The UK's most powerful 1.3 litre car - the Daihatsu YRV Turbo 130 - enters dealer showrooms late May priced at only £10,995 on-the-road despite an extensive equipment list which includes a steering wheel-mounted automatic gearchange.
Featuring a versatile body similar in length to a supermini yet with the passenger space of the next size up, the Daihatsu YRV Turbo 130 combines blistering performance with excellent fuel consumption and low exhaust emissions.
Maximum power is 129 PS at 6,400 rpm while the 125.4 lb.ft of torque is similar to an advanced 1.8 litre car and is achieved at an especially low 2,800 rpm.
This results in rapid acceleration - 0-60 mph, for example, takes 8.1 seconds - coupled to excellent flexibility, refinement and fuel economy as the strong torque allows high gearing.
For example, second gear can exceed 75 mph, while the overdrive top helps contribute to Urban/Extra Urban and Combined figures of 30.1/50.4 and 40.4 mpg.
Meanwhile, exhaust emissions of 165 g/km mean a company car driver would only pay 17 per cent of the car's value under the new Benefit-In-Kind tax rules for 2003-2004 - less than for the best Euro 3 diesel.
All YRVs feature a 1,298 cc all-alloy four-cylinder 16-valve twin overhead camshaft petrol engine with DVVT - Dynamic Variable Valve Timing. This optimises power and torque over a wide rev-range. When coupled to the lightweight, fast-response turbo with intercooler, engine efficiency is further boosted.
The turbo itself uses sensors to precisely match boost with the torque required, giving particularly strong throttle response.
Steershift Automatic
Called 'Steershift' the automatic transmission has been specially adapted to suit the characteristics of the turbocharger, effectively masking any 'lag' - the delay felt at low speed when depressing the accelerator pedal.
Inspired by Formula One, 'Steershift' uses steering-wheel-mounted, finger-operated buttons with '+' or '-' to change up or down.
Best enjoyed on country roads, 'Steershift' gives the driver greater control over gear choice, allowing the rapid selection of a lower gear. This is especially useful when approaching an unexpected bend.
Alternatively, the driver can forget about changing gear altogether by selecting 'Drive' on the conventional floor-mounted shift lever.
Even More Distinctive
The Daihatsu YRV - originally launched in March 2001 - already enjoys distinctive 'double wedge' styling.
Called 'double wedge' because of the two different sweeping belt lines of the side windows, the depth of the spacious body is also disguised by tight spacing between the top of the tyres and wheelarches and deep front and rear under-spoilers together with side skirts.
Now, for the Turbo 130, the YRV receives a distinctive bonnet air-intake, large fog lamps set in a black panel, high-gloss, 10-spoke alloy wheels with 175/55 R15 tyres and a standard 'panorama' fixed glass roof, stretching from the windscreen over the front seats.
Additional exterior features specially developed by the UK importer include twin exhaust tail pipes, special badges, a red background to the front and rear 'Daihatsu' logos and striking side stripes.
Inside, the UK model benefits from an aluminium foot-rest and leather-bound steering wheel, gear-lever and gaiter.
Finally, set into the instrument cluster are two 'change-up' lights for use in 'Steershift' mode. The first in green illuminates at 6,200 rpm to give the driver advanced notice that an upchange is needed. Then, when 6,600 rpm is approached, a red light advises that the '+' should be hit.
Extensive Standard Equipment
The Daihatsu YRV Turbo 130's equipment tally matches cars costing twice the price with, for example, air-conditioning, alloy wheels and anti-lock brakes with EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution).
Also standard is a radio/CD player, four electric windows, remote central-locking, driver and passenger airbags and split-folding/sliding rear seats with a fore and aft range of 150 mm. This allows the owner to vary the ratio of passenger and luggage space.
Uprated Suspension - Further Tuned In The UK
The Daihatsu YRV Turbo 130 has uprated front and rear suspension compared to the naturally-aspirated models plus the fitment of a rear anti-roll bar specially developed in the UK after extensive testing on local roads.
The front suspension comprises MacPherson struts with offset, variable-rate coil springs, lower wishbones and an anti-roll bar. The rear utilises a semi-independent torsion beam axle with coil springs.
Naturally, steering is power-assisted with especially direct responses - further aided by the rear anti-roll bar which gives sharp, understeer-resisting turn-in. The turning-circle is an especially tight 8.8 metres between kerbs.
No Dummy In A Crash Test
Like the Sirion, the YRV has a front structure designed to deflect the engine and transmission downwards in the event of a frontal impact, rather than intruding into the cabin, to better protect the occupants.
Pedestrians are also well catered for with the YRV having a smoothly contoured bonnet with shock-absorbing spaces in the windscreen-wiper pivots, bonnet, bonnet hinges and wings. This philosophy helped the Sirion become the first car ever to be awarded three stars in the Euro NCAP supermini pedestrian crash tests.
The Daihatsu YRV Turbo 130 also has a full impact-sensing safety system. In the event of a collision, the system activates the standard front airbags, turns the inside light on, unlocks the doors, switches on the hazard warning lights and turns off the fuel pump.
