The is a kei car produced by Japanese automaker

Daihatsu , commonly known as Daihatsu, is a Japanese automobile manufacturer and one of the oldest surviving Japanese internal combustion engine manufacturers. The company's headquarters are located in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture. Historically, Daihatsu was ...

from 1992 to 2002, which replaced the

Leeza ''Leeza'' is an NBC and syndicated daytime television talk show. It premiered on June 14, 1993 as ''John & Leeza from Hollywood'', hosted by John Tesh and Leeza Gibbons. Tesh left the show after seven months, and on January 17, 1994, the pro ...

. It was available with a 658 cc

petrol Gasoline (; ) or petrol (; ) (see ) is a transparent, petroleum-derived flammable liquid that is used primarily as a fuel in most spark-ignited internal combustion engines (also known as petrol engines). It consists mostly of organic c ...

engine and either front- or

four-wheel drive Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer cas ...

, and marketed as a more upmarket variant of the

Mira Mira (), designation Omicron Ceti (ο Ceti, abbreviated Omicron Cet, ο Cet), is a red-giant star estimated to be 200–400 light-years from the Sun in the constellation Cetus. ο Ceti is a binary stellar system, consisting of a vari ...

. The name "Opti" refers to both "optimistic" and "optimum". __TOC__

First generation (L300; 1992)

The first-generation Opti was launched in Japan in January 1992, after having been previewed at the 1991

Tokyo Motor Show The is a biennial auto show held in October–November at the Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), it is a recognized international show ...

as the "X-409". The Opti was built on the L200 series Mira chassis.'' Automobile Guide Book 1992~'93'', p. 159 The round appearance was conceived around an "ultra lovely" theme and was aimed at female buyers. Specifications were also higher than usual in the kei class, with ample sound insulation and additional rust protection. All models originally came with a

fuel-injected Fuel injection is the introduction of fuel in an internal combustion engine, most commonly automotive engines, by the means of an injector. This article focuses on fuel injection in reciprocating piston and Wankel rotary engines. All com ...

, SOHC, 12-valve three-cylinder engine with . It was available as a three-door hatchback with an electrically operated canvas top was also available. A 4WD model (dubbed Aℓ-4) was also available. In September 1992, the Ox, Ax, and Aℓ-4 trim levels were joined by the low-priced Ad, a sportier Ad-S and the luxurious Ad-I which also has a driver's side airbag. The Ad model got a two-valve version of the '' EF'' engine with . In December 1992, the Opti Club Sport was introduced, a version with 13-inch aluminium wheels, sports suspension and a

Momo Momo may refer to: Geography * Momo (department), a division of Northwest Province in Cameroon * Momo, Gabon, a town in the Woleu-Ntem province of Gabon * Momo, Piedmont, a town in the province of Novara, in northern Italy * Joffrey Tower, in ...

steering wheel, only available in metallic black colour. In August 1993, a five-door variant arrived, as well as the lower-priced Pico model. In May 1994, the Pico S was introduced; this version combined the Pico specifications with the sporting additions of the Club Sport. The three-speed automatic transmission were upgraded to a four-speed unit. In February 1995, the Opti sticker on the right side of the bonnet was replaced with a centrally-placed shield logo. At the same time the Parco special edition, equipped with a roof spoiler, was introduced. In October 1995, the SOHC 12-valve ''EF-EL'' engine was replaced with a

DOHC An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion cha ...

version (''EF-ZL''), which also equipped in Pico Limited. The canvas top option was discontinued. In May 1996, the retro Opti Classic model was introduced, featuring a chrome grille and various other detail touches including leather trimmed interior. A driver's side airbag also became standard across the range, reflecting updated regulations. In May 1997, the front bumper and taillights were changed. The Classic variant was also changed cosmetically and the chromed "Classic" emblem was no longer mounted on the bonnet. In August 1997, the Club Sport model was reintroduced as a permanent member of the lineup, which is still a three-door model equipped with Momo steering wheel. It was based on the Classic model. In December 1997, the Parco Classic limited edition model was introduced. In November 1998, as kei car regulations were changed, the first-generation Opti was replaced by the second-generation model. File:Daihatsu Opti 005.JPG, Opti Parco File:Daihatsu opti l300s picolimited 1 f.jpg, Opti Pico Limited File:Daihatsu opti l300s picolimited 1 r.jpg, Opti Pico Limited File:Daihatsu Opti Classic 005.JPG, Opti Classic File:Daihatsu Opti Classic 002.JPG, Opti Classic

YM Mobilemates Ami

YM Mobilemates, a branch of

Yamaha Motor Company is a Japanese multinational manufacturer of motorcycles, marine products such as boats and outboard motors, and other motorized products. The company was established in 1955 upon separation from Yamaha Corporation (however, Yamaha Corporatio ...

, produced the Ami (stylised as "ami"), a micro coupé with

Ferrari F40 The Ferrari F40 (''tipo'' F120) is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car engineered by Nicola Materazzi with styling by Pininfarina. It was built from 1987 until 1992, with the LM and GTE race car versions continuing production until 199 ...

-inspired design. The Ami is a variant of the Opti fitted with a dummy

mid-engine design In automotive engineering, a mid-engine layout describes the placement of an automobile engine in front of the rear-wheel axles, but behind the front axle. History The mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive format can be considered the original layout of ...

body. It came with the same engine as the Opti, an SOHC or DOHC 12-valve engine. 600 units of the car were planned to be produced but it was said that only three were ordered. The Ami was only sold in Japan's capital area via an event ticket supplier called Ticket Pia.

Second generation (L800; 1998)

The second-generation Opti was launched in Japan in November 1998. It was based on the modified L500 series Mira chassis, and available as a four-door hardtop sedan in two different styles: Opti and Opti Classic (launched in 2000). The high-performance model, called Opti Aerodown Beex, was also available. It was discontinued in 2002. File:Daihatsu Opti Classic 203.JPG, Opti Classic File:Daihatsu Opti Classic 012.JPG, Opti Classic File:Daihatsu Opti Aerodown Beex2.jpg, Opti Aerodown Beex

References

{{Daihatsu timeline Opti Cars introduced in 1992 2000s cars Kei cars Front-wheel-drive vehicles All-wheel-drive vehicles Hatchbacks Sedans