You could be forgiven for assuming that kei cars are funny, cute little vehicles that exist only for comic relief. But the reality is, people in Japan take them very seriously.
I’m not just talking about the more performance and driver-oriented versions, because kei cars make up almost half of new car sales in Japan. It’s not only a big market for manufacturers, these little machines are a way for people across Japan to be mobile in a reliable and affordable way.
This Honda Beat I spotted looking all tough and menacing in Odaiba at StanceNation Japan G Edition last weekend isn’t so concerned about moving its occupants from point A to point B. It’s about giving its driver a fun and rewarding experience, while looking nothing at all like the base car.
Even the interior has been modified beyond recognition with lots of inspiration having been taken from the Honda sports cars that we all love. This is a Beat that likes to punch well above its weight class.
Apart from the doors, every other panel has been completely redone, from the new-generation NSX style front bumper to the vented hood. Even the lights are custom, giving a far more modern feel to the ageing kei machine.
A vented fender section up front connects to the deeper side skirts, which in turn run up to the widened rear fenders. RAYS Volk Racing TE37 Sonic wheels in a 16-inch fitment feature at all four corners.
Look closely and you’ll notice that even the air intakes feeding the engine have been opened up.
Helping shed heat, a pair of large openings have been styled into the rear bumper. And what 656cc three-cylinder engine would be complete without a set of quad tailpipes.
Even if the spiritual successor to the Beat, the S660, has been available for a couple of years now, it shows that the love for these legendary little cars is still very much alive.
I mean, come on, who on earth wouldn’t want to have one of these in their garage?!
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: speedhunters_dino
dino@speedhunters.com
I love it. As hideously cute as the stock Beat is, this one is way better.
I'd love to see someone built a properly fast Kei car. They are so cool and compact all they lack is massive power.
That's just too cool
Probably a blast to zip around in.
in malaysia drag racing, theres a kei car category for almost every event. kei car is a big thing here. 200hp kei car smoking a car twice of its displacement is always a great sight to behold.
Such a badass little car. I'm picturing a GT wing on it...
Does it really reach 12.000 RPM?
I’d love to own a key car, but unfortunately I can’t fit in any of them
The stock car looks great. This one looks a bit to 99-00's rice for me personally.
What is Japan's obsession with ugly, dangerous "roll cages"? All that's going to do in a crash is bend and either trap the occupants or knock their brains out.
This is the dumbest thing I have ever seen on speedhunters
there is a rare 1993 TOM'S Angel T01 on sale on visitec r imports
Hahaha, funny and cute line
Very cool little car. Love the enlarged side intakes.
That back end has a lot of Supra about it...