Liberty Walk’s modified Copen GR Sport could be the ultimate MX-5 alternative

Searching for a teeny-tiny featherweight roadster that isn’t a Mazda MX-5? Here’s an alternative, and no, your eyes do not deceive you: beneath the wide arches and negatively cambered wheels lies the adorable heart of a Daihatsu Copen GR Sport. No really, it’s in there.

The work of Liberty Walk, naturally, this Scrappy Doo overhaul includes a set of thick spoked 16in alloys, a meatier quad-exhaust and a sleek new rear wing, all done to transform this adorable weekend toy into the ultimate Friday night Shibuya Crossing head-turner.

The turbo three-pot puts out 63bhp and 68lb ft as standard, but since this Copen gains a HKS air intake and blow-off valve, we reckon there’s a wee bit more urgency in its little lungs. Bigger brakes and an aftermarket suspension are also thrown in to keep the angry pupper steady.

You get some red colouring inside to contrast the smoked grey exterior, a better audio system and a turbo gauge. Because who doesn’t want a turbo gauge in their jumped-up Copen?

Pricing hasn’t been disclosed, but given Liberty Walk’s ‘stock car’ inventory is listed by price, and that this car is positioned between another Copen (at £24k) and a Skyline (at £16k), an offer within that region should suffice. This, or an MX-5?