G100 (1987–94)
The third generation of the Daihatsu Charade (G100) debuted in 1987. It originally shipped with a 1.0L 3-cylinder engine (CB23) and 1.3L four-cylinder with single carburetor (HC-C). A 1.0L turbo diesel, a 1.0L twin-cam turbo (CB70)(CB80) , named GTti and delivering 101hp JIS (74kW), a 1.3L fuel injected 4-cylinder (HC-E) and 3-cylinder (CB90) were later added. It was released in a 3-door and a 5-door hatchback. A 4-door sedan was released with the 1.3L EFI engine in 1988. In Japan the GTti version was available, dubbed GT-XX, featured a sunroof, power windows, air-con and power steering. Also the interior was quite different from the GTti in that the fuse box was mounted inside the car and the seats were of a different design. The exterior featured side skirts, Speedline alloys and a different rear spoiler to the GTti.
The GTti was able to claim to be the first production car to produce 100bhp per litre and was also the fastest 1 litre production car made. It also had a fairly successful rally career competing in the RAC Lombard Rally in 1989 and 1990 and was highly competitive in the Safari Rally. The GTti won class honours many times and was able to mix it with some of the 2 litre cars on occasion troubling some of the 4wd cars!
The third-generation car was sold in the United States for just four years, from 1988 through 1992. The car sold poorly, perhaps because of its high price, few dealerships, and unfortunate translation of the name Charade into English, and the company withdrew permanently from the US market. Sales for 1989 were 15,118. Only the 3-door hatchback and sedan were available. The North American Charade appeared in three different trim levels until 1989; the CES (Base model), CLS, and CLX. The CES came with a 53 BHP, 1.0L 3-Cylinder, Electronically Fuel Injected engine known as the CB-90. The other two variants were available with the standard CB-90 or the more powerful 1.3L 4-Cylinder Electronically Fuel Injected HC-E. In 1990, the trim levels were reduced to just two, the SE (Base Model) and SX. All models were available with a 5-Speed manual gearbox or an automatic transmission.
In the Australian market, the GTti was unavailable and the turbocharged petrol Charade used the carburetor engine (CB60/61) from the previous generation.
G200 (1994–2000)
The fourth generation was introduced in 1994, again with hatchback and sedan bodies. A 1.0L engine was the base model in Japan, but in many European countries, the SOHC 1.3L was used. The sedan, introduced in 1994, featured a 1.5L engine with optional 4WD. The Diesel models were dropped in all markets where they were previously available.
The turbocharged GTti version was replaced by a more conventional GTi with an SOHC 16-valve 1.6L engine. This version was engineered by Italian ex-racing driver De Tomaso (the previous owner of Innocenti), including racing-derived camshafts, and was capable of 124hp JIS (91kW) in the Japanese market. The export version was detuned to 105hp DIN (77kW). De Tomaso also added their own bodykit, Recaro seats, a Nardi Torino steering wheel, and Pirelli sports tyres. A total of 120,000 Charade GTi were produced following this joint effort.
The Charade was restyled in 1996, only two years after release (with the codename G203). It had a ‘smiley face’ grille and changed headlights, looking more like its Toyota sibling the Starlet. It was produced until 2000, when it was replaced by the Sirion/Storia.
