Soup-up that thing, then add a body kit, rims/wheels and huge wing! I have seen them in Japan and online, so plenty of inspiration. BTW, thanks for the surfshark deal
If only i had my engine done, im currently building a 500cc engine straight twin turbo witn a mgu-h and hybrid drive. Uses solenoids has no cam. Itll be a bit still
We've had a couple. One of those was a project car. More boost, bigger intercooler and better radiator, coilovers, MGB wheels with 185/55 tyres. Most fun car I've ever had. One of those epic "Wish I'd never sold it" stories.
@@Felice_Enellen , no unfortunately. It was running 15psi quite happily using an MBC (Manual Boost Controller). That made it spool up nicely too. I expect it would have only been in the region of 80bhp max but felt fantastic.
you won’t have much problem making 100 hp out of the F6A. The Cappuccino guys have cracked them to 200 hp a couple years ago. 200 hp from a 660cc 3 cylinder, absolute insanity 😅
That's quite the change but it is refreshing to see a totally different car, I'm excited to see what it can amount to. PS: I can see May totally loving this car, Clarkson crushing it with his Lamborghini, but Hammond, I can't put my finger on what he may think of it
@@Jordan-ql8pv Meh. I wish society would move on from finding the circumstances of another human being's birth funny. It's a very caveman reaction that's found where civilized compassion should be. And no, before you assume it, I'm of average height. I just have a heart.
@@Felice_Enellen It's by far a joke based around endearment and not meant to be degrading. Come on. Live a little. Don't be overly sensitive or easily offended.
I imagine it's esp important when your cars roof is below the window on many SUVs ;) I love Kei cars but I'd balk at driving them in London traffic-- you're inches away from being squashed at all times.
The amount of times I've seen a car ahead/behind literally swerve halfway into the opposite lane to go around a parked car meanwhile I've managed to stay inside the lines and glide past it no problem lol. Seriously.
I got stopped by Northumbria Police one night. "Do you know why I stopped you?" 'No.' "I thought you were a bit close to the cars parked on the side of the road." 'Did I hit any of them?' "No." 'Well, I can't have been too close to them then.' End of conversation. - The irony of that encounter with plod was that I was helping a mate pick up a washing machine and a tumble dryer, me in a Mk2 Fiesta and him in a Metro. My car was legal, the Metro wasn't MOT'd, taxed or insured, but I got pulled.
Best thing about a Cappuccino grey import is that you should leave the speedo in kph - don't convert it to mph. A car that small feels a lot faster than you're actually going, and leaving the speedo in kph reinforces the sensation!
As an owner since 2010, believe me when I say the only modification you will need to the brakes is better pads. Combined with proper tyres, this is all you will need in this department. I would also recommend a Cusco LSD. This was one of the best modifications I did. The open diff likes to spin an inside wheel because there is no weight over the rear wheels. Just be careful on the damp roads because you'll need a quick steering input. Can't wait to see the progress. 👍
I've loved these for a few months now and wanted one, but the problem is they're so expensive compared to MX-5's due to the fact they are all imports so there aren't that many in the country.
About 1100 came in as UK spec - Reds mainly, some 300 ish silvers? My first was UK... biggest regret was selling- on some 22 years ago. Nabbed a mint JDM last winter. Smiles a mile wide are back.
If you like the ABC cars(Autozam AZ-1, Honda Beat, Suzuki Cappuccino), I'd also check out the Smart Roadster, which is a more modern Euro equivalent, and to a lesser extent the Daihatsu Copen as well.
From one Cappuccino owner (Widebody Track build in progress) to another, this has to be the best Cappuccino introduction videos I have seen. Accurate information, quality video with proper editing, and a clear presentation 👌 I have a lot to learn 😂 in terms of outputting quality videos like this.. I look forward to seeing where your build goes.
Seen as it already revs to 9300, if a camshaft upgrade is available then go for that. A nice big front mount intercooler. Full custom exhaust (decat/race cat) but not obnoxious looking or sounding. CAI for a little more intake growl.
As a Smart driver, I can only gasp at the enormous amount of space wasted by this aircraft carrier. Ostentatious is the word that comes to mind. You go through gaps that make other people wonder? I've been on bike bridges that had barriers in place, turned around on single lane roads in two strokes...it's awesome! Ever since my Fortwo with its glass roof, quick heating and cooling, nice economy and sweet rims had his service and is back to mechanically sound status, it's a perfect little thing to get around if you don't have kids, no big luggage and no fixed parking spot. I ALWAYS find one near my home, the Stadium, the shops, Downtown...the passenger compartment isn't small at all, so it's really liveable for two and does 80mph smoothly. What more do you really need? I answered nothing.
Absolutely loved these when I was a kid in the early 90's. Just so different and the proportions look perfect! Look forward to seeing what's achievable with it.
