TOKYO — The Daihatsu e:S concept, set to debut this month at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show, looks fairly conventional and virtually production-ready. Perhaps the most remarkable feature about the car is its projected fuel economy: 71 miles per gallon on the 10-15 Japan test cycle, which is achieved not through the application of exotic materials or cutting-edge technology, but through lower weight, smaller exterior dimensions and enhancement of the existing internal-combustion engine.
The small gasoline engine is fitted with EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) and a stop-start system but is otherwise relatively conventional.
Daihatsu built the e:S — the name stands for "eco & smart" — on its existing minicar architecture, shrinking the wheelbase to 85.6 inches and reducing the weight to 1,543 pounds through such techniques as the use of slim, lightweight seats and lighter materials.
The three-door hatchback seats four adults and looks as if it would fit comfortably into Japan's kei jidosha (minicar) category.
Inside Line says: No electric motors, no batteries, no plug-in port, no infrastructure worries. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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