Daihatsu Mira Engine
Abigail Tyrie
The Daihatsu Mira (also known as the Cuore, Domino, and more recently Charade) is a kei car and city car built by Japanese car maker Daihatsu. It has a variety of options and chassis variations, with the latest variant having four models: Mira, Mira AVY, Mira Gino, and Mira VAN. The Mira is the latest successor to the line of cars begun with the Daihatsu Fellow of 1966, and was originally introduced as the commercial version of the Cuore. Outside of Japan, the Mira has also been offered with larger 850 or 1000-cc engines. In Australia, the two-seater version was marketed as the Daihatsu Handivan and later as the Daihatsu Handi.[1] The term mira is Latin meaning "goal" or "purpose".
The L55 series was sold with two main engines - the two-cylinder AB10 unit of 547 cc, and the slightly larger 617-cc AD unit, which was installed in the export-only L60 Cuore.[3] They both featured twin balancing shafts, producing a smoothness and silent operations on par with a traditional four-cylinder engine. In tests, the 617-cc version of the car received plaudits for its refinement and its "lively" character and "enthusiastic" performance when compared to European competitors such as the Fiat Panda 30 and the Citron Visa Club, both also with two-cylinder engines.[4] The main issue was cost; the balance shaft-equipped two-cylinder supposedly cost as much to build as a conventional four-cylinder engine. The car was also commended by Quattroruote for its agile city driving characteristics, although it could hardly be considered fully fit for the autostrada. The 30 PS (22 kW) "big" version has a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).[4]
The bigger engine was introduced in the second half of 1982, as part of a push by Daihatsu to push its European exports.[5] In some markets, the two engines were both available. In Belgium, for instance, they were sold as the Cuore 550 for the small version and as the Cuore 623/625, depending on which bodywork was fitted.[6] The Cuore sold well in both Argentina and Chile in 1980 (4,300 cars shipped), but economic hardship there led to a cancellation of exports by 1982.[5]
In 1983, the Mira Turbo appeared. Only available in the Japanese market, and only as a commercial vehicle, it had a carburetted and turbocharged version of the little two-cylinder engine. This was enough for 41 PS (30 kW) and a resulting top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph).[3] In February 1985, the first Mira Parco special edition arrived, heralding a long relationship between Daihatsu and the Parco clothing chain. It received 10-inch alloy wheels, front disc brakes, air conditioning, radial tires, and a special Parco interior, and was sold directly through 11 Parco stores nationwide.[7] Parco also advertised the car through their own publications.
The second-generation (L70) Mira/Cuore was released in August 1985. It had a longer wheelbase and a new generation of three-cylinder engines replacing the previous two-cylinder (AB) versions. Displacement of the new EB engines remained exactly the same, at 547 cc. For the L80 export versions, an 847-cc three-cylinder was developed, called ED-10. In September 1986, a special version for the Swiss market appeared, with a narrower bore version displacing 796 cc (called ED-10A). Unlike the fractionally larger standard version, this one suited the four tax horsepower category in certain cantons, while other cantons had prominent tax limits at 800 cc.[9]
For the domestic Japanese market versions, commercial versions (Mira) were sold alongside passenger-car versions (Cuore). The commercials had temporary rear seats that fold completely flat, and are easily recognized by luggage rails in the rear side windows. For the previous generation, a version with switchable four-wheel drive was available for the "Van" version (chassis code L71V). The engines were originally carburetted, and either naturally aspirated or turbocharged (with intercooler). These offered 38 PS (28 kW) and 52 PS (38 kW), respectively.[10] The turbo version was originally only available as a Mira (three-door commercial), and was introduced two months after the regular version. Transmissions were either four- or five-speed manuals, with a two-speed automatic also available for the nonturbo versions.[11]
In January 1986, a five-door "Van" (Mira) version was added. A "Walk-through Van" version, using the regular bonnet combined with near square rear bodywork, appeared two months later. Folding doors (optional at the rear) made access possible even in the tightest streets. In August 1987, the Mira/Cuore received a minor facelift with a new grille and bonnet, as well as some other detail changes, all making for a smoother appearance overall. Two months later, a all-wheel drive version was made available in the turbocharged version. In February 1988, another Mira Parco special edition arrived.[12] It was only available in black and with a bright, pop-colored interior, and was aimed at 20-something buyers. This model sold out rapidly, and for the summer, a second Parco edition (now with a bright-blue interior) arrived, followed by the third Mira Parco in February 1989. This version received a turbocharged engine and four-wheel drive.[12]
Daihatsu's Thai arm carried on producing the L70 series after it was replaced in Japan, beginning in the second half of 1990. These were built by Daihatsu Phra Nakhon Motor, a joint venture between Daihatsu, Phra Nakhon Automobile, and the C. Itoh trading company.[14] In addition to assembling the regular version, they also developed a ute version for the pickup-hungry Thai domestic market called the Mira P1, which was built from 1990 to 1995. This featured a pickup bed, tailgate, and redesigned taillights. The Mira pickup was extremely popular, with Daihatsu's Thai sales jumping by 50% as a result.[15] Coming full circle, and mirroring the development of the SUV, Daihatsu Phra Nakhon also developed the Mira P4 - a roofed four-seater wagon version of this micro-ute. Some P4s retained the pickup's fold-down tailgate, adding a top-hinged glass, while some had a top-hinged one-piece tailgate. Later, an extended-cab 2+2-seater ute ("Daihatsu Miracab") and a hatchback with an enlarged rear end, called the "Mint", were offered.