Thrilled to see this! I've lived in Japan almost 15 years, and you still see these little Cappuccinos around, along with their Daihatsu rival the Copa. Not too long ago I was chatting with a 20-something man about his dream car, and he said it was one of these! Great choice, everyone here seems to love them.
Love the Cappuccino. Have wanted one for years but missed out on when they were cheap. They've just been going up and up to a point sellers here in Australia are asking $30K+ for them. There were several great body kits for them in Japan from some of the photos I've seen, including a couple that make them look like a mini FD RX-7. Interested to see what you do with it.
Years ago working for Ford here in Australia, one of the other engineers had one of these. I still cant believe he fitted as he was 6'4" or 6'6" tall. He bought it when living in NZ and then brought it to Australia. He later went back to NZ and took it back with him.
Love it! Just got my AZ-1, I'll be taking notes from your approach. I'm tempted to pursue a single rotor 13b to still classify as a kei car but hit power numbers alike to what you were describing here, but some of that motivation comes from wanting to be the most mazda car possible.
Great idea, all sounds fun. Not sure you can topple the MX-5 as all the mods you are planning can also be done to an MX-5 and that is starting from a better base.
Had one as my first car in 2020, still have it now. Excellent car in which to learn about driving, not enough power to get into a sticky situation but just enough to push the limits and figure out what to do in a RWD car with no traction control or ABS :p
I had never heard of the Cappuccino when I fell in love with one on a garage forecourt, half way from Tokyo to Kyoto. I then bought a UK car some years later, in silver. There are two things to know, first that the joy of a petrol engine is the ratio between top revs and lowest pulling revs. This engine pulls from two thousand and something to 9k. Second thing to know is that this is one of the best chassis ever put in a car. I know that sounds incredible, but remember that it was designed on a cost-doesn't-matter-but-size-does basis, and kept to well below 700kg with such a tiny unsprung weight at each corner. It drives beautifully and you can go flat-out all the time because flat-out is not beyond the legal limit as it is in almost all other sports cars. Try and find another car from its era that has an alloy bonnet or roof, projector headlights or indeed a high-level brake light (which was illegal at the time!) or any car that's 1.4m wide but comes with a valet key! Finally, it maybe saved my life. A car pulled out on me and I threw the cappo into the other lane, so instead of me t-boning the Kia, the Kia t-boned the Suzuki. I doubt any other car could have done that. As Chapman said, add lightness.
Love a kei car and how popular they are in Japan, love seeing all the new parts and kits at auto salon. Should be every drivers entry into cars and how to drive. Lots of choice for modifications too
Love it. It's definitely something a bit out of the ordinary. I am looking forward to see what will become of it. Maybe let Bim have a go at roasting it when it's done.
I’ve always wanted to see one of these with a Honda B16B in it. Almost triple the horsepower and almost double the torque while still being a small, high revving motor. Or for a lot more money throw a super bike motor in it 😅
Ahh yes, just what this channel needed, Not going to complain at some Japanese Nuggetry going on! Love the Cappuccinos, always wanted one but never had the chance to get one, intrigued to see how this one turns out after the Drivetribe treatment - Also I bet Hammond makes that look like a normal sized car
The joyous thing about this little boi is that because everything else about it is so piddly it makes that engine bay look positively large in comparison, giving it proportions closer to those of a big inline 6 or something of the sort
From what I remember hearing, 150hp is about peak for the Suzuki's drivetrain. SO. I think 100HP is an ideal number to hit. Room for error/wear basically. Absolutely in love with these cars. For sure on my bucket list of cars I'd like to own. Maybe even a "dream car" as well as the Alto Works.
Finally, someone who states the correct reason for a swap. Stock drivetrain is too weak to throw anything above 130hp. Investing in the stock drivetrain is okay, but has its limitations.
@@dumplinggang2725 people in japan regularly put 180hp though these at the track(grip and drift), the transmissions due eventually fail. i'd rather swap a stronger transmission than swap the engine.
@amilmitt you are correct. The transmission is the weakest link. More importantly, the lack of parts being readily available is the primary reason for my wanting to swap out the engine & transmission. Modern technology with being able to source part locally is what I want to achieve.
@@dumplinggang2725 there isn't really any viable gearbox swaps available. The best bet would be to refit stronger gears in the original box. That's how others have managed upto and over 200hp. But in reality, you really don't need more than 120 for what Drivetribe will be using the car for. I'm sure they'd like to sell it afterwards for a reasonable amount and an engine swap would ruin that.
"Hold off on the obvious jokes though, they're not that funny," "we've been using them forever to help build the channel but don't use them anymore because we said so".
Those are getting quite hard to find and expensive. Suzuki or any other manufacturer could make a car like this today and it would sell like mad. Yuki (雪) means snow in Japanese by the way.
The Japanese word 'yuki' can mean lots of different things including '行き' (to go), ’柚木’（Yuzu tree) and many others, including snow of course. Not to mention all of the variations of 'spelling' (Chinese characters or 'kanji') of both boys and girls names.
