by Students from the Japanese automotive college NATS presented a series of creative projects at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Among them was a unique roadster in the style of the Toyota GR Supra, built on the basis of the compact kei car Daihatsu Copen. Here are the key details of this work:
NATS published a new series of photos showcasing the Supra-inspired kei roadster that debuted at the Tokyo Auto Salon. This compact build was presented next to the full-size Supra roadster based on a Lexus, which inspired its design.
Student Projects Impress at Auto Salon
The NATS (Nihon Automobile College) attracted attention at the Tokyo Auto Salon with a series of inventive projects developed by students. The boldest is a sedan version of the Toyota Vellfire, masterfully reinterpreted on a Lexus LS chassis. However, almost equally popular was the tiny and eccentric interpretation of the Toyota GR Supra – a roofless concept roadster built on the Daihatsu Copen platform.
Inspiration and Realization of the Mini Roadster
This unique build is inspired by the Toyota Supra Roadster concept developed by NATS in 2020 on a Lexus SC base. The new version continues this theme, using wide body kits and original components from the GR Supra.
To achieve the desired look, students actively used original parts from the GR Supra. Installing them on the tiny Daihatsu Copen required trimming and reshaping, often significantly, to adapt them to the kei car’s slender frame. The rest of the exterior was created using custom-made fiberglass parts.
Exterior Details and Equipment
The mini roadster is equipped with genuine headlights and taillights from the GR Supra. The bumpers are also made from Supra parts but heavily modified. The body kit includes a pronounced splitter, a hood with ventilation holes, extended front and rear fenders, side skirts, and a rear diffuser.
A specially designed rear section features an integrated ducktail spoiler and a ‘swan neck’ rear wing from Kuhl Racing. Visually, the only panels remaining from the original Copen are the doors, mirrors, windshield, and removable hardtop. Everything else has been either replaced or seriously modified.
The finishing touch was a paint job in Arancio Atlas color with custom graphics reminiscent of Brian’s legendary Supra from the “Fast & Furious” franchise. The interior features two Bride Zeta III bucket seats, a Sparco sports steering wheel, and a Diecock audio system.
Chassis and Technical Features
The car sits on 16-inch Kuhl Verzwheels DDR01 wheels, shod with Toyo Proxes tires (225/45ZR16). Additionally, it has a noticeably lowered clearance thanks to an Air Force Super Performance suspension.
Clearly, due to the car’s tiny dimensions, a 2JZ-GTE engine could not be installed. Instead, the model retained its original 658 cc turbocharged engine, producing 63 hp (47 kW) and 92 Nm of torque. This isn’t entirely bad, as the concept was designed to “maintain low taxes and fuel costs.” Furthermore, a Fujitsubo A-RM muffler provides a more sporty sound for the kei roadster.
The NATS mini Supra roadster was presented at the Tokyo Auto Salon alongside the Lexus-based Toyota Vellfire sedan and the lowrider-style Nissan Gloria, completing the college’s trio of projects at this year’s event.
Such student projects not only demonstrate the technical skill and creativity of future automotive engineers and designers but also often become a source of inspiration for the automotive industry. They show how classic forms and ideas can be reinterpreted in new ways, adapting them to modern trends or, as in this case, to the limitations of compact platforms. This hands-on work with real cars provides students with invaluable experience that is hard to gain solely in the classroom.
