The Fridge
02-16-2009, 08:56 AM
I just saw this article and haven't seen these mentioned here lately...
Japan's bargain Kei Cars
February 16, 2009 Kei cars (from "kei-jidosha" - ‘light automobile’) are a uniquely Japanese phenomena which began as a tax and insurance break stimulus for the Japanese car industry in the immediate post WWII era and still exists today. Kei regulations only restrict physical size (3.4 m long, 1.48 m wide and 2 m tall), engine displacement (660cc) and power (47kW), so manufacturers have used every square centimetre and stacked it with as many advanced technologies as possible in order to differentiate their vehicles. The top-selling Kei car is Suzuki's Wagon R which offers a DOHC VVT 660cc engine, CVT transmission, engine stop-start, EBD, ABS, plus a very interesting new Viscodrive coupling that provides on-demand AWD capability without electronics or driver intervention. Prices start at under 10 million yen (USD 9100) and the fully optioned Wagon R still comes in at under USD15,000. Maybe we need a similar stimulus based around size and emissions....
http://www.gizmag.com/japans-bargain-kei-cars/11006/
Japan's bargain Kei Cars
February 16, 2009 Kei cars (from "kei-jidosha" - ‘light automobile’) are a uniquely Japanese phenomena which began as a tax and insurance break stimulus for the Japanese car industry in the immediate post WWII era and still exists today. Kei regulations only restrict physical size (3.4 m long, 1.48 m wide and 2 m tall), engine displacement (660cc) and power (47kW), so manufacturers have used every square centimetre and stacked it with as many advanced technologies as possible in order to differentiate their vehicles. The top-selling Kei car is Suzuki's Wagon R which offers a DOHC VVT 660cc engine, CVT transmission, engine stop-start, EBD, ABS, plus a very interesting new Viscodrive coupling that provides on-demand AWD capability without electronics or driver intervention. Prices start at under 10 million yen (USD 9100) and the fully optioned Wagon R still comes in at under USD15,000. Maybe we need a similar stimulus based around size and emissions....
http://www.gizmag.com/japans-bargain-kei-cars/11006/