"Can we make this the new go-to entry level sports car over an MX-5?" People need to be able to actually buy one before you can ask that question, my guy. 😂
Brilliant. I’ve Smart roadster with similar credentials. Not quite the same, but with some tweaks (suspension, wheels and tyres, brakes, inter cooler, remap and some other small stuff), it’s hilarious to drive and can embarrass all manner of traditional sporty cars. Gearbox remains the Achilles heel, but with 110bhp at the wheels and 740kg… it’s huge fun. Your targets are spot on. Will be following along closely.
Had a Honda Beat back in the 90s. Grey import into Hong Kong where I was working at the time. Brought it back to the UK, then sold it on to a chap from Hamburg. Many shades of grey Kei car... Awesome fun.
Great episode! I once had a 90 PS 600cc Yamaha bike. Quite impossible to think that is enough to power a car :) But you prove it works haha! LG&Namaste
I always enjoy Mike's presentation style and enthusiasm. There seemed to be a bit of a peak crazy period in the 90s when the Japanese manufacturers made some amazing Kei sports cars. As well as the Cappuccino, Honda made the Beat, Mazda the Autozam AZ-1, and Daihatsu the Copen. I'm not sure that it is possible to turn the Cappuccino into a MX5 beater, but the Kei sportscars always looked like a fun alternative way to get your driving kicks. I'd imagine that something that small in amongst the giant SUV's that dominate the road these days could be a bit intimidating, so maybe the first mod should be a mast and warning flag like trike users often have.
Yes, light, narrow nimble cars are brilliant in town. Mine was a Mini 1000 in 1973. I could flick-flak through a small roundabout, at a steady 30 mph, but the police 1800 land-crab behind me could not. The driver was not pleased. 🤣
Dropping a triple engine from something like a Triumph Speed Triple in it with a sequential box would be a great shout, not only keeping it as an inline 3 cylinder, but carries a British vibe with it emulating the whole design brief that the MX5 was engineered to mimic and improve on in the first place. Would be a decent hike in power yet approachable through the whole rev range as a daily, without being ludicrously unwieldy like every other Busa swapped kei car is.
I'd love to see Yuki reimagined as what a 2024 Cappuccino might be. Have the little guy loaded with screens and tech that would be comfortable and comparable with its more modern rivals. Things like, driving modes, fancy start button, LED progressive lights, and ABS brakes. Have it make use of modern materials like carbon fiber, and titanium. If you want something young people would choose, I'd say you need to start there.
Yes! I thought Cappuccino as soon as i saw the thumbnail Same weight as a Lotus Elise, i bet that thing is a hoot! I'd love to seen it restored to it's former glory, then tuned for track fun (without going bonkers and ruining it!)
I want to see you swap out the engine for a different 3-cylinder... the Tiny Friendly Giant in the Koenigsegg Gemera. A 600-bhp inline-3 in a tiny Kei car? Yes, please!
I remember in the late 60s early 70s, as a teenager, the local motorbike shop selling New 600cc Honda Motor Cars. When you lifted the Bonnet, there was a 600cc motorbike engine inside. Who Knew many years later??
Hi Mike, long time no see, hope all's well with you. I shared this video with a friend who owned one of these and amazingly this was his car, which he bought new. If you want I can put you in touch with him if you want to know its early history. He has sent me some pics of it when it was new which I can pass on to you. Cheers, John Hunter
The thing the cappuccino has always needed is a wide body. I know it would be against the Kei ethos, but more visual presence and the cornering gains from a wider stance would be interesting to see. Love the cappuccino though, the two overriding on screen memories: Jeremy’s original top gear review and the iconic rain episode of initial D, hopefully this series will add to those.
Love it, remember loving this little thing in the original Gran Tourismo and lamenting why we never got any of the quirky fun stuff from Japan here in Canada. Can't wait to see the progress with it!
Full poly bush, bilstien coil overs, brembo brakes with braided hoses, short shifter, Michelin pilot sport tyres. For me I wouldn’t mess with the power as that defeats the point of it being frugal on petrol
If I recall correctly, the Cappucino uses an F-block engine, as did the Kei-variant Suzuki SJs. The SJ410 used a 4 cylinder F10A, and the 16 valve fuel injected F10D from a Suzuki Alto more or less bolts into an SJ410, you just have to contend with the electrical side. The F10A and D are both free-revving and very tough little engines that make for a fun driving experience, even driving around in a four wheel drive washing machine from the early 80s. SO, if you can make space in the engine bay, you might be able to fit an F10D from an early 2000s Suzuki Alto. The extra capacity would spool the turbo sooner. The F10D makes around the same power without the turbo so you might be able to bump it up to around 90 or even 100hp.
