Fuel efficient and durable, what exactly is a Japanese K-Car?

K-car is a category of small cars unique to Japan. The so-called K-car is actually a KEICAR, which means light CAR in Japanese. The origin of the K-car actually has a very complicated political background, and has a very important connection with the recovery and development of Japan's postwar industry. The Subaru 360 was introduced in 1958 and is now the first relatively recognized K-Car, taking its name from the 360cc displacement, which was the upper limit for the K-Car at the time.

From the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, there was a trend towards sports cars in Japan. Almost every manufacturer has invested a lot of money in sports cars and their development. The Japanese high-performance cars we are familiar with, such as STI, EVO, GTR, etc., were all very classic models at that time. Of course, this trend has also affected K-Car.

1. Mazda Autozam AZ-1

When it comes to the Mazda Autozamaz-1, we must first talk about Autozam. In the late 1980s, Mazda split the Japanese family model into three brands: Efini, Eunos, and Autozam. Among them, the Efini is basically their flagship sports car and sports car, such as the RX-7 with the Efini logo. Eunos are cars and regular sports cars. For example, the MX-5 is known as the EunosRoadster in Japan. Autozam is a brand dedicated to K-cars and small cars.

The AZ-1 is said to feel rather hard and rough to drive. Although the horsepower is small, it is extremely difficult to control. It's a strong horse for the K-Car. Only 4,000 of this unique little sports car were built. Those in better condition were collected as collectibles by their owners, mostly in Japan. There should be fewer than 10 outside the country. After 1995, Mazda continued to fall into economic crisis, and the company was in pretty bad shape. It was resurrected by the harga beat product until 2002. Although it is one of the few Japanese automakers that takes the fun of driving seriously, the MX-5 sports CAR is also known around the world, but for now Mazda still seems to have no intention of bringing back the K-Car. . Waiting for another surprise product, such as the AZ-1, could take years.

2. Honda Beat

Honda Beat was born in May 1991. It was the last Honda overseen by Soichiro Honda, the maniacal president. The beat size is 3290x1400x1170mm and the weight is 870kg, most of which are soft-top convertibles and very few hardtop models. Unlike most K-Cars, which use turbocharged engines, Honda loves naturally aspirated engines and has equipped the Beat with a 656cc three-cylinder SOHC naturally aspirated engine (codename E70A) that uses Honda motorcycle engine technology. MRTEC multi-throat direct injection technology, mid-engine rear-wheel drive.

Like the Mazda AZ-1, Beat has a very strong Suzuki background, with much of its mechanical design done by Honda and Suzuki. The biggest feature of the Beat, of course, is its naturally aspirated engine. Like the Civic's B16A at the same time, the Beat E70A is at full speed and can Beat a driver's heart. Must release a maximum of 64 horsepower at 8,100 RPM, while the bottom of the tachometer is 10,000 RPM! Uniquely, the Beat rides more naturally and smoothly because the turbine has no lag issues. Until it was discontinued in 1996, 33,600 of the CAR were produced, the largest ever produced by the K-Car sports CAR Sanbo.

As early as 2008, it was reported that Honda intended to produce a new generation of Beat that would use the FR layout instead of the MR layout. However, the global financial crisis has seriously affected Honda's development plans for the new NSX, the town factory's treasure trove, and the launch of the new Beat is a long way off. Still, it is one of the most promising of ABC's three jewels.

3.Suzuki Cappuccino

After many references to Suzuki, the Suzuki branded cappuccino finally made its official appearance. Cappuccino was introduced in November 1991. Suzuki's slogan is "a pure two-seater sports car that everyone can afford". The cappuccino is 3300x1400x1190mm in size and weighs 690kg with a removable hardtop design. In terms of power, Suzuki's widely used F6A (early model) and K6A (later model) three-cylinder turbocharged engines on the Alto and WagonR have a displacement of 658cc and a horsepower of 64ps.

Unlike the British-designed AZ-1 and Bentley Farina's Beat, Suzuki's original cappuccino had a simple overall line look, but it never opened with a 50:50 front and rear weight and a smart and flexible steering. It seems simple enough. The perfect counterweight, excellent engine, and Suzuki's deep knowledge of K-cars make the cappuccino a high-end driving experience. Although only 26,000 were produced when it was discontinued in 1997, it has the highest status among K-car sports cars, the ABC Sambo. Later, cappuccinos were exported to Europe (mainly to the UK market) and were at one point voted the best sports car in the UK under £20,000. This is a high compliment for a K-Car from Japan. In Japan, the power of cappuccinos has been increased to more than 130 pieces, and second-hand prices for cappuccinos in good condition remain high.

The cappuccino is a success for Suzuki, the minicar specialist, but not enough to turn a fat profit for the company. Suzuki cannot continue to produce such niche K-Car products without the support of premium CAR profits. The cappuccino has become an enduring memory and classic for K-Car fans. Suzuki is trying to make a breakthrough in high-end cars and SUVs this year. We also hope that Suzuki's business situation will continue to improve and that it will be able to resume its sports car development program. After all, the next best K-Car sports CAR is likely to be made by Suzuki.

4. Which day does the classic appear again

After 1995, the wave of Japanese sports cars passed and small SUVs began to appear. Major manufacturers have focused their resources on the development of SUV models. For example, the familiar Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and other famous Japanese city SUVs had been developed at the time. The market for sports cars shrank sharply, and many famous sports car models were discontinued. The K-Car, of course, cannot escape the disaster.

Increasingly stringent environmental laws have also placed huge restrictions on sports cars. Emissions have been a perennial problem because of the emphasis placed on engine output by motion models. Environmental standards have risen and the car market is small. Most manufacturers just stop making sports cars. This is also an important reason for the overall decline of Japanese sports cars at the end of the last century. In addition, the Japanese economy continues to languish, and the Japanese people prefer to choose larger, more practical cars. The two-seater K-Car, which appeals to customers solely on price and good driving feel, has become a complete failure.

The Daihatsu Copen is already a relatively rare K-car sports CAR in Japan. This low-cost (front-wheel drive), cute little sports car is aimed at women and focuses on wind speed and easy driving. Although it is fundamentally different from the ABC Sambo presented in this article, I also want to see it as a hope for the rebirth of the remaining Japanese K-Car sports cars.

Now the sports car trend is once again sweeping the world. For the young and shy, the K-Car class is the most personal and fun to drive CAR. I don't know when the next generation of K-Car classic sports cars will appear again, and when they will appear in China.