Currently reading: Bigger motor, smaller price

Daihatsu's diminutive drop-top gets twice the engine

Remember the Daihatsu Copen, the diminutive drop-top that looks a little like an Audi TT roadster that’s been miniaturised and taken to Toytown?

Well now Daihatsu’s folding hard-top is ready to play with the grown-ups, thanks to an engine double the size of the original.

Previously the Copen used a 660cc turbocharged triple; now it’s got a 1.3-litre four-cylinder unit with 86bhp.

The Copen’s new-found power shaves the 0-60mph time from 11.7 to 9.5sec, improves extra-urban economy by 5.1mpg to 56mpg and cuts CO2 from 151g/km to 140.

So what’s the catch, you might be thinking? We struggled to find on, because on top of giving the Copen a new engine, Daihatsu’s also lopped £2500 off the price, making it £10,995 on the road. Question is, are you man enough to drive one…

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