There is one competing in an autoslalom competition in The Netherlands. It is always way faster than any other 2seater and 4x4, beating Porsches, Imprezas and many MX5s (including mine). Cool car! Though very rare and expensive here to be an alternative to a MX5
Suzukisport/Monstersporr F100 turbo kit. Front mount intercooler and cat back exhaust with the factory downpipe gutted for no cat will see you with 110-120bhp. Job done. Watch out for rust. They rot ...bad.
You're British so your nation have made the best triple engine ever, which is 1050cc Triumph. It puts out about 130 to 150ps at about 10000rpm depending on the generation and is superlight with super flat torque curve maxing at 117nm.
1. Monster Sport kit gives it at least 90 hp, so 100 hp isn't that far off and should be a low hanging fruit 2. If you guys are going to manufacturing any parts -- please make it accessible to other current and future Cappo owners!
Trying to hold 'obvious joke' as best I can ..... "WHY NOT GIVE HAMMOND A GO... IT'S ABOUT HIS SIZE !" (phew .. sorry , had to get that out of my system)😆
Before you add any power, vmax it for a while. Feel how light the back goes. Then think "would I want to go any faster in something this unstable". I loved mine but 63bhp was plenty.
I literally went on my countries buying and selling car site to see this and found exact replica of your car same red same rims feeling like buying one
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looks fun, but so much more expensive than a mk 2 mx 5 (I loved my partner mx5)
Soup-up that thing, then add a body kit, rims/wheels and huge wing! I have seen them in Japan and online, so plenty of inspiration. BTW, thanks for the surfshark deal
@D V that is essentially the direction my Cappuccino is going 🤙great recommendations 👏
put a full undertray on it to protect it from rust, maybe turbofan wheels to help with downforce and brake cooling, those are my ideas anyway
If only i had my engine done, im currently building a 500cc engine straight twin turbo witn a mgu-h and hybrid drive. Uses solenoids has no cam. Itll be a bit still
We've had a couple. One of those was a project car. More boost, bigger intercooler and better radiator, coilovers, MGB wheels with 185/55 tyres. Most fun car I've ever had. One of those epic "Wish I'd never sold it" stories.
where did you live when you owned it?
Did you ever put it on a dyno? Curious how much hp you got out of it.
@@Felice_Enellen , no unfortunately. It was running 15psi quite happily using an MBC (Manual Boost Controller). That made it spool up nicely too. I expect it would have only been in the region of 80bhp max but felt fantastic.
@@chunkycheese73 , Worcestershire. It was resplendent in primer grey with black blister arches.
Ah man, I almost went for this as my first car years ago... It was too expensive for me so got a mini instead.
Putting a bike engine in there (Hayabusa probably) would be great content and interesting to see. Also have to rename it to "espresso" afterwards!
Google Suzuki Spresso and prepare for a suprise
hayabusa swap needs to happen
This is hilarious idea. I love
Definitely sounds like the right way to go
Agreed
Still waiting on that V10 MX-5
*WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN*
you won’t have much problem making 100 hp out of the F6A. The Cappuccino guys have cracked them to 200 hp a couple years ago.
200 hp from a 660cc 3 cylinder, absolute insanity 😅
That's quite the change but it is refreshing to see a totally different car, I'm excited to see what it can amount to.
PS: I can see May totally loving this car, Clarkson crushing it with his Lamborghini, but Hammond, I can't put my finger on what he may think of it
The other two would probably say "Finally a car in your size, Hamster!"
I think Hammond would love it! He loves MX-5s and small cars in general like the fiat barchetta and let's not forget Oliver!
@@Dave1507 Which is funny. Regardless of what Mike says. 😅😅
@@Jordan-ql8pv Meh. I wish society would move on from finding the circumstances of another human being's birth funny. It's a very caveman reaction that's found where civilized compassion should be.
And no, before you assume it, I'm of average height. I just have a heart.
@@Felice_Enellen It's by far a joke based around endearment and not meant to be degrading. Come on. Live a little. Don't be overly sensitive or easily offended.
A basic sense of spatial awareness, it’s amazing how many drivers don’t possess that simple must when given a license to drive.
I imagine it's esp important when your cars roof is below the window on many SUVs ;) I love Kei cars but I'd balk at driving them in London traffic-- you're inches away from being squashed at all times.
@@TheJohn8765 so true
The amount of times I've seen a car ahead/behind literally swerve halfway into the opposite lane to go around a parked car meanwhile I've managed to stay inside the lines and glide past it no problem lol. Seriously.
I got stopped by Northumbria Police one night. "Do you know why I stopped you?"
'No.'
"I thought you were a bit close to the cars parked on the side of the road."
'Did I hit any of them?'
"No."
'Well, I can't have been too close to them then.'
End of conversation.
- The irony of that encounter with plod was that I was helping a mate pick up a washing machine and a tumble dryer, me in a Mk2 Fiesta and him in a Metro. My car was legal, the Metro wasn't MOT'd, taxed or insured, but I got pulled.