While originally using the smaller engines as per the original Japanese specifications, these were too long to be classified as true kei cars. Later cars have the 850-cc engine as used in many other export markets.[16] Nonetheless, the 1997 Asian financial crisis marked the end for Daihatsu in Thailand, as sales plummeted from 4,000 in 1995 to 160 in 1997. Production ended in February 1998, and by March 1998, Daihatsu no longer offered cars in the Thai market.[16]
In 2004, Norkis, a Philippine company (known as the former assembler and distributor of Yamaha motorcycles in the country), revived the Mira Pickup, locally reconditioned from used imports and sold as the Legacy.[17] A panel van version is also available, as is a four-door double cab with a very short bed. Unlike the original L70 Mira, they have the later 659-cc EF engine, which is also available to run on LPG. It is longer and heavier than the original, with the original two-seat pickup weighing in at 900 kg (1,984 lb) and 3,630 mm (143 in) long.
The L200/201 was the third and thus far most popular generation of the vehicle, offered in a large number of variants. The Cuore name was dropped in the Japanese domestic market, as the differences between passenger and commercial versions were narrowed. The L200 (front-wheel drive) was produced with the Mira badge from the spring of 1990 until at least 1998, but the platform has lived on under other names. L201 was the chassis code used on export market cars, usually labelled Cuore.
As with most kei cars, the 200-series was built in two primary variants: The "V" Series is a windowed van style intended for light commercial use. This variant featured a fold-down rear bench seat without seat belts. The "S" series, intended for private use, is largely similar, but the larger, more comfortable rear seats are equipped with belts and are further to the rear of the vehicle with more leg room. While the seats still fold down, unlike the "V", the "S" does not offer a flat loading floor. These characteristics are due to Japanese tax preferences for commercial vehicles, which only allow for temporary accommodation in the rear and demand a flat loading floor. The top-of-the-line, turbocharged TR-XX model was available both as a passenger car version and as a van, with slightly higher equipment levels for the passenger version, which was fitted with a fuel-injected, 12-valve, turbocharged, and intercooled engine (EF-JL) producing 64 PS (47 kW). The TR-XX van, meanwhile, had less stringent emissions requirements and received a carburetted, six-valve version of the same intercooled turbo engine (EF-XL), producing 61 PS (45 kW) without the passenger version's three-way catalyst.
The range received a very subtle facelift of a more rounded overall appearance for 1993; it included altered front and rear lights, bumpers, and a new bonnet and front seats.[19] This version was available to Japanese customers from August 1992, and also incorporated some changes to the lineup. Turbocharged automatics now received a four-speed transmission. Shortly thereafter, the new RV-4 model appeared. This version, with its crossover pretensions, latched onto the wave of so-called "RVs" (recreational vehicles) that became popular in Japan in the early 1990s.[20] The RV-4 received distinct cladding, somewhat raised suspension, a roofrack and bullbar, as well as a protective plate for the engine.[20]
The Mira could either be equipped with a three-speed automatic, or four- or five-speed manual transmission. A part-time four-wheel drive variant known as the L210 was also available in V or S models, only with the five-speed manual. Also, a version with mechanical four-wheel steering (the L220), so far was the only kei car to feature this option.[21] In November 1990, a version with all-wheel drive (permanent four-wheel drive) appeared, called the X-4. This had the same 64 PS (47 kW) fuel-injected, turbocharged engine as the front-wheel drive-only TR-XX, and shared much of that car's equipment. Sales targets were about 700 cars per month for this version.[22] Along with the August 1992 facelift, the X-4 was incorporated into the TR-XX series, while the TR-XX van was discontinued, reflecting changing tax conditions.[23]