Kei Central

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I want a AZ-1
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Oh man, I really want a Midget (the Trimobile type on the right, rather than the handlebar-driven one on the left). There are some great driving videos of them on Youtube:


I agree, I've always wanted one. They are extremely rare in the US, even the US Spec models.
 
Suzuki also revived the name on a two-wheeler at Tokyo a few years back - they had this Hustler Scoot alongside the production Hustler kei car.

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Right up there with the Honda Zoomer/Ruckus and Yamaha Vox for utilitarian styling on scooters, for me. Don't think Suzuki makes a production version though, which is a shame.

To get back on topic (with cars, anyway) - a bit of love for another Suzuki, the Lapin.

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These things make me smile. Kei cars in general really - they all make me wonder why, aside from a few rare examples (Suzuki Ignis, Fiat Panda) a lot of modern small cars are such miserable devices, when it's obvious that small cars can be so cheerful to be around.
 
Hopestar. A very small company that started out making three-wheel trucks in the 1950s. They were actually quite successful. They then moved on to adorable kei-class four-wheel trucks including a cab-over model. Unfortunately the market was getting crowded and Hopestar was struggling to compete. Finally they tried to market a small Jeep-like vehicle, the ON360. They only built 15 between 1968-1969 before the company folded. Suzuki bought them out and turned the ON360 into the Jimny and history was made.





 
That Neo Classic Racer is mega. More pics:

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And bonus production Neo Classic too:

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I wasn't quite sure about the regular Neo Classic, because while I like the details they don't entirely suit the S660's shape. But the Racer transforms the basic elements enough that it looks like its own car. Cool thing.
 
That Neo Classic Racer is mega. More pics

Honda Really need to make a S660 Coupe, apart from the AZ-1 has their ever been another MR Kei Coupe?

I have wondered since the S660 is out if Kei regulations are actualy keeping a figure of the real power of these cars, or if it's going the way of the Gentlemans agreement(not that I would complain lol).
 
I have wondered since the S660 is out if Kei regulations are actualy keeping a figure of the real power of these cars, or if it's going the way of the Gentlemans agreement(not that I would complain lol).
I think they are still making the same power as ever - it's a legal requirement, which I don't think the gentlemans' agreement ever was. The turbocharged ones seem as easy to tune as ever, though.

Edit:

S660 "Trad Leather" edition has been revealed:

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I hadn't realised how funky the Wagon R had become. In my head the regular ones are just the standard kei box, and the only one that really stood out was the old Wagon R RR:

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...but a car in the background of the most recent MCM vid caught my eye, and after a bit of research it turned out to be a Wagon R - specifically, the Wagon R Stingray. Really neat looking thing, within the limitations of it still being a tall kei box!

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And meanwhile, the regular Wagon R is fairly slick too.

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The bright colours certainly help I think - you get so used to seeing basic boxy keis in black, white or silver.

I still think kei cars are one of very few genres not overly affected by the march of progress in technology etc too. They're not getting larger or more powerful or much heavier because they can't, given the strict rules they have to adhere to. So it's mainly design and tech, and manufacturers really put some effort in as those are the only real places you can offer a competitive advantage (I saw one website noting that the Wagon R had got more interesting because it now had to compete with cars like the Honda N-Box Slash).

I've not driven many keis, but its hard to imagine them suffering in terms of driving experience - by most accounts, the mainstream ones have hardly been drivers cars in the first place, yet I expect the modern ones are quieter and more comfortable. And there are still sporty ones, whether that's Alto Works RSs or actual kei sports cars like the Copen and S660.
 
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