@@TheJohn8765 I've seen the opposite. I drive my van through a gap and the much smaller car behind slows right down to get through.
Best thing about a Cappuccino grey import is that you should leave the speedo in kph - don't convert it to mph. A car that small feels a lot faster than you're actually going, and leaving the speedo in kph reinforces the sensation!
Except this is a UK registered car with the Speedo in MPH already
@@keio5274 worth switching it back, I'd say!
@@abarratt8869 in isolation they already feel pretty quick regardless of what the Speedo says. Until you've driven one, it's easy to say that
Or just dont look at it
Or you can order a speedo font in inches per year and outperform everything by those numbers, even stationary! 😇
As an owner since 2010, believe me when I say the only modification you will need to the brakes is better pads. Combined with proper tyres, this is all you will need in this department.
I would also recommend a Cusco LSD.
This was one of the best modifications I did. The open diff likes to spin an inside wheel because there is no weight over the rear wheels. Just be careful on the damp roads because you'll need a quick steering input.
Can't wait to see the progress. 👍
I've loved these for a few months now and wanted one, but the problem is they're so expensive compared to MX-5's due to the fact they are all imports so there aren't that many in the country.
There were UK cars but quite rare
This one is in fact a UK sold and registered car
About 1100 came in as UK spec - Reds mainly, some 300 ish silvers? My first was UK... biggest regret was selling- on some 22 years ago. Nabbed a mint JDM last winter. Smiles a mile wide are back.
If you like the ABC cars(Autozam AZ-1, Honda Beat, Suzuki Cappuccino), I'd also check out the Smart Roadster, which is a more modern Euro equivalent, and to a lesser extent the Daihatsu Copen as well.
@@joshklaver47 more to the extent the copen, to less an extent the smart car
That was the most entertaining ad I've yet seen for Surfshark. Well done Mike 😃
Love it! upgrading the front mount intercooler is a big improvement as well.
That on its own won't be that "big" of an improvement though
From one Cappuccino owner (Widebody Track build in progress) to another, this has to be the best Cappuccino introduction videos I have seen. Accurate information, quality video with proper editing, and a clear presentation 👌
I have a lot to learn 😂 in terms of outputting quality videos like this..
I look forward to seeing where your build goes.
production quality on this channel is looking proper since I last dropped in, love to see it
and even the advertisement for surfshark is highly entertaining 😂
I love this kind of car. Simple, super fun but not ludicrously fast. Character is where it's at, not lap times or any other number value.
Seen as it already revs to 9300, if a camshaft upgrade is available then go for that. A nice big front mount intercooler. Full custom exhaust (decat/race cat) but not obnoxious looking or sounding. CAI for a little more intake growl.
Trouble is the turbo lag he complained about would be even worse with an intercooler
i wanr eletric turbo for linear power and sond correlation with pedal, nmore torque, lower emissions
As a Smart driver, I can only gasp at the enormous amount of space wasted by this aircraft carrier. Ostentatious is the word that comes to mind. You go through gaps that make other people wonder? I've been on bike bridges that had barriers in place, turned around on single lane roads in two strokes...it's awesome!
Ever since my Fortwo with its glass roof, quick heating and cooling, nice economy and sweet rims had his service and is back to mechanically sound status, it's a perfect little thing to get around if you don't have kids, no big luggage and no fixed parking spot. I ALWAYS find one near my home, the Stadium, the shops, Downtown...the passenger compartment isn't small at all, so it's really liveable for two and does 80mph smoothly. What more do you really need? I answered nothing.
Abarth fiat 500
Absolutely loved these when I was a kid in the early 90's. Just so different and the proportions look perfect! Look forward to seeing what's achievable with it.
Thrilled to see this! I've lived in Japan almost 15 years, and you still see these little Cappuccinos around, along with their Daihatsu rival the Copa. Not too long ago I was chatting with a 20-something man about his dream car, and he said it was one of these! Great choice, everyone here seems to love them.
Drivetribe have finally learned to put a limit on Mike's company card...
I love the Honda S660. One of the best looking “sports” cars of the last decade. Richard should buy one for competition.
Love the Cappuccino. Have wanted one for years but missed out on when they were cheap. They've just been going up and up to a point sellers here in Australia are asking $30K+ for them. There were several great body kits for them in Japan from some of the photos I've seen, including a couple that make them look like a mini FD RX-7. Interested to see what you do with it.
Years ago working for Ford here in Australia, one of the other engineers had one of these. I still cant believe he fitted as he was 6'4" or 6'6" tall. He bought it when living in NZ and then brought it to Australia. He later went back to NZ and took it back with him.
Love it!
Just got my AZ-1, I'll be taking notes from your approach. I'm tempted to pursue a single rotor 13b to still classify as a kei car but hit power numbers alike to what you were describing here, but some of that motivation comes from wanting to be the most mazda car possible.
