If the looks are a touch lighthearted, then the mechanical specification is deadly serious. The longitudinally mounted three-cylinder 657cc engine has four valves per cylinder, twin overhead camshafts, multi-point fuel injection and an intercooled turbocharger.
Boosting to 12.8psi, peak power is 63bhp at 6500rpm and torque an impressive 63lb ft at 4000rpm. Although the revcounter has its red line at 8500rpm (and the limiter calls a halt at a motorbike-like 9300rpm), engineers have concentrated on tuning for flexibility. Hence the presence of meaningful urge from about 2000rpm with real shove coming on tap at about 3000rpm. From there to an incredible 9000rpm the power is delivered in a pleasingly linear form.
With a half-tank kerb weight of just 679kg and four closely stacked gear ratios below the 16.0mph per 1000rpm top gear, the little car pulls vigorously and easily hits its artificially limited top speed of 83mph in fourth and fifth, with third gear not far off.
The limiter, which senses vehicle speed at the differential, shuts down the fuel injection on two cylinders on every other activation when 80mph is reached. Unfettered, 110mph would be entirely possible and race versions have managed 120mph in Japan although removal of the limiter involves both snipping the connection to the electronic control unit and invalidating the warranty.
The technical excellence of the engine is matched by the chassis' sophistication. All the hallmarks that constitute fun handling characteristics are present. Drive is to the rear wheels via a limited slip differential and there are double wishbones locating the front wheels and upper wishbones with a lower multi-link arrangement at the rear.
