Daihatsu Prepares New Generation Of Copenhagen With Back Rollers

JAKARTA Daihatsu announced that the next model of the Daihatsu Copenhagen compact roadster will adopt rear wheel drive and manual transmission. This is a major change from its predecessor using a front wheel drive configuration.

This information was revealed through a model concept named K-OPEN exhibited by Daihatsu at the Japan Mobility Show 2025. K-OPEN is designed with a compact size, a length dimension of 3,395 mm, a width of 1,475 mm, and a height of 1,230 mm.

But now it uses the front engine configuration and rear wheel drive. The transfer from front drive to rear drive is called Daihatsu as a step to increase the pleasure and character of driving on Copenhagen.

In its official statement Thursday, October 30, Daihatsu emphasized that the small size of the ii-car car is maintained, while emphasizing light weight, low center of gravity, as well as optimal weight distribution so that the sensation of driving is more sporting.

"It may be difficult to explain how great this is, but bringing a rear wheel drive to a front engine car of this size is really incredible," said Toyota Motor Corporation Chief Executive Koji Sato.

He added that the configuration requires the placement of low machines, proper transmission layouts and driving axes, as well as efficient pedal arrangements in limited spaces. For now, Daihatsu has not revealed any other technical details related to K-OPEN in addition to its driving layout and body dimensions.

The current production of the Copenhagen generation with the front mover is rumored to end at the end of next year, of course, this opens the way for the new generation by driving the rear wheels. Changes in configurations in cars measuring ii-car are not common, given the challenges in the space and costs of production.