There are 600-690cc twin rotors available. Super easy in Europe. Been eyeing off the rotron 600, and another brands 650.
Oooh, Dorito power! Hadn't thought of that but it's a brilliant idea!
@@kuhhnt oh? I didn't know about this!
Do you have any engine names (or a supplier)?
@@JerGol AIE UK do a 650S model 650cc twin rotor that looks a glorious little rig.
@@matthewjennings7645 AIEUK if you google. And the 650S is the model of the most appropriate looking unit.
I am much more excited for projects about stuffing lots of power into a tiny car than anything else, so this'll be an interesting project to see!
I do love the Cappuccino, one of my all time favorite cars. It is on my list for "Dream Garage".
Great idea, all sounds fun. Not sure you can topple the MX-5 as all the mods you are planning can also be done to an MX-5 and that is starting from a better base.
Had one as my first car in 2020, still have it now. Excellent car in which to learn about driving, not enough power to get into a sticky situation but just enough to push the limits and figure out what to do in a RWD car with no traction control or ABS :p
Miss mine, and importing another seems borderline impossible..
@@Wirenfeldt1990 Mine is an original UK car like the one in the video, if you're also in the UK then they're still out there!
I had never heard of the Cappuccino when I fell in love with one on a garage forecourt, half way from Tokyo to Kyoto. I then bought a UK car some years later, in silver. There are two things to know, first that the joy of a petrol engine is the ratio between top revs and lowest pulling revs. This engine pulls from two thousand and something to 9k. Second thing to know is that this is one of the best chassis ever put in a car. I know that sounds incredible, but remember that it was designed on a cost-doesn't-matter-but-size-does basis, and kept to well below 700kg with such a tiny unsprung weight at each corner. It drives beautifully and you can go flat-out all the time because flat-out is not beyond the legal limit as it is in almost all other sports cars. Try and find another car from its era that has an alloy bonnet or roof, projector headlights or indeed a high-level brake light (which was illegal at the time!) or any car that's 1.4m wide but comes with a valet key! Finally, it maybe saved my life. A car pulled out on me and I threw the cappo into the other lane, so instead of me t-boning the Kia, the Kia t-boned the Suzuki. I doubt any other car could have done that. As Chapman said, add lightness.
Love a kei car and how popular they are in Japan, love seeing all the new parts and kits at auto salon.
Should be every drivers entry into cars and how to drive.
Lots of choice for modifications too
Always respect a man who will sell out his respectability for a random sponsor. I applaud you sir, that is the spirit of your three founders/owners. 😂
Love it. It's definitely something a bit out of the ordinary. I am looking forward to see what will become of it. Maybe let Bim have a go at roasting it when it's done.
I’ve always wanted to see one of these with a Honda B16B in it.
Almost triple the horsepower and almost double the torque while still being a small, high revving motor.
Or for a lot more money throw a super bike motor in it 😅
Ahh yes, just what this channel needed, Not going to complain at some Japanese Nuggetry going on! Love the Cappuccinos, always wanted one but never had the chance to get one, intrigued to see how this one turns out after the Drivetribe treatment - Also I bet Hammond makes that look like a normal sized car
Hey, he said none of the obvious jokes! :P
@@mrflippant I missed that part
The joyous thing about this little boi is that because everything else about it is so piddly it makes that engine bay look positively large in comparison, giving it proportions closer to those of a big inline 6 or something of the sort
I love how Mike is really coming into his own as a presenter (we yanks call them a host) on the channel.
I think the MR2 Roadster done extremely well against the MX5.
It's a brilliant car.
Even better with the 2ZZ-GE
From what I remember hearing, 150hp is about peak for the Suzuki's drivetrain. SO. I think 100HP is an ideal number to hit. Room for error/wear basically. Absolutely in love with these cars. For sure on my bucket list of cars I'd like to own. Maybe even a "dream car" as well as the Alto Works.
Finally, someone who states the correct reason for a swap. Stock drivetrain is too weak to throw anything above 130hp. Investing in the stock drivetrain is okay, but has its limitations.
@@dumplinggang2725 people in japan regularly put 180hp though these at the track(grip and drift), the transmissions due eventually fail. i'd rather swap a stronger transmission than swap the engine.
@amilmitt you are correct. The transmission is the weakest link. More importantly, the lack of parts being readily available is the primary reason for my wanting to swap out the engine & transmission. Modern technology with being able to source part locally is what I want to achieve.
@@dumplinggang2725 there isn't really any viable gearbox swaps available. The best bet would be to refit stronger gears in the original box. That's how others have managed upto and over 200hp.
But in reality, you really don't need more than 120 for what Drivetribe will be using the car for.
I'm sure they'd like to sell it afterwards for a reasonable amount and an engine swap would ruin that.
"Hold off on the obvious jokes though, they're not that funny," "we've been using them forever to help build the channel but don't use them anymore because we said so".
