Daihatsu OFC-1 and HSC concepts

By Ben Pulman

Motor Shows

11 September 2007 10:51

It looks remarkably like a Copen…

It does indeed, and at 5mm shorter, the same width, and only 45mm higher the OFC-1 is all but identical to the Copen. In fact, it is the new Copen, just not as cute. But perhaps the biggest changes is the switch from a two to a three-piece folding roof. Here, the main roof section is made from liquid crystals so at the flick of a switch the roof can be made transparent or opaque. And it all folds away into the boot in under ten seconds.

Yes, because the last Copen was designed to meet Japanese K-car standards (which means lower taxes) and the OFC-1 is equally diminutive. Under the bonnet there’s a 658cc turbocharged engine with 63bhp. Power is put to the road via a seven-speed auto with paddleshift. Seven might seem like a lot of gears for such a tiny car, but short ratios help improve acceleration while still allowing the OFC-1 to achieve 61.4mpg and 100.9g/km.

By Ben Pulman