The subcompact Lapin has been produced since 2002. The car has a “box-like”, square appearance and is made in retro style. The basis for the creation of the car served as the seventh generation model Alto, but Lapin is significantly different from its progenitress. By the way, the word “lapin”, used as a name, means “hare”.
The front of the car is fairly simple, with square block headlights and grille. In addition to the unusual appearance, this five-door car also boasts its functionality. The main advantage of Lapin is its high body height and increased space for passengers due to the almost vertical front and rear pillars and vertical landing. The cabin freely accommodates four adults, while the volume of the transformed luggage compartment can vary from 240 to 800 liters. In the cabin, decided in retro-style, there are many boxes, pockets and luggage nets.
Thanks to the large windows, the interior space turned out to be very bright. The choice of configurations is very wide - five basic models are offered (L, X, X2, Turbo and G) and a sport version with factory tuning SS, which appeared only in 2003. It is completed with a turbo engine that develops power in 64 hp, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic gearbox. The points of attachment of suspension elements are underestimated by 10 mm compared to its standard version, the tires are enlarged to a size of 165/55 R14.
In addition, thanks to the modified geometry of the rotation of the front wheels, the ability of the Lapin SS to maintain the straightness of the movement at high speed is also an order of magnitude higher than that of its “regular” fellow. Compared to the standard version, the SS looks like an unconventional sports pattern. A distinctive feature are round headlights.
Decorative grille has not an oblique pattern, which is used in the standard version, but in a straight cell. Side-view mirrors, located on the doors, are placed in round-shaped frames. The overall height of the machine has become less by 10 mm.
The 14-inch aluminum six-spoke wheels fit well into the body. In the cabin Lapin SS stand out seats that have a high-back sports. The surface of the front panel is painted silver, and in addition, 4 round-shaped ventilation windows are trimmed with chrome-plated rims (in the cabin of the standard modification, these parts are made under matte silver). Inside the circular indexes of devices with digital scales there is the “SS” logo, the dials themselves are made in the classic manner with evenly standing figures (in the standard modification of the Lapin car, the numbers have a radial shape).
The minimum turning radius of Lapin is 4.2 meters. The car is practical, has a decent security system, silent traffic and good driving characteristics. The car is equipped with a lightweight 3-cylinder engine of 658 cm ³. In the basic configuration, the engine develops 54 hp. and 63 Nm, and turbocharged for Turbo and G versions - 60 hp and 83 Nm. Types of drive - front or connected through a full viscous coupling. In 2008, the presentation of the second generation of the model was held in Japan. Lapin didn’t undergo radical changes - the manufacturer only refreshed the car’s design, smoothing out sharp corners with smoother lines.
The car also received new exterior door handles, side mirrors with LED turn signal repeaters, a wider front window and more. In a word, the exterior acquired a more modern look. There are 10 options for painting the body, including two new ones (blue metallic and pink metallic). The second-generation Lapin has a new suspension, larger wheels (14 inches), but the dimensions remain the same: length - 3,390 mm, width - 1,475 mm, height - 1,510 mm. The increase in wheelbase also allowed to increase the internal space.
According to the developers, the purpose of the Lapin audit is for women, which they took into account when changing the interior and worn equipment. The salon is available in 3 colors: ivory, brown and black. The car is equipped with a 54-horsepower DOHC VVT engine of 660 cc or a turbo DOHC engine with a capacity of 64 hp. You can choose a model with a 4-speed automatic transmission or with a variator. A choice of Lapin is offered with monodrive and all-wheel drive.
