Autozam AZ-1, Honda Beat, Suzuki Cappuccino - Kei Cars are Japan’s SUVs - Cammisa Revelations Ep 26
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 14 сен 2022
- Here's the history of the legendary A-B-C Cars, all in one place!
The SUV is to America as the Kei Car is to Japan - nearly half the car on the road in Japan are Kei Cars, a classification of small car that created tax benefits to encourage mobility after the second World War.
Keijidōsha, or "light automobiles" were created by the Japanese government in the early 1950s, and really started to become popular a decade later. But when this economic measure to favor the economically disadvantaged crashed head-on with the unprecedented economic boom of the 1980s' "Japanese Bubble Economy," ,the result was three Kei sports cars known together as the A-B-C cars: A for the positively insane Autozam AZ-1, B for the Pininfarina-designed, 8500-rpm ITB-equipped Honda Beat, and C for the turbocharged Suzuki Cappuccino.
In this video, veteran automotive journalist Jason Cammisa examines the history of the Kei-car regulations, including their start, their initial success with the Subaru 360, and discusses how there is no legal horsepower limit to Kei Cars - despite what you may have read elsewhere.
In the process, Jason includes the stunning Honda S600 / S800 and tells the full history of the mid-engined Honda Beat, the last car signed off by Soichiro Honda; the microcar-Miata Suzuki Cappuccino; and the outrageous, Gullwing-door Autozam AZ-1, which was undeniably the most fun attendee at the party. Too bad it arrived after the cops had shut it down.
The Kei Sports cars were short lived, but their impact on the world lives on, as three of the coolest cars ever made. In short, they were a revelation.
===
Call us! Ask Hagerty is a service we offer to Hagerty Drivers Club members:
Click the link to learn more: tinyurl.com/Hagerty-Drivers-Club
===
Subscribe to our RUclips channel for new videos every day! bit.ly/HagertyRUclips
Visit our website for daily automotive news, cars stories, reviews, and opinion: www.hagerty.com/media
Stay up to date by signing up for our email newsletters here: www.hagerty.com/media/newslet...
Follow us on social media:
Facebook | / hagerty
Instagram | / hagerty
Twitter | / hagerty
If you love cars, you belong with us. Hagerty Drivers Club is the world’s largest community for automotive enthusiasts. Members enjoy valuable automotive discounts, exclusive events and experiences, roadside service created specifically for collector vehicles, and a subscription to the bimonthly Hagerty Drivers Club magazine. Join Hagerty Drivers Club here: www.hagerty.com/drivers-club
Like what you see? Watch our other series including:
Redline Rebuilds | Time-lapse engine rebuilds from start to finish bit.ly/RedlineRebuild
Barn Find Hunter | Tom Cotter searches the country for abandoned cars bit.ly/BarnFIndHunter
Jason Cammisa on the Icons | The definitive car review
bit.ly/JasonCammisaICONS
Revelations | Untold Stories About Automotive Legends with Jason Cammisa
bit.ly/JasonCammisaRevelations
Contact us:
Suggestions and feedback - videoquestions@hagerty.com
Press inquiries - press@hagerty.com
Partnership requests - partnerships@hagerty.com 
Авто/Мото
Camissa & Hagerty are making among the absolute best automotive content on the net! Don’t stop! Don’t change! More Jason!
Sycophant.
Camissa is making it Hagerty is only paying the bills
@@darius2640 agreed but in order to pay the bills they must also “get it” and based on his content and others, they do get it.
Couldn’t agree more! It’s the way TopGear use to be with Jezza, Hamster and May.
Love the content and how it’s presented
Definitely agree not one bad video
I am a proud owner of a 1991 Honda Beat. Bought her 2 years ago for 8200$ with 71k miles on it. Fell in love with it from Regularcar Reviews. A great fuel economy car that you can floor the accelerator, shifting 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th gear, engine screaming behind your ears with the top down...... just to keep up with traffic? I LOVE IT!!!!
How is a 500 horsepower Corvette fun when you got no where but a track or dragstrip to take full advantage of the car's engine and transmission????
The other reason I bought the Beat. HONDA STILL MAKES PARTS for 31 years LATER!!!!! Despite there only being less than 20,000 left in the world!!!!
