Kei Cars and 'Trucks'

[Franco Cozzo]

Given the easing of restrictions on imported vehicles into Australia, has anyone noticed the increase in interest in 'Kei' cars?

The oddest of the odd belong to Japan’s kei jidosha, a sub-species of car known for its tiny proportions and pint-sized engines. Measuring no longer than 3.4 metres, no wider than 1.48 metres, and no taller than 2 metres, kei cars these days are also limited to engines no bigger than 660cc and a maximum output of 47kW.

There's some cool looking tiny cars:

Honda S660:



https://www.caradvice.com.au/393956/...w-quick-drive/

Nissan DAYZ:



https://www.carsales.com.au/editoria...review-122259/

Suzuki Carry:



I reckon these would be a fun little vehicle to modify and drive around like a gokart - it seems they've all got 650cc engines with a form of forced induction on some of them.

Would you get around town in a Kei Car? If so what would you own and what would you do with it?

[Rallye Sport]

My Charade is close to this class, a little wider and larger capacity.
As you say Franco, drive it like a go-kart. Its surprising how rapid these little things can be with a engine that has almost motorcycle characteristics. Add a little boost and you can't wipe the smile from my face and the looks of shock from alot of owners in more 'fancied' vehicles
These little imports make great bang for buck track day, hillclimb and motorkhana weapons. Or a sly road sleeper...

[Captain Stubing]

I know of someone who has a Mazda Autozam, it doesn't get driven much though. It's got a 657cc turbo charged, fire breathing donk in it.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

My Charade is close to this class, a little wider and larger capacity.
As you say Franco, drive it like a go-kart. Its surprising how rapid these little things can be with a engine that has almost motorcycle characteristics. Add a little boost and you can't wipe the smile from my face and the looks of shock from alot of owners in more 'fancied' vehicles
These little imports make great bang for buck track day, hillclimb and motorkhana weapons. Or a sly road sleeper...

I'm keen on a Suzuki Carry turbo variant, the little Ute

Chuck a Garrett GT0632SZ on it

https://gcg.com.au/Turbo-Charger-GT0...997-5001S.html

Or maybe the bigger Garrett GT1241

http://turbochargerspecs.blogspot.co...30-hp.html?m=1

Aftermarket ECU, a little more boost and it'll be great fun to hammer about.

I saw a YouTube clip of someone in the USA who did a 1000 Mile drive across their interstate system in an older van variant which was entertaining - has crappy production values but it's an entertaining watch someone driving a RHD tiny vehicle in the USA with it sitting on 6000 RPM for 1000 miles

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by Captain Stubing

I know of someone who has a Mazda Autozam, it doesn't get driven much though. It's got a 657cc turbo charged, fire breathing donk in it.

image

Looks very RS200 ish

[Captain Stubing]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Looks very RS200 ish
image

Perhaps there was some design idea exchanges, back when Ford and Mazda were sharing common platforms, such as the Laser/323 and Telstar/626 models.

[prktkljokr]

Have done some importing in the past, It gets harder and harder, the cars have to comply with Australian standards for the year they are imported, not the year they are made, so if it does not meet the regulations it will put a dent in your pocket to comply with engineers etc getting involved.

You would think as now we dont have a Automotive manufacturing industry to protect they would relax the laws a little.

[Yellow_Festiva]

I was emailing two importers in Jan just before the downturn.

Was after a few micro cars.

See what happens once things improve.

Love the micro / Kei car scene

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Would you get around town in a Kei Car? If so what would you own and what would you do with it?

Franco, this is me in the new Kei thing ready to pick up the 20ft high cube shipping container. Dual cab ute just couldn't do it.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

I was emailing two importers in Jan just before the downturn.

Was after a few micro cars.

See what happens once things improve.

Love the micro / Kei car scene

Iron Chef Imports seems to know their stuff

[Captain Stubing]

Originally Posted by prktkljokr

Have done some importing in the past, It gets harder and harder, the cars have to comply with Australian standards for the year they are imported, not the year they are made, so if it does not meet the regulations it will put a dent in your pocket to comply with engineers etc getting involved.

You would think as now we dont have a Automotive manufacturing industry to protect they would relax the laws a little.

I was speaking with a bloke who had an '86 Cosworth Sierra, and comparing his to mine. In the import process, his car had to have side intrusion bars fitted inside the doors, the process of having them fitted slightly buckled the door skins at each end.

