Tuned with a Warranty
D-Sport Racing, the performance arm of Daihatsu, has a complete car for sale, undriven, brand-new, and ready for customers with a warranty. It’s based on a Daihatsu Mira e:S, a Kei car that makes about 48 horsepower, and comes equipped with a 658 cc inline three-cylinder gasoline engine. Thanks to the tuners at D-Sport, the limited Mira e:S is available for sale with a turbocharger and a five-speed manual gearbox, but there is a catch – more on that later.
Daihatsu is Toyota’s small car division and a supplier of affordable platforms that are ready to be rebadged as Toyotas and shipped to emerging markets. Rebadged Daihatsus are usually found across Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines and Cambodia.
Daihatsu
Kei Car Basics
Japanese Kei cars are limited to a total displacement of 660 cc and a set of parameters and dimensions regulated by the Japanese government. These cars get special yellow plates and are granted certain tax exemptions or reductions.
Ever since, Kei cars have been daily drivers for many Japanese motorists, whether they opt for a small truck, a van, or – of course – a hatchback. To make the most of the displacement available in Kei cars, turbochargers can be fitted to boost power and improve capability, but models like the Mira e:S use naturally aspirated mills.
Mitsubishi
Daihatsu Specialist
D-Sport Racing lives and breathes Daihatsu Kei cars, enough to participate in rally championships and supported by Daihatsu itself. The company has efforts in grassroots motorsports and rally. Since Daihatsu is owned by Toyota, D-Sport racing also benefits from some stuff from Gazoo Racing.
They’ve developed a total of four modern Daihatsu race cars at this time, which include the Daihatsu Rocky, Copen GR Sport, and another Copen GR Sport that will serve as the brand’s World Rally Championship (WRC) Japan entry, and finally the Daihatsu Mira e:S.
The (Kei) Car
In base form, the Mira e:S is an affordable city Kei car aimed at drivers who want an economical way to get around. It’s a naturally aspirated three-cylinder with 658cc displacement, and it comes mated to either a CVT or a five-speed manual transmission. The interior is basic, the car is light, and it’s rather plain-looking, all things considered. On a more interesting note, “e:S” stands for “energy Saving,” which means it has start-stop functions, improved aerodynamics, and reduced weight.
The complete car – received, modified, and delivered by D-Sport Racing – uses a special 5MT Turbo variant of the Mira e:S. Exclusive to this variant of the Kei car are an intercooler-turbo engine with the designation KF-VET, a dedicated ECU, a five-speed manual transmission, a floor console, a chrome-plated shift knob, a six-point roll cage with side bars, a front super limited-slip differential, brake calipers, front ventilated discs, 14-inch center caps on black steel wheels, a D-Sport Racing emblem, and a special serial number sticker.
The turbocharger boosts engine performance from 48 horsepower to 63 horsepower, and turbocharged torque is at 67.8 lb-ft. Knock your socks off, it won't, but when you factor in the weight of the car, which comes in at just 1,565 pounds (710 kilograms), that output increase will be quite sizeable.
Price and Freebies
So if you want to buy this car in Japan, prepare around 3,057,549 Japanese Yen (¥3,057,549) after taxes, to be exact. What you get for that money is the Daihatsu Mira e:S tuned by D-Sport Racing, which is based on registered, unused vehicle, all the special parts and tuning, plus, a general warranty period of three years or 37,000 miles (60,000 kilometers) for the base vehicle and a one-year or 12,400 miles (20,000 kilometers) warranty on all the modified parts.
In dollars, that translates to around $19,300, which is quite a pretty penny for a pretty little hatchback. The catch is that by buying this car, you’re also agreeing not to sell it within one year after delivery. On top of that, there is a lottery system for the sale of this vehicle. By entering, you will only get the chance to win the opportunity to purchase this vehicle. Though the bigger question is, would you pay this much for a souped-up 660cc pocket rocket? I know some people might.
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