That and well..... the S2000 and NSX is out of my price range so I settled for the Beat :P
I'm interested in one of these as well. Where do you go to order the parts?
@@bbostic_5 I buy from EtsuRyu LLC
@@darkmugetsu6572 thanks!
Honestly you forgot to mention the best reason, 3 cylinders sound better than 4!
@@darkmugetsu6572 when driving my c8 I accelerate at a very fast pace. Not quite dragstrip start but fast. It's an amazing feeling for sure. I'm a Honda guy at heart as I bought my first crx si back in 1988. If I could afford an NSX I'd have one. I'm very interested in the cappuccino kei car a nearby dealership has one in stock. Kinda reminds me of my s2000 from the side profile.
Fun Fact: That AZ1 Has A Mazdaspeed kit on it which that's why it has an F40-Style spoiler on it, so it's not a stock ones
And the Beat had Mugen version. Cappuccino has Monster Sport (Suzuki Sport) turbo kits to make it 100hp
That spoiler was actually an option on the base AZ1 as well, just a bit smaller
I love how these gentleman's agreements were created by the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association, whose english acronym means ”Nuisance" in Japanese.
I just realised that😂
JAMA(邪魔)lol
But you should also realise this is only "advertised" hp. Quite a lot actually exceeded the 64 or 280 PS. They just didn't say so.
@@AutoReport1 yeah like the gtr had 310+hp.
This agreament is not even something new. Classical europe has these all the time.
Finally, it's been 2 months ago from last revelations episodes
I understand I love the content as much as the next but as long as he keeps giving us this level of quality in his content take your time Jason and deliver us this excellent content Thank you
Be thankful it's free content that's amazing.
@@van1ty821 Exactly. Quality over quantity. Jason puts a ton of time and effort into these and it shows.
@Jason Cammisa It might be really difficult to make but can you make episode about LFA? It wasn't fastest or nicest but it sounded the best
@Jason Cammisa we love you do more videos!
The ABC kei's get a lot of press, but it would also be cool to compare kei hot hatches like the Alto Works/ Cervo mode, Mira Avanzato, DanganZZ, Subaru Vivio
Don't forget the Honda City Turbo!
If you can remotely understand Japanese, there are some hidden gems from Best Motoring with most if not all of these cars
@@sl33per1 Honda City Turbo is not a Kei car....
@@sl33per1 City Turbo has 1231 cc engines, kei regs need 660 cc
@@tanaka90 funnily the Caterham 7 160 can be classified as a kei car despite being... Well, over the engine size regulation
The Kei sports car still lives, Suzuki was making sporty Altos till 2021, they had the Alto RS and the lightened track focussed Works variant. Honda made a successor to the Beat called the S660 till March of this year. It even got a Type R and a 1000cc variant (both limited runs)
I thought the S1000 got cancelled before production.
The last one remaining is the Daihatsu Copen, which being FF is the least sporty but also the cheapest to make.
That Kei car shown in the last few minutes, the Suzuki jeep, called the Jimny, is such an exceptional example of miniature design. What a great vehicle.
Lmao don’t ever disrespect Suzuki by including jeep in same distance lmao pos American junk
Just don't crash. C rating crash test
I don't think it's a kei car though, but it is inspired by the kei car philosophy
@@Obi-WanKannabis it's sold in Japan as a kei car, I think they export a slightly larger version with larger engine. Kinda like Mitsubishi's Pajero Mini (kei), and Pajero Junior (not kei, but still tiny)
@@Obi-WanKannabis but you are right, Google says that the jimny with wheel arch flares isn't the kei version, so it looks like Hagerty accidentally included a pic of the wrong Jimny
Comparing kei cars to SUVs is an insult to kei cars.
I feel like if you'd take a kei car, then put the seats down in a Suburban, it would fit seamlessly
Comparing _anything_ to an SUV is an insult!
The reason for the comparison is that they were both created because of government regulations that have exceptions to safety/emissions regulations for vehicles that meet certain conditions. In both cases these classes of car were supposed to be narrow exceptions that didn’t apply to many cars, but automakers immediately started designing cars to meet those conditions after the laws went into effect.
