It’s been a bit of a no-show for Japanese performance cars at the Frankfurt Auto Show, with every major manufacturer reserving their big guns for the upcoming Tokyo exhibition. However, one little car has been unveiled by Daihatsu - and it looks like it’s 100% production ready.

The Daihatsu OFC1 is a tiny roadster in the same vein as the Copen. However, where the Copen is all circles and cutesy curves, the OFC1 mans it up a notch with angular headlights and sharper body creases. It’s still a feminine looking thing, except with just a hint of masculinity. Like Sigourney Weaver.

According to Daihatsu, the OFC1 will have a turbocharged 3-cylinder cranking out 47kW. While this hardly sounds sporting, consider that the current Copen has a kerb weight of 830kg - hardly anything compared to today’s sports cars.

That engine will be hooked up to a 7-speed CVT gearbox with paddle shifters and drive tthrough the front wheels. It may just become another pose-mobile, or it could be just like the current Copen - adored (and raced) by a die-hard minority and shunned by everone else. Regardless, I think it’d look kinda cool painted yellow, stickered up and fitted with a roll cage, like the Copen below.

[Source: Daihatsu]
[Photo courtesy of Nihon Car]