Brilliant plan looking forward to it
Convert it to full electric. Bet that would loads of fun.
I wonder how hard a rotary swap would be for this Suzuki?
Seen it done, not too hard, weighs about the same and similar size
Get Clarkson squeezed into that thing, always fun watching Jeremy in a tiny car.
Those are getting quite hard to find and expensive. Suzuki or any other manufacturer could make a car like this today and it would sell like mad. Yuki (雪) means snow in Japanese by the way.
The Japanese word 'yuki' can mean lots of different things including '行き' (to go), ’柚木’（Yuzu tree) and many others, including snow of course. Not to mention all of the variations of 'spelling' (Chinese characters or 'kanji') of both boys and girls names.
This may very well be my favourite project so far! Absolutely love Kei cars, and this is going to be a blast!
Could you not find anything smaller ? 😂 I’m sure there’s a peel P50 knocking around on eBay somewhere.
"Can we make this the new go-to entry level sports car over an MX-5?"
People need to be able to actually buy one before you can ask that question, my guy. 😂
My dad used to have one of these in silver, lots of fun but not the most safe 😅
Shark Suits aren't that unsafe
@@RYTF5 😂
Brilliant. I’ve Smart roadster with similar credentials. Not quite the same, but with some tweaks (suspension, wheels and tyres, brakes, inter cooler, remap and some other small stuff), it’s hilarious to drive and can embarrass all manner of traditional sporty cars. Gearbox remains the Achilles heel, but with 110bhp at the wheels and 740kg… it’s huge fun. Your targets are spot on. Will be following along closely.
What happened to the JUDD V10 MX5?????
Had a Honda Beat back in the 90s. Grey import into Hong Kong where I was working at the time. Brought it back to the UK, then sold it on to a chap from Hamburg. Many shades of grey Kei car...
Awesome fun.
Great episode! I once had a 90 PS 600cc Yamaha bike. Quite impossible to think that is enough to power a car :) But you prove it works haha!
LG&Namaste
the vast majority of small 'family cars' in the 80s and 90s had less than 90bhp ... mid 90's ford fiesta only makes about 70hp for example.
I'm the same size as Richard, but I beg to differ, the jokes still ARE that funny 😁
It would be cool to see it with a rear spoiler , front splitter and stainless exhaust.
You should see mine then 😏
Seems like Yuki deserves a bumper sticker that says, "No - you WON'T fit through this gap!!".
Still better than a Tesla
I always enjoy Mike's presentation style and enthusiasm. There seemed to be a bit of a peak crazy period in the 90s when the Japanese manufacturers made some amazing Kei sports cars. As well as the Cappuccino, Honda made the Beat, Mazda the Autozam AZ-1, and Daihatsu the Copen.
I'm not sure that it is possible to turn the Cappuccino into a MX5 beater, but the Kei sportscars always looked like a fun alternative way to get your driving kicks.
I'd imagine that something that small in amongst the giant SUV's that dominate the road these days could be a bit intimidating, so maybe the first mod should be a mast and warning flag like trike users often have.
I'm a huge mini fan and a Mazda racing version of this has been my dream car since I could drive. Thanks for showing it off.
Yes, light, narrow nimble cars are brilliant in town. Mine was a Mini 1000 in 1973. I could flick-flak through a small roundabout, at a steady 30 mph, but the police 1800 land-crab behind me could not. The driver was not pleased. 🤣
Dropping a triple engine from something like a Triumph Speed Triple in it with a sequential box would be a great shout, not only keeping it as an inline 3 cylinder, but carries a British vibe with it emulating the whole design brief that the MX5 was engineered to mimic and improve on in the first place.
Would be a decent hike in power yet approachable through the whole rev range as a daily, without being ludicrously unwieldy like every other Busa swapped kei car is.
You’re gonna make the k car nearly unattainable once people see they’re a hidden gem of today
2:23 those gullwing doors actually look awesome 🤣
I'd love to see Yuki reimagined as what a 2024 Cappuccino might be. Have the little guy loaded with screens and tech that would be comfortable and comparable with its more modern rivals. Things like, driving modes, fancy start button, LED progressive lights, and ABS brakes. Have it make use of modern materials like carbon fiber, and titanium. If you want something young people would choose, I'd say you need to start there.
You CAN NOT convince me that any joke about Hammond in that thing wouldn’t Instantly be funny
Yes! I thought Cappuccino as soon as i saw the thumbnail
Same weight as a Lotus Elise, i bet that thing is a hoot! I'd love to seen it restored to it's former glory, then tuned for track fun (without going bonkers and ruining it!)
Soup-up that thing, then add a body kit, rims/wheels and huge wing! I have seen them in Japan and online, so plenty of inspiration.
I want to see you swap out the engine for a different 3-cylinder... the Tiny Friendly Giant in the Koenigsegg Gemera. A 600-bhp inline-3 in a tiny Kei car? Yes, please!