In Japan this meant that the safety laws resulted in everyone driving tiny death traps and in the US it meant the new emissions standards resulted in everyone driving giant gas guzzling pollution machines. So there are actually a lot of points of comparison.
Of course one big difference is that everyone driving kei cars makes the tiny kei cars/normal cars/cyclists/pedestrians safer, lowers the need for road maintenance, decreases urban noise levels from wind/tires and lowers traffic, plus kei cars aren’t huge emitters even if they dodge regulations because of their size, whereas SUVs are horrifically dangerous for pedestrians/normal cars/cyclists, bad for traffic, do more damage to roads, make more noise, and are awful for emissions.
Furthermore, SUVs are lame and Kei cars are cool. Basically in terms of cause they are very similar but in terms of effect they are opposites in every way.
I now want a Cappuccino with the engine note of the Beat
(this sounds so weird out of context 😂)
Dude, same.
I've had two Beats in the past, for a total of 10 years. The engine is just behind you and lives at 6000rpm, and goes up to 8500. The sound and delivery is utterly addictive. Easily the most fun cars I've ever had.
As someone who's had both, you are right.
The Beat sounds amazing, and has more character, but the Cappuccino is faster and more liveable. I could pretty much DD the Cappuccino in the summer and have on occasion done so for a month at a time.
@@Dolby109 Very vindicating to read both comments LMAO
The top arrangement on the Cappu sounds like the perfect summer car, having the choice between targa, t-top, cab.
Incredible that you've owned both!
I'm now wondering how hard it could possibly be (😬) to mount a liter bike engine in the Cappu instead a-la that one S600 with a CBR engine but that'd probably gut *any* usability.
I'd really like to experience one though before saying it'd need anything more than it has but man does it seem it needs something a bit livelier than what it has, curious how much difference the torque in the late models makes.
That being said, you've certainly kicked it up a notch on my list, wonder how you'd compare it to the Miata or if you've driven one, a Copen! More mini-FF-SLK than 90s Healey tho. Neat stuff!
Especially if you simply said- "I want a Cappuccino with the sound of the beat" 😳😂
The Beat may be the slowest of the bunch but that 8,500rpm rev limit and the sounds it makes is intoxicating, maybe even addicting.
I own a Beat, factory ITBs and not having to worry about 30 year old forced induction among with Honda engineering are worth being a bit slower in a straight line.
I'd definitely love to have a Beat.
That Honda sounds amazing! The amount of noise per speed gained is hilarious but is sounds like 3 cylinder engine made for 90s DTM ... Cannot imagine why Jason would like something like that 😁.
I love this channel. The Throttle House and Hagerty are my two favorites. Thank you guys!
1997年製の最終型Cappuccinoを所有しています。前期型が鉄製のエンジンで700Kgの車重、後期型がアルミ製のエンジンになり車重が690Kgになりました。最終型が更にフライホイールが軽量化されています。
I own the last Cappuccino made in 1997. The early model had a steel engine with a weight of 700Kg, and the late model had an aluminum engine with a weight of 690Kg. The final model has a lighter flywheel.
Would love to see some behind the scenes stuff or some kind of podcast with the production staff, the work they do is absolutely beautiful
Listen to the carmudgeon show podcast. jason cohosts it and shares deets abt these vids
Thanks Jason for the great videos, bud you are the best host. The perfect amount of history, details and humour. I love them.
I own a Suzuki cappuccino and it's an absolute blast to drive!
Literally cannot get over how good the writing is, the movie-quality production values and how Jason presents unrivaled knowledge about all things automotive in a unique and entertaining fashion. 10 out of 10 as always.
The induction noise on the Beat us utterly orgasmic. I so wish the automotive industry/community/enthusiasts would give up on exhaust noise, and figure out how to do this more often.
The Beat really is my favorite-sounding three cylinder for a road car. I own the successor to the Beat (Honda S660), and even with its added turbo + BOV it still doesn’t have as much of an engaging engine noise on WOT as the Beat does. Mainly because the S660’s engine doesn’t rev as high as the Beat to have that total aural satisfaction.
ITBs 😩
Beautifully written and presented, you are truly a master of your craft, Jason. It's unbelievable we have access to content of such a level.