Checking my car, which was imported in the mid 90's, and was an '85 model, I don't have the intrusion bars on mine.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Iron Chef Imports seems to know their stuff

I was talking to Japan Car Direct

I had my eye on a Suzuki Twin



There is also a Clubman style car that would be great to hoon around in:

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Franco, this is me in the new Kei thing ready to pick up the 20ft high cube shipping container. Dual cab ute just couldn't do it.

image

Have you see what the Yanks have done with these trucks?

Huge lift kits and lugged tyres, tank style tracks, snow ploughs, tippers....

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Franco, this is me in the new Kei thing ready to pick up the 20ft high cube shipping container. Dual cab ute just couldn't do it.

image

I need one in my life



Requires A/C and turbo though.

[CyberWasp]

You had to go and open the Kei closet didn't you.
I dunno what it is with these things but how can you resist.

I would like something modified along these lines if I was to get one.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

You had to go and open the Kei closet didn't you.
I dunno what it is with these things but how can you resist.

I would like something modified along these lines if I was to get one.

image

It's the right colour too

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

You had to go and open the Kei closet didn't you.
I dunno what it is with these things but how can you resist.

I would like something modified along these lines if I was to get one.

image

Pretty sure theres a tread mill in the tray and the rotti is the powerplant. There have been rotory conversions and things like gsxr1300 bike motor conversions to get these micro ute things motorvated.

[Eurotrash]

I love the Kei car class! Such cool looking little cars. I don't understand why the government just doesn't relax our importing laws so these things can be easily brought over here.

I have a thing for these Honda N-Vans at the moment.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

You had to go and open the Kei closet didn't you.
I dunno what it is with these things but how can you resist.

I would like something modified along these lines if I was to get one.

image

No, FU!

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

Pretty sure theres a tread mill in the tray and the rotti is the powerplant. There have been rotory conversions and things like gsxr1300 bike motor conversions to get these micro ute things motorvated.

I would install a VTT903 in the tray and roll some coal. Sorry, Greta.

Youtuber style......https://youtu.be/AFHG01VlHMo

[BENT_8]

Why would you bother importing one of those when the Picanto GT is basically the same thing with more power and available off the showroom floor.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Why would you bother importing one of those when the Picanto GT is basically the same thing with more power and available off the showroom floor.

Nope....

Kei cars are much smaller.

We haven't had a Kei car for sale here for several years? Possibly the Diahatsu Copen was the last locally available one?

Also, the sheer novelty of having something that small and unique attracts lots of people.

You can get a mini version of almost anything.

I love the philosophy behind them and wish we had more options to buy them aftermarket here.

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

We haven't had a Kei car for sale here for several years? Possibly the Diahatsu Copen was the last locally available one?

Isn't a Jimny essentially a kei car but with a wider track?

[Tassie f100]

Does it have to be japanese or does the jerry built Smart come into the category

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by naddis01

Isn't a Jimny essentially a kei car but with a wider track?

No.

The locally sold car is physically larger than the Japanese kei car version.

Not forgetting that the engine can't be more than 660cc as well.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Nope....

Kei cars are much smaller.

We haven't had a Kei car for sale here for several years? Possibly the Diahatsu Copen was the last locally available one?

Also, the sheer novelty of having something that small and unique attracts lots of people.

You can get a mini version of almost anything.

I love the philosophy behind them and wish we had more options to buy them aftermarket here.

Fair enough.

I compared the Picanto to the Mitsubishi eK , the Picanto is 20cm longer and 12 cm wider, the eK is 17cm taller and has a 10cm bigger wheel base, the Picanto is also lighter by comparison.
The engine size aspect is only relevant to Japan's tax rules.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Does it have to be japanese or does the jerry built Smart come into the category

Smart way too wide. They also mostly have an engine that is too big to be considered a Kei car.

[.:4:.]

I may be wrong, probably am, but i thought jap k cars were limited to 660cc motors. Some road tax deally.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Fair enough.

I compared the Picanto to the Mitsubishi eK , the Picanto is 20cm longer and 12 cm wider, the eK is 17cm taller and has a 10cm bigger wheel base, the Picanto is also lighter by comparison.
The engine size aspect is only relevant to Japan's tax rules.

Kia is also Korean.

I guess if you want to be specific then all rules regarding a Kei car should be adhered to to be called a Kei car.

So, I would say a Peel P50 is not a Kei car as it wasn't made in Japan even though the rest of the design and engine rules would make it so.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

I may be wrong, probably am, but i thought jap k cars were limited to 660cc motors. Some road tax deally.

Correct, 660cc / 47kw.

However the engines have been easily 'opened up' to make very envious power to cc ratios.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kei_car