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Daihatsu is mostly known for its affordable, sub-compact vehicles, which are extremely popular in Japan and some regions of Europe where traffic is an issue. Nowadays, Daihatsu is a subsidiary of Toyota, but there was a time when the humble Japanese brand almost reinvented the roadster.
It is safe to say, Mazda perfected the formula of the lightweight British roadster with the MX-5 Miata, which is due to get a new generation with a larger engine. But Daihatsu almost gave us something better. In 1991, the company was working on the X-021 – an extremely lightweight Japanese roadster that would have ran circles around the MX-5 of the time.
Daihatsu's roadster concept is impressive on paper, even by today's standards
The Daihatsu X-021 concept was all about extreme lightness and agility, but it also packed adequate power. The Japanese roadster featured an aluminum spaceframe chassis and a body made entirely out of glass-reinforced plastic.
This resulted in a curb weight of just 1,545 pounds (approx. 701 kg). To put things in perspective, the most lightweight Mazda Miata was a version of the NA, tipping the scales at 2,160 pounds (980 kg).
Suspension-wise, the 1991 Daihatsu X-021 featured double-wishbone independent suspension front and rear, with inboard front springs (similar to many race cars).
The engine was a 1.6-liter, normally aspirated, DOHC, inline-four producing 140 horsepower at 6,600 RPM. The engine was positioned behind the front axle, giving the X-021 a front mid-engine layout. With a shorter wheelbase than the NA Miata, Daihatsu's MX-5 fighter would have been extremely keen on being thrown into corners.
Power was sent to the rear axle through a five-speed manual. Some specs were lost to time, but the lightweight Japanese roadster would have easily been capable of a 0 to 60 mph sprint in around 6.0 seconds. The top speed was said to be 125 mph.
Why Daihatsu never made it and what we got instead
Nowadays, Daihatsu is mostly known for its Kei-cars. Upon arrival, the X-021 concept was proudly displayed in a fully cladded and a month later, in open-chassis form in Tokyo, in order to showcase the technology behind it.
The project never took off due to Daihatsu changing focus to models with more mass-appeal. Eventually, the closest thing we got to the X-021 was the Daihatsu Copen, which was never offered in the US.
Despite some carmakers still holding the line in that segment, affordable, lightweight sports cars are not strongly represented. The Miata will carry on with combustion power for at least a few more years, while the next-generation Toyota GR86 will be very different and not co-developed with Subaru. There is, of course, the question of Mazda's new rotary sports car, but this will compete in a higher performance segment, with the corresponding price premium.
Final thoughts
The future of the compact sports car isn't looking great, and I think in a world of deficit in affordable lightweight sports cars, the Daihatsu X-021 could have been another appealing offering, keeping the segment alive. The revived Toyota GR Celica could be what the segment needs, but with a mid-mounted, 400-horsepower engine, I doubt it will be as affordable as a Mazda MX-5.
Nevertheless, the Daihatsu X-021 is a good example of what it could have been, but what never will be.
What do you think of Daihatsu's attempt at a Mazda MX-5 competitor? Would you have bought one over the Miata had it reached production? Let me know in the comment section below.
Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.
Image sources: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima via commons.wikimedia.org, Facebook - Driving is my escape
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