[Val Brown]

Hi!

I got some more info on the car (it didn't take too much time :)). It is called Daihatsu Boon (it wasn't my idea...), and it's got pretty gawky exterior measures. It's 3595 mm long, 1665 mm wide and 1535 mm tall. The platform is taken from the recently released Tanto mini MPV with a wheelbase of 2440 mm. It weighs around 900-980 kg. It will feature Daihatsu's 3 cylinder 1 litre engine (with 71 HP in Japan!!) and the jointly developed 1.3 litre with 90 HP (again in Japan). The car will have an optional 4WD system, too. According to the source, prices should lower (!) a bit.
I don't know about you, but it's size is rather silly. With a length of only 3,6 m, it's not even a small car, it's a minicar! Against what will it compete?! Fiat Panda (it's only slightly smaller)? Opel Agila?
The only good thing in making the new Sirion (I wonder now, whether they will call it Sirion again) 10 cm shorter is that it won't compete with the bigger YRV (which's future is still questionable)...

I also have some more news about the next Terios, which is due next spring in Europe: it will be a shortened version of Daihatsu's Indonesian Xenia MPV, of course with 4WD and a higher base. Thanks to this, the second generation will be a lot roomier and will boost a bigger engine (1.5 litre) - I have no information, whether the 1.3 will be available or not.

I'll be sending further infos on the cars as soon as I get my hands on them!!

Bye for now, Val