The Daihatsu Consorte is a small sedan sold by the Japanese automaker Daihatsu from 1969 to 1977. It was based on the Toyota Publica, and its name, meaning "consort" in Italian, reflected Daihatsu's newly established affiliation with Toyota while also continuing the theme started with the preceding Compagno ("companion").[1] It replaced the Compagno as Daihatsu's passenger vehicle. The Consorte was derived from Toyota's Publica and was sold at a newly established Japanese dealership network intended to exclusively sell the Publica. This was called Toyota Publica Store until 1966 when it was renamed Toyota Corolla Store to sell the all-new Toyota Corolla. This arrangement allowed Toyota to sell the Publica at recently acquired Daihatsu dealerships, giving Daihatsu a car larger than kei class cars. The Consorte used a Daihatsu developed engine, while the Publica used a two-cylinder, air-cooled, flat-2 U engine.
| Daihatsu Consorte (EP) | |
|---|---|
 Toyota Publica, similar in model to the Consorte | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Daihatsu |
| Production | 1969–1977 |
| Assembly | Ikeda, Osaka, Japan |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Subcompact |
| Body style | 2-door sedan 2-door coupe 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | Toyota P |
| Related | Toyota Publica Toyota Starlet |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 958 cc FE OHV I4 (EP30/45) 1166 cc 3K OHV I4 (EP31/47) |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual K40 5-speed manual K50 2-speed automatic A20 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,160 mm (85.0 in) (sedan) 2,265 mm (89.2 in) (coupe) |
| Length | 3,645 mm (143.5 in) (pre-facelift) 3,695 mm (145.5 in) (facelift) 3,790 mm (149.2 in) (coupe) |
| Width | 1,450 mm (57.1 in) (sedan) 1,530 mm (60.2 in) (coupe) |
| Height | 1,310–1,325 mm (51.6–52.2 in) (coupe) 1,380–1,385 mm (54.3–54.5 in) (sedan) |
| Curb weight | 670–685 kg (1,477–1,510 lb) (pre-facelift) 680–745 kg (1,499–1,642 lb) (facelift) 720–750 kg (1,587–1,653 lb) (coupe) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Daihatsu Compagno |
| Successor | Daihatsu Charade (2-door sedan/coupe) Daihatsu Charmant (4-door sedan) |
Initially, the Consorte was available only as a two-door sedan and with Daihatsu's own 1.0-litre FE engine. In June 1971, Publica's 3K 1.2-litre engine was added to the range,[2] both engines only available with 4-speed manual transmission. Facelift model appeared in January 1972.[3] In May 1973, 5-speed manual and 2-speed automatic transmissions added to the line up for 1.2-litre models only, two-door coupe version also added to the lineup.[4] Followed by four-door sedan version in October 1973,[5] but only sold until November 1974,[6] with the launch of the Daihatsu Charmant. The 2-door sedan and coupe were superseded in 1977 (in February for 1.0-litre models and November for 1.2-litre models) by the Daihatsu Charade.
References
edit- ^ Kobori, Kazunori (2007), ダイハツ 日本最古の発動機メーカーの変遷 [Daihatsu: The History of Japan's Oldest Engine Company] (in Japanese), Tokyo: Miki Press, p. 55, ISBN 978-4-89522-505-2
- ^ "1971 Daihatsu Consorte phase-I Sedan". www.automobile-catalog.com.
- ^ "1972 Daihatsu Consorte phase-II Sedan". www.automobile-catalog.com.
- ^ "1973 Daihatsu Consorte phase-II Coupe". www.automobile-catalog.com.
- ^ "1973 Daihatsu Consorte phase-II Sedan". www.automobile-catalog.com.
- ^ "1974 Daihatsu Consorte phase-II Sedan". www.automobile-catalog.com.
- Auto Modelle Katalog 1970/71, Vereinigte Motor Verlage Stuttgart (Technical Data for 1970/1971 Daihatsu Consorte 1100 2-door)