Nissan Debuts New DAYZ ROOX Kei Cars in Tokyo

Nissan has officially launched their brand-new DAYZ ROOX kei car in dealerships throughout Japan. It’s a car that we first saw near the end of last year at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show in concept form, and it’s the first new model in Nissan’s surprisingly popular DAYZ lineup.

Sales of the original Nissan DAYZ only began in the middle of 2013, but already Nissan has surpassed the 11,000 units per month mark. This is an excellent start for the first minicar in which Nissan had a hand in developing from start to finish, and now with the ROOX they’re looking to give drivers more of what they already like.

The Nissan DAYZ ROOX is essentially a taller, more wagon-like version of the Nissan DAYZ. It will be available in two forms, just like the original: the Nissan DAYZ ROOX X and the Nissan DAYZ ROOX Highway STAR X G.

But, other than a new name and increased height, what separates the Nissan DAYZ from the DAYZ ROOX?

Well, obviously there are a few added benefits that come with the extra height. The minicar offers incredible visibility, not only because it features Around View Monitor for an effective 360-degree view of the car’s surroundings, but also because of the enormous windows, thin A-pillars and low waistline the car uses to create a “floating roof” effect. The Highway Star also gets a new, large chrome grille, LED positioning lights, and a refined bumper design.

The new DAYZ ROOX models also come with automatic sliding doors, heat-insulated ‘green’ glass, and of course all the other technological goodies that were stock in the original, such as a touchscreen display. Furthermore, despite the taller minicar’s increased size, Nissan promises that it will maneuver just as well, if not better, than the original.

Just like the car’s sleek exterior design, the DAYZ ROOX also features a luxurious and modern interior. The car is apparently spacious enough to contain a standard 27-inch bicycle. The normal DAYZ ROOX gets a high-contrast interior that uses ivory pseudo-suede and piano black trim with mild pink stitching. The DAYZ ROOX Highway STAR gets a sportier, darker interior that uses gunmetal gray, silver and black  for a “premium feel”.

As far as performance, both versions of the Nissan DAYZ ROOX get a 0.7L three-cylinder petrol that outputs 48hp. However, the enhancements don’t stop there. The kei car has also been fitted with a new battery-assist system and a highly-efficient XTRONIC CVT. Basically, the battery-assist system harnesses excess energy during deceleration to power electrical equipment throughout the car, thereby reducing the strain on the alternator and thus on gas consumption.

To start with, Nissan is aiming to sell 5,000 units per month of their new DAYZ ROOX kei cars, and their starting price will be 1,240,050 yen. That’s about $12,100. With the continued success of the original DAYZ, it’s hard to imagine these new ROOX models to do anything other than exceeding expectations.