Fun fact: Cappuchino is built under 旧規格(kyu-kikaku, meaning previous standards), so it's even shorter and narrower than today's Kei-cars.
I haven't been this much excited for a car in drive tribe, other than the mx5 v10 swap.
Drift it
adding "better than the mx-5" is insult to the lack of v10 miata content lol. Cant wait for new yata content to come out
I remember in the late 60s early 70s, as a teenager, the local motorbike shop selling New 600cc Honda Motor Cars. When you lifted the Bonnet, there was a 600cc motorbike engine inside. Who Knew many years later??
Hi Mike, long time no see, hope all's well with you. I shared this video with a friend who owned one of these and amazingly this was his car, which he bought new. If you want I can put you in touch with him if you want to know its early history. He has sent me some pics of it when it was new which I can pass on to you. Cheers, John Hunter
Cool car, want to see an engine swap with a cool bike engine with a lot more power!
The thing the cappuccino has always needed is a wide body. I know it would be against the Kei ethos, but more visual presence and the cornering gains from a wider stance would be interesting to see.
Love the cappuccino though, the two overriding on screen memories: Jeremy’s original top gear review and the iconic rain episode of initial D, hopefully this series will add to those.
Love it, remember loving this little thing in the original Gran Tourismo and lamenting why we never got any of the quirky fun stuff from Japan here in Canada. Can't wait to see the progress with it!
Ive been liking Mike content a lot lately! This one was great. He is a great presenter
Full poly bush, bilstien coil overs, brembo brakes with braided hoses, short shifter, Michelin pilot sport tyres.
For me I wouldn’t mess with the power as that defeats the point of it being frugal on petrol
No joke about Hammond's size but - a bit about Yuki's crash resistance in the event of Richard "doing a Hammond"!!
If I recall correctly, the Cappucino uses an F-block engine, as did the Kei-variant Suzuki SJs. The SJ410 used a 4 cylinder F10A, and the 16 valve fuel injected F10D from a Suzuki Alto more or less bolts into an SJ410, you just have to contend with the electrical side. The F10A and D are both free-revving and very tough little engines that make for a fun driving experience, even driving around in a four wheel drive washing machine from the early 80s.
SO, if you can make space in the engine bay, you might be able to fit an F10D from an early 2000s Suzuki Alto. The extra capacity would spool the turbo sooner. The F10D makes around the same power without the turbo so you might be able to bump it up to around 90 or even 100hp.
There is one competing in an autoslalom competition in The Netherlands. It is always way faster than any other 2seater and 4x4, beating Porsches, Imprezas and many MX5s (including mine). Cool car! Though very rare and expensive here to be an alternative to a MX5
Suzukisport/Monstersporr F100 turbo kit. Front mount intercooler and cat back exhaust with the factory downpipe gutted for no cat will see you with 110-120bhp. Job done. Watch out for rust. They rot ...bad.
The later versions of these actually put out way more than 64bhp. Suzuki just nodded to the gentleman's agreement
HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY EVERYONE ✌️
Relocate as many components as you can to the trunk to make space in the engine bay for upgrades. Then remove as much weight as possible.
Before you go about modifying it I would like to see a drag race between Yuki and Oliver!
that was the best ad ever, actually had me stay to watch it LOL
Gran Turismo players will know this legendary car!!!
Ooooo, will we be getting a 3-5 lap race between this and an MX-5 at the end?
I love Kei cars and trucks. Awesome little characterful buggers. So glad you went this direction, Mike!
This might be the way for me to never skip ads again, put Mike in a silly costume
A friend of mine imported one new, back in 94, we loved it, lady magnet back then lol
We absolutely need to see two of the Greenhouse's in this!
List of upgrades
1. Exhaust
2. Wheels
3. Intake
You're British so your nation have made the best triple engine ever, which is 1050cc Triumph. It puts out about 130 to 150ps at about 10000rpm depending on the generation and is superlight with super flat torque curve maxing at 117nm.
Needs a full DTM style areo kit.
Nearly bought one of these 16 years ago. Still wish i we did but at 6ft i found it a bit of a tight fit but the mrs loved it.
1. Monster Sport kit gives it at least 90 hp, so 100 hp isn't that far off and should be a low hanging fruit
2. If you guys are going to manufacturing any parts -- please make it accessible to other current and future Cappo owners!
Trying to hold 'obvious joke' as best I can ..... "WHY NOT GIVE HAMMOND A GO... IT'S ABOUT HIS SIZE !" (phew .. sorry , had to get that out of my system)😆
Before you add any power, vmax it for a while. Feel how light the back goes. Then think "would I want to go any faster in something this unstable". I loved mine but 63bhp was plenty.
I literally went on my countries buying and selling car site to see this and found exact replica of your car same red same rims feeling like buying one