I own a Honda S660 here in Japan, which is the modern-day successor to the Beat. It still keeps the same mid-engined layout, but has stiffer & better-handling suspension, and adds dual-overhead cams on the engine and a turbo with a LOUD blow-off valve. It also features a 6-speed manual transmission - a first for kei-cars. But despite being obviously newer, the S660 is still barely larger than a Beat. Still makes the same amount of horsepower too, though the turbo definitely makes the S660 have a lot more lower-end torque.
And yes, just like the ethos of the Beat, the S660 looks like a tiny version of the newer NSX. With the Mugen body kits installed, the S660 totally looks like a shrunken modern-day supercar.
I love my S660 so much, and is probably my favorite car I’ve ever driven. Though, the Beat does have a better engine sound IMO.
Guys, if you like so much the ABC and keep importing them, you need to take a look at the 1.3 European version of the Daihatsu Copen. Left hand drive, Yaris engine (super reliable), retractable hard top, hood, roof and trunk made of aluminum, chassis bracing for more rigidity, 0-60 in ~8s, top speed of 180km/h, and 850kg. It's a joy to drive and super charismatic, kids, old people, women, everyone gives you thumbs up
this is the best car content on youtube right now. props to Cammisa and Hagerty for the top notch production quality
The K cars are actually really really really fun! I recently drove the Honda S660 up in twisty mountain roads, you can use up ALL the horsepower, the high rev, minimal body roll, and you don’t have to worry about crashing it. It’s just so controllable, like go cart on the track. It’s amazing how those Japanese carmakers despite strict regulations, and still be able to create a smile on a driver’s face 😊 Respect!!
Finally a new episode! Entertaining as always.
17:04 My baby (91 Suzuki Cappuccino) is at the house chilling while I'm at work. So good to see videos about a car you own and love. Might have to take it for a spin when I get home ❤️
Woohoo! New Cammisa! I've been waiting for this Kei car episode.
Thank you for the just engine noise endings on all these videos. Love it!
Yes, I have advocated for Kei car style incentives in the US instead of transitioning to full electric.
That wouldn't work because of the wide as roads over here in the US
How about electric kei cars?
@@Mastermind12358 that would be tempting but people wouldn't buy them either because of,
a) again how wide the roads are
b) reaching USA high way speed would be a problem not to mention actually merging into the traffic
c) Americans are on the larger side of the human scale so the comfort aspect of a car this small isn't very attractive for Americans
@@aymanrahman1737 you Americans seriously need to start rethinking things. also, "USA highway speed" don't you guys drive at like 110km/h? you don't exactly need a V8 to reach those speeds.
@@Mastermind12358 Facts. I live close to germany so I am quite used to the autobahn where the fastest cars are 2.0TDI VW Passats going over 130MPH. Even younger drivers give it a try with shitboxes 1.0 Citroen Saxo where they go 110 all day just so they know what is their top speed lmao
Honda has the S660 for the past few years and has sold relatively well. Amazing little car, although a loaded one costs around $35k, which is a lot for 660cc.
Outstanding as always!
Hagerty, thank you soo much for making this video about the Kcar ABC. Ive been loving those Keicars, but non one knows what they are. Jason, youre level of hosting Automotive stuff is up there with the top gear trio. This has been my favourite episode ever!!!
4:38 it really is fascinating how Honda has always excelled at maximizing comfortable interior packaging
You should hear the Beat with an HKS intake and aftermarket exhaust! Sounds sooooo good.
Great video BTW, really enjoyed it.
-a Beat owner
It's always a special day when a new Jason video drops. Thanks, everyone!
I've been missing Revelations! Thank youuuuu!
I would love an AZ-1 looks so fun!
Kei cars are awesome
I saw an AZ-1 the first time I went to a cars and coffee. The only thing I can compare to how small that thing was is the third gen MR2, but I don't think I could accidentally shift into neutral with my thigh in that.
What cars and coffee and what color was it?
@@luckypickle3982 Virgnia Dulles Airport. Totally forget what color it was, was about a year ago.
@Michaels Carport ahhh, I was just curious cause I've been taking my AZ-1 to cars and coffee lately. But I'm out in the states.
