More small wonders

By ALASTAIR SLOANE motoring editor

Japanese carmaker Daihatsu calls it the Copen - "Co" for compact and "pen" for open. It was a hit at the Tokyo motor show last year and it has been turning heads in Japan since its launch in August.

It attracted admirers at the Sydney show last week, too. The turbocharged 660cc three-cylinder runabout - Daihatsu calls it "hip and zippy" - is the latest model from the small-car specialist.

Toyota has taken over distribution of Daihatsu in New Zealand, and it is not known if the funky Copen will go on sale here.

It is one of a host of small coupe/convertibles from carmakers continuing to dial a fun factor into their models.

Peugeot began the trend with the 206cc. Nissan showed off its top-down Micra at the recent Paris motor show. Ford took the wraps off its Ka-based StreetKa at the same show, where singer Kylie Minogue did the honours.

Photos of the convertible Mini are starting to appear at this week's British motor show.

Citroen used Paris to unveil its small, C3-based Pluriel concept, effectively five cars in one.

The full-length, full-width sunroof in the Pluriel "Saloon" can be opened to eight set positions.

The absence of centre pillars in the "Panoramic" means that four windows can be lowered to create an open-sided vehicle.

The sunroof and rear window can also be retracted under the boot floor to create a soft-top - the "Cabriolet." For real wind-in-the-hair motoring, the side pillars can be easily removed to transform the car into the "Spider".

Finally, the boot lid of the Pluriel can be opened downwards and the rear seats folded flat to create the "Spider Pick-up", with a flat space for loads.

The soft-top Nissan is a coupe/convertible variant on the new Micra, one of the most important British-built cars at the Birmingham motor show.

Nissan is describing it as the best-equipped small car ever to go on sale in Britain.

Nissan New Zealand hasn't dismissed bringing in the Micra next year, although its presence would be unlikely. It tested the previous Micra model here a few years ago but it worked out too expensive to import.

The coupe/convertible, or Micra C+C, has been built to test public reaction. The French liked it and British show-goers have given it the thumbs-up, too. Nissan will soon decide if it should go into production.

The new Micra hatchback, designed in both Japan and Europe, combines "clever design and intelligent, easy-to-use technology", says Nissan.

It is packed with state-of-the-art features, including automatic wipers, automatic air-conditioning and, in a first for a small car, an "intelligent key".

The key allows the doors and tailgate to be locked and unlocked and the engine started without having to insert either a key or a card into the vehicle.

This smart system allows the vehicle to detect when the key is within 80cm of the car. The doors are locked and unlocked by pressing a button mounted on the door handle.

In the same way, once Micra detects the presence of the key inside the car, the engine may be started simply by turning the ignition.

"The Micra owner doesn't have to take the key out of a pocket or bag," says Nissan. "Very useful if you're returning to the car laden with bags of shopping - and an exhausted 6-year-old."