Like all new Daihatsus the YRV Turbo 130 has a three year unlimited mileage warranty which includes roadside recovery. It also provides six years' corrosion cover plus three years' paintwork protection against manufacturing defects.
Featuring a versatile body similar in length to a supermini yet with the passenger space of the next size up, the Daihatsu YRV Turbo 130 combines blistering performance with excellent fuel consumption and low exhaust emissions.
Maximum power is 129 PS at 6,400 rpm while the 125.4 lb.ft of torque is similar to an advanced 1.8 litre car and is achieved at an especially low 2,800 rpm.
This results in rapid acceleration - 0-60 mph, for example, takes 8.1 seconds - coupled to excellent flexibility, refinement and fuel economy as the strong torque allows high gearing.
For example, second gear can exceed 75 mph, while the overdrive top helps contribute to Urban/Extra Urban and Combined figures of 30.1/50.4 and 40.4 mpg.
Meanwhile, exhaust emissions of 165 g/km mean a company car driver would only pay 17 per cent of the car's value under the new Benefit-In-Kind tax rules for 2003-2004 - less than for the best Euro 3 diesel.
All YRVs feature a 1,298 cc all-alloy four-cylinder 16-valve twin overhead camshaft petrol engine with DVVT - Dynamic Variable Valve Timing. This optimises power and torque over a wide rev-range. When coupled to the lightweight, fast-response turbo with intercooler, engine efficiency is further boosted.
The turbo itself uses sensors to precisely match boost with the torque required, giving particularly strong throttle response.
Steershift Automatic
Called 'Steershift' the automatic transmission has been specially adapted to suit the characteristics of the turbocharger, effectively masking any 'lag' - the delay felt at low speed when depressing the accelerator pedal.
Inspired by Formula One, 'Steershift' uses steering-wheel-mounted, finger-operated buttons with '+' or '-' to change up or down.
Best enjoyed on country roads, 'Steershift' gives the driver greater control over gear choice, allowing the rapid selection of a lower gear. This is especially useful when approaching an unexpected bend.
Alternatively, the driver can forget about changing gear altogether by selecting 'Drive' on the conventional floor-mounted shift lever.
Even More Distinctive
The Daihatsu YRV - originally launched in March 2001 - already enjoys distinctive 'double wedge' styling.
Called 'double wedge' because of the two different sweeping belt lines of the side windows, the depth of the spacious body is also disguised by tight spacing between the top of the tyres and wheelarches and deep front and rear under-spoilers together with side skirts.
Now, for the Turbo 130, the YRV receives a distinctive bonnet air-intake, large fog lamps set in a black panel, high-gloss, 10-spoke alloy wheels with 175/55 R15 tyres and a standard 'panorama' fixed glass roof, stretching from the windscreen over the front seats.
Additional exterior features specially developed by the UK importer include twin exhaust tail pipes, special badges, a red background to the front and rear 'Daihatsu' logos and striking side stripes.
Inside, the UK model benefits from an aluminium foot-rest and leather-bound steering wheel, gear-lever and gaiter.
Finally, set into the instrument cluster are two 'change-up' lights for use in 'Steershift' mode. The first in green illuminates at 6,200 rpm to give the driver advanced notice that an upchange is needed. Then, when 6,600 rpm is approached, a red light advises that the '+' should be hit.
Extensive Standard Equipment
The Daihatsu YRV Turbo 130's equipment tally matches cars costing twice the price with, for example, air-conditioning, alloy wheels and anti-lock brakes with EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution).
Also standard is a radio/CD player, four electric windows, remote central-locking, driver and passenger airbags and split-folding/sliding rear seats with a fore and aft range of 150 mm. This allows the owner to vary the ratio of passenger and luggage space.
Uprated Suspension - Further Tuned In The UK
The Daihatsu YRV Turbo 130 has uprated front and rear suspension compared to the naturally-aspirated models plus the fitment of a rear anti-roll bar specially developed in the UK after extensive testing on local roads.
The front suspension comprises MacPherson struts with offset, variable-rate coil springs, lower wishbones and an anti-roll bar. The rear utilises a semi-independent torsion beam axle with coil springs.
Naturally, steering is power-assisted with especially direct responses - further aided by the rear anti-roll bar which gives sharp, understeer-resisting turn-in. The turning-circle is an especially tight 8.8 metres between kerbs.
No Dummy In A Crash Test
Like the Sirion, the YRV has a front structure designed to deflect the engine and transmission downwards in the event of a frontal impact, rather than intruding into the cabin, to better protect the occupants.
Pedestrians are also well catered for with the YRV having a smoothly contoured bonnet with shock-absorbing spaces in the windscreen-wiper pivots, bonnet, bonnet hinges and wings. This philosophy helped the Sirion become the first car ever to be awarded three stars in the Euro NCAP supermini pedestrian crash tests.
The Daihatsu YRV Turbo 130 also has a full impact-sensing safety system. In the event of a collision, the system activates the standard front airbags, turns the inside light on, unlocks the doors, switches on the hazard warning lights and turns off the fuel pump.
Like all new Daihatsus the YRV Turbo 130 has a three year unlimited mileage warranty which includes roadside recovery. It also provides six years' corrosion cover plus three years' paintwork protection against manufacturing defects.