Daihatsu to use new fuel-efficient engines

Daihatsu Motor Co. will use its new fuel-efficient gasoline engine in all mini-vehicle models going on sale in 2011 and later. The move means that the Japanese mini-vehicle maker will focus on improving its gasoline engine technology in order to compete with rivals instead of releasing gas-electric hybrid or pure electric vehicles. Daihatsu uses the new engine in its recently developed mini-vehicle that can travel 30 kilometers per liter of gasoline. Subsequent models will use the same engine, Daihatsu President Teruyuki Minoura said. (October 21, 2009)