Some of the most accurate and detailed video on Kei and Heisei ABC in English, and I thank you so much for busting all the myths and hot air (which I reply in nearly every Kei video in English as they are almost always there)! More people need to watch this video (including many famous channels)!
you make the most interesting car videos on youtube. thank you, Jason.
All three of these have been on my wish list for long time. Probably won’t ever happen, but one can always hope. lol
One of the best automotive content on the net nowadays is produced by Hagerty and Camissa. Rich contents delivered in a mash up of history, technical details and humor supported by excellent filming. Thank you and waiting for more.
You make high quality content and I will watch all of it. Thank you and carry on.
This was a great one!!!! Well researched and presented congrads!
When we getting a review of the old AE86? I know it's been talked to death but your style and angle of reviewing a car through it's development history and philosophy of the people behind it is so entertaining I just need to see your guys' take on it.
It's the perfect subject for your mix of history, science and romance when talking about a car.
Although these three little legends have died, they actually have a spiritual successors in recent years in the form of Honda S660 (which sadly has been discontinued just recently) and the Daihatsu/Toyota Copen GR Sport (still in production). The S660 follows the Beat's mid-engine form while the Copen is following Suzuki's classic sportscar layout. Sadly there's no car that can be described as the "successor" to the AZ-1.
the copen is FF layout... it is still a fun car tho.
@@krisnadiimam4556 Oh yeah.. I forgot about the car being an FF, but it is true that the car still giving you fun driving.
This has instantly become one of my top five favorite car videos.
Hagerty is making the best car stuff on RUclips.
Yay!! Revelations is back!! I’ve missed it!
Been looking forward to this episode since the Carmudgen podcast last week, and it certainly didn’t disappoint! The size and proportions of these remind me of the 7/8ths NASCARs.
PS - The Beat sounds amazing, but the slightly understated nature of the Cappuccino would be my pick of the litter.
7/8's Nascar? I've never heard of this
Yeah I agree, plus the Cappuccino has some pretty serious tuning potential, and plenty of aftermarket support. It would be a sweet little autocross car
@@muffin4600 some sticky tires on those steelies and a little extra bolster on those seats would be 👌🏽
@@qxtankxp it’s more folklore than anything, but an interesting way Smokey Yunick played the game with a Chevelle in the late-60s. He adjusted the position of the body on top of the frame and smoothed out the floor of the car for better aero
@@jhowardstl oh I remember now. I saw a video a while back about a car builder for Nascar back in the day where everyone thought he built a 7/8 car but it wasn't quite a 7/8 car but it was a little smaller than a regular sized car
Having owned the trifecta, the cappuccino is hands down my favorite. Also, I sell these kei cars in texas.
Great videos. Thanks, and please keep 'em coming 🙌
It was well worth waiting for another episode
Thanks to the Gran Turismo series I have a deep fondness for these cars. I remember many battles against those Beats and Alto Works.
I have an AZ-1 and it is the most fun car I’ve ever driven!
Another masterpiece by Jason and Hagerty. By far my favourite pieces of auto-journalism on RUclips 😄
The Suzuki Cappuccino and Honda beat were always one of my most favorite and wanted JDM cars ever
Also looking at the AZ-1, it somehow looks like a skyline and a twingo with Delorean gull doors
You forgot the daihatsu copen, the underrated of the trio
Fun memories of the Suzuki Cappuccino I bought new back in 1993. It was a good fun car and handled much better than the first gen Mazda MX-5. Although it was speed limited to 140kmph(87mph), I had the limiter removed and drove with the speedometer pointer going full circle back to zero. According to my friend who was following behind, he saw an indicated 185kmph(115mph) on his speedometer. 😁
Like gentlemen's agreement, 64hp is in the name. The original hp figure would be higher.
FINALLY ITS BACK I’ve been waiting for 2 month thank god it’s back 🎉
Cammisa - you are amazing, thank y0u for everything you've ever done, always gold
Wow, that Beat sounds pretty dang good.
Continuing with that Autozam AZ-1 being the greatest hits of supercar world.
