With the 2025 edition of the annual - and original - Tokyo Auto Salon (TAS 2025) modified cars exposition set to take place in just several weeks’ time, Japanese automaker Daihatsu has elected to give an early preview of its show cars for which.
Arguably what will catch the attention of most fans of the renowned Toyota-owned makers of compact kei-class vehicles is the Daihatsu Mira e:S Turbo Concept. Before you ask, this concept underpins the LA350-gen Mira model, which does NOT have a Perodua-branded twin as how the Axia or Ativa does.
According to Daihatsu, the concept is positioned as “an entry-level sportscar designed to broaden the horizons of motorsports and make the joy of driving available to everyone.” Unlike its mundane twin, this concept has got both style and the promise of substantial performance to match.
Key styling traits include a reporfiled front bumper with sporty intakes, a unique rear bumper, decorative side gills, BBS alloy wheels plus a Gazoo Racing (GR) Sport badge in the front grille. In fact, much of the exterior is inspired by the existing Mira e:S rally car.
On board, the cabin is decked out with a pair of sports seats. Did we also mention that the Mira e:S is tiny? It has a total length of just 3,395 MM. This is rather typical of Kei-class vehicles that are unique to Japan, and the same applies with what’s under the hood.
This pint-sized 660cc 3-cyl petrol mill primed underneath has been upgraded with a turbocharger bolted on. For reference, the regular Mira e:S variant uses the same mill sans turbocharger to develop 48 HP, whereas this concept is expected to develop at least 64 HP.
Critically, given its intended nature at being a sportscar, Daihatsu also elected to prime it with a 5-speed manual box. The added GR Sport badge also suggest Toyota’s racing and performance engineering arm have granted it with a sportier chassis setup too.
At the upcoming TAS 2025 show, the Mira e:S Turbo Concept will be shown alongside the Mira e:S rally car that inspired it. Other vehicles set to join it here include the Copen GR Sport roadster, as well as a trio of specially modified Hijet and Atrai kei-class vans and trucks too.
