The new Cappuccino could be part of a trio of small rear-wheel drive sports cars from Toyota, Daihatsu and Suzuki
The Suzuki Cappuccino could be reborn after being dormant for 26 years and built with the help of Toyota and Daihatsu. For fans of small, light, and fun sports cars, this is great news.
A report about the potential revival of the Cappuccino from Japan claims the new model will be quite a bit different than the original. You see, whereas the pint-sized Suzuki was only ever sold with a 657 cc turbocharged three-cylinder driving the rear wheels, the new model may adopt a much larger 1.3-liter turbo’d three-cylinder driving the rear wheels.
Citing inside sources, Japan’s Best Car claims this engine will be the same as the one used in the rumored next-generation Toyota Starlet. This car will reportedly be a rally-focused machine competing in the Rally 4 class alongside the Renault Clio and Ford Fiesta. Its 1.3-liter three-pot will reportedly be derived from the 1.6-liter turbo of the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, but downsized and capped at around 150 hp.
It’s said that the Cappuccino will use this engine because Toyota can’t justify the cost of developing it exclusively for a new Starlet. There’s a chance this same three-cylinder could also be used in a new entry-level sports car from Toyota and a new version of the popular Daihatsu Copen.
“The new Cappuccino is rumored to measure around 4,000 mm (157.4 inches) in length, 1,700 mm (66.9 inches) in width, and stand just 1,230 mm (48.4 inches) tall, with a 2,480 mm (96.7-inch) wheelbase. As an open-top two-seater, its compact size also promises a light weight, tipping the scales at approximately 1,100 kg (2,425 lbs). Enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that Suzuki intends to offer it with a choice between a six-speed manual transmission and an eight-speed automatic.
Like other reports from Best Car, we should take these with a grain of salt. If a new Cappuccino does reach the light of day, it could hit the market in 2027.
The original Suzuki Cappuccino was built between 1991 and 1998 and sold as a Kei car in Japan, hence why it had a small 657 cc engine. It was offered with a five-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic and flagship versions topped out at 63 hp, meaning this new model could have almost three times as much power.
