Daihatsu TA-X80: A Vision of the Future From the 1980s (3 Photos)
A 1.0-liter twin-turbo V6, all-wheel drive, and sliding doors: this was Daihatsu’s vision of the sports car of the future back in 1987. The two-seater TA-X80 debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show to celebrate the company's 80th anniversary. 
Beneath its rounded glass canopy sat a 3.9-meter-long mid-engine coupe. According to the factory brochure, it featured a 996 cc engine delivering 130 hp at 9,000 rpm, a four-speed automatic transmission, and a target curb weight of 880 kg. 
An electronic control system was designed to split torque between the wheels, while hydropneumatic suspension adjusted ride height and stiffness based on speed and road conditions. At higher speeds, the car was engineered to lower its profile from 1,095 mm to 1,065 mm. 
The cabin was just as futuristic, featuring digital instrumentation, a head-up display, and the LADYNET system. The brochure promised onboard navigation, vehicle diagnostics, and even TV reception. Doors slid backward to allow effortless entry. Ultimately, the TA-X80 never made it to production.
Archival images from Daihatsu's official brochure for the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show.
