Daihatsu has announced it has opened
bookings for the Taft in Japan – the SUV-style kei car will go on sale in June,
having been previewed by a near-production concept at this year’s Tokyo Auto
Salon. Being more of a tall, rugged hatchback rather than an out-and-out 4×4, the Taft is closer in spirit to the Hustler and
should provide some welcome competition.
The Taft moniker was first used on a 4×4
SUV introduced in 1974, where it stood for Tall & Almighty Four-wheel
Touring Vehicle. Since this new one is likely to be offered as a front-wheel
drive model (with optional all-wheel drive, as is usual in Japan), the
backronym has been changed to Tall & Almighty Fun Tool.
Judging by the show car, the Taft will
essentially be a production version of the WakuWaku concept that was shown at
the Tokyo Motor Show in October. It will sport a similarly buff front end,
featuring octagonal headlights and a beefy bumper, plus boxy black plastic
fender flares and an upright glasshouse. A slotted grille-like chrome appliqué,
which gives the car a Jeep-like look, appears to be available as an option.
Unlike the WakuWaku, which had hidden rear
door handles and orange panelling instead of rear side windows, the Taft will
have regular pull handles. The leading edge of the rear windows will also be
slanted to add some visual drama, while the tail lights will be C-shaped items
with triple vertical blocks that mirror the front LED daytime running lights.
The cubic aesthetic will continue on the
inside, with the concept exhibiting a blocky dashboard with vertical orange air
vents. The centre console will be particularly striking, with an orange
rectangle surrounding the right air vent (the left vent is horizontal) and
gearlever. A touchscreen display panel will sit on top of the dash, and there
will also be a large glass roof and what Daihatsu calls a “flat, easy-to-use
luggage space.” No technical details have been released, but the Taft should
use the KF range of 658 cc naturally-aspirated and turbocharged engines to
comply with kei car regulations.