Neglect the big-boosting Nissan Skyline GT-Rs and wide-bodied Lamborghini Miuras – what we actually need is more odd kei vehicles.
There’s one thing irresistibly enjoyable about tiny automobiles designed to appear to be supercars. They’re assured to place a smile in your face each time.
Particularly, I’m speaking about wild kei automobile creations like this Honda As we speak from 1988, which has gull-wing doorways and a 12A rotary engine swap, constructed by RE Amemiya and Bomex. I’m unsure why we don’t see extra one-of-a-kind kei initiatives alongside these traces – maybe one thing on account of value.
Nonetheless, in Japan, you’ll be able to nonetheless discover some fairly cool little vehicles reworked into alter egos of themselves. Listed below are my prime three kei builds from Tokyo Auto Salon 2025.
First up are these two lifted micro machines, which I’m grouping collectively as a result of I couldn’t resolve which one I favored extra.
The primary is a Mitsubishi EK Cross EV. Whereas it’s nonetheless only a front-wheel-drive electrical kei automobile, the excessive elevate and the art work depicting the Osaka Fort alongside the Tokyo Skytree greater than offset any powertrain deficiencies.
A number of cubicles over I discovered one other EK Cross, this time with an much more excessive elevate package. You have got a commanding driving place on this factor, though I’m unsure how nicely it’ll deal with boulders with that low-slung electrical motor between the axles. Nonetheless, it will get prime marks for ambition.
Subsequent, we’ve got the ‘NS660,’ essentially the most inexpensive NSX on the market. Because the title suggests, it’s based mostly on the Honda 660.
My neighbour has one and not too long ago fitted it with an NC1 NSX-style entrance bumper, however seeing one wearing an entire physique package that mirrors the unique NA1/2 NSX takes it to a different stage.
Lastly, the ‘Coperche’ 811 GT-Okay – and what a reputation! This Daihatsu Copen dressed up as a Porsche 911 GT3 by StanceMagic is a murals. The Copen was solely accessible as a tender prime, so seeing it reworked right into a superbly crafted hardtop coupe is sensible. The widened arches and real Porsche lights full the look completely.
The unique 660cc engine has been swapped for a 1.3L NA unit from one other Daihatsu, giving it some further energy besides. The white licence plates signify its transfer out of the yellow plate kei class.
As a bonus, and to come back full circle from the 1988 RE Amemiya Honda As we speak, this Mazda Carol remains to be underneath development. With its wide-body conversion and rotary swap, it’s wanting extremely promising.
Toby Thyer
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