Daihatsu Naked
The Daihatsu Naked is a small kei car made by Daihatsu from 1999 to 2003. It started as a concept in 1997 and became a production model in 1999, built in Japan. The Naked is based on the Daihatsu Mira (L700) and came with a 658 cc engine in two forms: a naturally aspirated version (EF-VE) with about 58 PS and a turbocharged version (EF-DET) with about 64 PS. It offered both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, and a choice of a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission.
Body and size: the Naked is a five-door hatchback with a front-engine layout. Its wheelbase is 2,360 mm, length 3,395 mm, width 1,475 mm, and height between 1,530 and 1,550 mm. It weighed roughly 820–890 kg.
Design highlights: the Naked stood out for its rugged, simple look, with ridges on the doors and exposed hinges and bolts to give a tough, off-road vibe. The interior used hard plastic with styling reminiscent of the Fiat Panda, and the rear seat was designed to be easily removable with various strap and hook points at the back.
Variants and updates: in May 2000, the S Edition joined the lineup, based on the Naked G Package and adding features like a double-DIN stereo, front speakers, power-folding mirrors, and other upgrades at a modest price increase. In January 2002, taillights were enlarged and wrapped around the rear corners, and the Naked G got a mesh grille. A special Naked F version with flush rectangular headlights and a full-width grille appeared, along with lower suspension for a less rugged feel.
Production and market presence: the Naked was produced until November 2003, with 91,549 units built. Sales continued from stock until April 2004. It followed the Daihatsu Mira RV-4 and was succeeded by the Daihatsu Cast Activa and the Daihatsu Taft (LA900).
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 01:16 (CET).