Daihatsu celebrates centenary with limited editions

Japanese manufacturer, Daihatsu is celebrating this year’s centenary with two high-value limited edition models based on the Terios mini-SUV and Sirion supermini.

Both will be available in September and – as numbers are limited to 100 of each model – Daihatsu is expecting a total sell-out by the end of the month.

Established in 1907, Daihatsu is a world leader in compact car design and manufacture, renowned for its reliability, practicality and low running costs.

Based on the entry-level Terios S, the new Terios Centenary offers the additional equipment of: Silver metallic paint, alloy wheels, leather-covered steering wheel, front fog lamps and roof rails.

Costing just £12,695 On-The-Road, the Terios Centenary is only £350 more than the Terios S which currently enjoys a £1,000 price cut.

Standard specification also includes air-conditioning, power-steering, ABS with EBD and full-time four-wheel drive with electronic centre diff-lock.

Also standard on the Terios are driver, passenger and side airbags, radio/CD player, four electric windows and even reverse parking sensors.

Being considerably larger than the previous Terios – and boasting a generous 380 litre capacity boot – the Daihatsu flagship also has three rear-seat three-point seatbelts.

Running costs are low for a 4x4 with a ‘politically-correct’ Extra Urban fuel consumption of 40.4 mpg for the Terios 1.5 S and a highly-competitive Group 7D insurance rating.

Meanwhile, the Sirion Centenary is based on the entry-level S model but adds: Silver metallic paint, alloy wheels, electrically-adjustable door mirrors and driver’s seat height-adjustment.

Priced at £7,395 On-The-Road, the Sirion Centenary is only £115 more than the Sirion S which currently benefits from a £500 price cut.

The Sirion’s generous equipment includes air-conditioning, ABS with EBD, driver, passenger and side airbags, radio/CD player, four electric windows and remote central-locking.

The Sirion also has outstanding fuel economy, recording 64.2 mpg on the Extra Urban Cycle for the 1.0 litre version which also has an ultra-low CO2 of 118 g/km.

Daihatsu’s forerunner, Hatsudoki Seizo Company Limited, was founded in 1907 to manufacture internal combustion engines.

The first truck was produced in 1919 and a range of three-wheeled vehicles introduced in 1930, followed by the mid-sized four-wheeled car – the FA – in 1937. In May 1965 Daihatsu became the first Japanese manufacturer to export to Britain with the 797 cc Compagno Berlina.

This exact car is now owned by Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited and regularly takes part in classic car rallies and dealer events.