Kei automobiles are nice. OK, so they might not all be objectively nice, however we’re nonetheless into them. They’re simply so tiny and lovable (and likewise extremely uncommon within the U.S.). But since all of them max out at 64 hp, there’s no level in drag racing any of them, proper? Wrong. Drag racing tiny, low-horsepower automobiles is at all times appropriate.
And not too long ago, CarWow received its arms on a number of kei automobiles and did precisely that. Specifically, the race included a Daihatsu Copen, Autozam AZ-1, Suzuki Alto Works, Suzuki Cappuccino and a Mitsubishi Minica Dangan. Each one has a 660-cc turbocharged three-cylinder that’s restricted to 64 hp from the manufacturing facility and a five-speed handbook transmission. But that doesn’t imply all of them have the identical quantity of torque.
The Daihatsu Copen is the torquiest, making a tire-roasting 80 lb-ft. Most of the remainder produce 63 lb-ft, however the Mitsubishi solely makes 55 lb-ft. But whereas the Copen has essentially the most torque, it’s the one one within the group that’s front-wheel drive. It’s additionally the heaviest, weighing in at 1,764 lbs. The AZ1 and Cappuccino, in the meantime, are rear-wheel drive, whereas the Alto Works and Minica Dangan are all-wheel drive.
The AZ-1 and Minica Dangan weigh in at 1,587 lbs, and the Alto Works is the lightest at 1,543 lbs, however for some motive, the video doesn’t point out how a lot the Cappuccino weighs. Regardless, it’s clear that they’re fairly completely different from one another.
So onto the racing, which begins on the 7:45 mark. I’m simply going to spoil it for you, a minimum of a bit of. The mid-engine, rear-drive AZ-1 was clearly the quickest within the quarter-mile with a not-so-quick 18 seconds, and the Cappuccino got here in final with a time of twenty-two.2 seconds. But they didn’t simply do one race. They additionally competed in a rolling quarter-mile, then did a rolling half-mile and a few different assessments. If you need to learn how all of the automobiles did, you’ll have to look at the video under. Just maintain on to your pockets as a result of it’s going to make you need an Autozam AZ-1 much more than you already do.
Source: jalopnik.com
