and youÕll find it stretches up to the roofline, making the car something of a stealth hatchback! Others have since realised that this was a neat trick, take todayÕs Skoda Octavia for instance. The Applause never received much of an ovation with UK buyers and you may have more luck discovering the Ark of the Covenant, the Chinguetti meteorite and Lord LucanÕs car keys before you find an example in your preferred colour, condition and trim level. Nevertheless, as a used buy, itÕs certainly not run of the mill.
History
When the Daihatsu Applause first hit these shores in 1990, the reception wasnÕt so much lukewarm as absolute zero. Why would the British public want a rather oddly proportioned hatchback masquerading as a saloon when the Rover 200, the Peugeot 309 and the Ford Escort were vying for their attention? There were two versions launched, both with DaihatsuÕs 16-valve engine Š at the time quite an advanced piece of machinery. The 1.6L used a carburettor, whilst the 1.6Xi was fitted with fuel injection and a catalytic converter. The injected version developed 105bhp and 99lb/ft of torque.
In 1993 the carburettor version was dropped, the range then consisting of two mechanically similar models, the GXi and the plusher GLXi. The Applause soldiered on in this form until chronic buyer apathy finally asphyxiated it in 1996.
Opinion
If you like grey plastic, the Applause will be your idea of motoring nirvana. Despite boasting an advanced engine, the Applause harks from a time when Japanese interiors resembled the last memory of a man trampled by a bull elephant. Greyout everywhere, with only some rather bland upholstery to break up the visual sterility. Whilst the feng shui may have been slightly wonky, there couldnÕt be too many problems with the ApplauseÕs practicality. The driving position lacks adjustability but this isnÕt too much of a problem because itÕs very good in the first place, and the low waist line of the car gives an airy feeling and helps visibility.
Headroom is, as expected, fine all round, but taller passengers wonÕt want to spend much longer than it takes to develop cramp in the back of the Applause. The Applause GXi was fitted with colour-keyed mirrors, electric windows and mirrors, central locking, a rear spoiler and an adjustable steering column. Steady now. The GLXi added some cross spoke alloy wheels, body coloured door handles, a rear wash/wipe and an RDS stereo cassette, which together would be worth the additional £75 in most peopleÕs book. Some owners will have plumped for the optional air conditioning on this model, but theyÕre so few and far between that being choosy could mean no round of Applause for quite some time.
By ANDY ENRIGHT.
Visit the Blog about daihatsu move customDaihatsu Copen 1.3-liter Headed for the UK Market
The Daihatsu Copen, a 2-door roadster model from the Japanese car manufacturer is poised to arrive in dealer showrooms all over the United Kingdom. Although the Daihatsu Copen is exclusively sold for the Japanese Kei-car market, UK-based Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited convinced the Japanese automaker to revamp some of the vehicle's components including the small engine with only 660 cc displacement to adapt in the European vehicle standards.
In addition, to comply with the European Whole Vehicle Type Approval, Daihatsu equipped the Copen with a larger 1.3 litre petrol engine that now pumps out an additional 19 hp and a 14.5 lb.-ft. increase of peak torque, for a total of 86 hp at 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 88.5 lb ft at 4,400 rpm. Daihatsu said the Copen offers an improved fuel efficiency and low fuel consumption rate, thanks to the advance engine systems like Dynamic Variable Valve Timing (DVVT) which enhances low-speed pulling power, the compact twin overhead camshaft unit equipped with alloy head and block. Moreover, the Daihatsu Copen also comes with the first ever self regenerating catalytic converter made palladium, the most heat sensitive material used in catalytic converters. As a result, the catalytic converter has the ability to regenerate and prolong its function in reducing CO2 exhaust emission coming out from the Daihatsu Copen.
With the new engine, the Daihatsu Copen can now sprint from 0 to 62 mph time in just 9.5 seconds, about 2 seconds faster than the previous 660 cc engine. The Copen roadster can reach an electronically limited full throttle speed of 112 mph.
According to Paul Tunnicliffe, Daihatsu Managing Director, "We are all car enthusiasts here at Daihatsu and were instrumental in bringing the original model to market in the UK. With this lively new engine and a highly competitive price, we are delighted not only to have a 'halo' model in our range but to be able to offer fellow enthusiasts such a characterful and affordable fun car."
The revised Daihatsu Copen for the UK market received several facelift from the Japanese automaker. The small car retains its sporty and compact body styling with a rounded design. Compared to VW Fox parts like the trapezoidal headlamps, The Daihatsu Copen gets oval shaped headlamps as well as oval shaped rear lamps. The small rear boot spoiler is one of the new features of the vehicle. Of course, the Daihatsu Copen still features the electronically operated folding hard top roof made of lightweight aluminum.
Inside, the new Daihatsu Copen is equipped with standard safety components including front seats with pretensioners and force limiters, twin front airbags, dual side-impact door beams, Auto-locking restraints (ALR), and reinforced front side-members and front sub-frame. In addition, passive safety systems are also standard like twin roll-over bars, anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), and Daihatsu's impact-sensing system.
By Benjamin Hudson.