Got tricky handling of a 930 Turbo,
That gullwing door in a rollover is similar to inconsiderate-ness of (old) Italian Supercars, and
Tragic launch timing of XJ220 & EB110
And the sales flop of NSX & LFA 😂
Apparently you can somehow open the door if you push the door with your back while kicking against the other side of the car - the door gives you enough leverage that it actually lifts the car as you do that. I mean, it's a bit theoretical since it only works if the door isn't warped, but the Mazda testers actually tried it, and there's a series of old photos to prove it. Otherwise, the other way they tried was breaking the rear window, which apparently works too.
That's the beauty of the car being so small - they even tipped it onto its roof in the test by just getting a few engineers to lift one side.
What a presentation! Glad I came across this channel!!
all 3 of them genuinely sound so good! I cant pick a favorite
Jason, have you considered covering the Honda S2000? Beautiful engine that revs to 9000, fantastic handling, and a convertible no less!
And nowadays the only sports roadster kei car that still produced was none from this three brand,Yes the Daihatsu copen.The beat successor,honda S660 it's officially RIP since March 2022.
The S660 had a really good run like the Beat did, albeit without the financial downturn that took a lot of sales.
Sad to see no 2nd generation of the S660, but glad to hear that there's many of them built
@@thatcopenguy Supposedly Honda was intent on continuing production on the S660 (in fact, they did a mid-model refresh a SINGLE year before its discontinuation was announced) but their official direct reason is because Japan finally mandated crash avoidance tech on kei-cars - which the S660 wouldn’t be able to comply without extensive modifications. But yes, with the pandemic totally screwing over production chains and Honda’s inevitable move for battery EVs, it definitely didn’t help on keeping incentive to continue production.
Fortunately, Honda did manufacture 38916 S660s in total, so it kinda sold better than the Beat did in its own lifetime. Kinda.
Your team does great work. Thanks!
One of my all time favorite episodes. Incredible vehicles
Thanks for one more cool video 👍
Best wishes from Ukraine 🇺🇦
1:40
We have a toll road that WAS set at 55 mph and it took the city almost 25 yrs to raise it to 60 mph MEANWHILE everyone HAS BEEN doing 70+ for 25+ yrs ...
A fun video as always. Keep up the good work 🙏
Love your reviews! Continue making more✌️💯
This is what we need ,enough with useless suv,just give me a small car that can get me 60 mpg and run ultra clean .
This needs to be translated to Japanese
Absolute gem of a video! Arigato!
All these videos are so professional yet only only 2.38M people subscribed as of this moment. I hope you guys get more recognition (and $$$) sooner than later.
The perfect Kei Car will be a car with the Styling of the AZ-1, the chassis of the Cappuccino, and the engine from the Beat.
Man, You have No idea How much i waited for History Episode, this is equal to bed time story
Damn, I was hoping that one of the car channels I follow would finally pick up the topic of Kei cars. And I couldn't wish for anyone better than Jason "the man" Camisa!
Thanks for this awesome video
I’ve been exited for this episode!
Amazing content as always! And it legit reignited my obsession with the AZ-1 lol
awesome video as always Jason, keep up the cool content! 😎
Simply the best host on any show on any platform.
Congratulations Hagerty for this very interesting and informative article on Kei cars.
Enjoyed the video, thanks
👍
❤ I could listen/watch Jason all day. Everything is well presented and interesting, and he’s 🔥
Love it Jason, keep it up👏🏽
World-class automotive content. Keep it up!
Dude you make the best car videos ❤
I have spent significant amounts of time in Japan and seen road full of them. It's amazing. I DEARLY wish kei cars were the norm everywhere. They're functional, small, safe, well built, reliable, and inexpensive.
More of these episodes that feature Jason Cammisa. This is great content!
🏁🏁Finally Jason another revelations episode 😎🤙🏾
WOOT!!! Been waiting!
Fantastic, been waiting for this one since the podcast..!
Also been excited to have one of these 3 since I learned about them on Gran Turismo 2. Any of them. I love them all.
This is the best channel on RUclips for me
I used to own a Beat and that was one of my favorite cars!! I've never owned a car,that's analog, that inspired so much confidence in going through the twisties. Definitely happy they did this one with the ABC cars!!
High quality entertainment. Thank you!
Sound clips speak volumes here.
Always enjoy your videos Sir
Love it!! The Best... Simply the Best!