Cappuccino comeback! New-generation compact Suzuki roadster co-developed with Toyota S-FR and Daihatsu Copen arriving in 2027 - report

Recent reports out of Japan have already pointed to Toyota’s revival of its compact sports car program, inspired by the front-engine, rear-drive S-FR concept unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show way back in 2015.

To make that program viable it’s now clear yet another joint development is underway with the re-emergence of the lightweight Suzuki Cappuccino and a Daihatsu Copen sibling.

According to Best Car, sources within Toyota Motor Corporation and its subsidiaries suggest the three-car deal is “progressing steadily" with shared engine supply one of the key planks underpinning it.

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The original Cappuccino left the Australian market in the late 1990s, with devoted fans drawn to its city-friendly, Kei-car dimensions (overall length just under 3.3m) and pugnacious 660cc turbo three-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox.

This time around, however, it looks like outputs will grow substantially from the 47kW/85Nm that car produced.

A downsized 1.3-litre version of the 1.6L inline three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine used in the GR Yaris and GR Corolla is being developed to power a small front-wheel hatch to be badged Starlet (including its Rally4 WRC homologation special) as well as the S-FR.

And a version of that unit, producing around 110kW/220Nm, is destined to power the new Cappuccino.

Suzuki Cappuccino render (Image: Best Car)

Suzuki Cappuccino render (Image: Best Car)

Suzuki Cappuccino render (Image: Best Car)

Suzuki Cappuccino render (Image: Best Car)

On top of that, the Daihatsu Vision Copen, shown at last year’s Japan Mobility Show, featured, you guessed it, a non-hybrid 1.3L turbo triple driving the rear wheels.

Toyota owns a five per cent stake in Suzuki and a majority share makes Daihatsu a direct subsidiary so the multi-model share program is as straight-forward as previous Toyota-Subaru JVs (Toyota owns 20 per cent of Subaru) like the 86/BRZ and bZ4X/Solterra.

Like its predecessor, the new Cappuccino is expected to be a two-seat roadster, but longer at around 4.0m and wider at roughly 1.7m with a close to 2.5m wheelbase.

Sources suggest the Cappuccino will be ready for takeaway by 2027 with a domestic market entry price of ¥3.0M (just under $29,000).