Japanese manufacturer, Daihatsu has launched a bargain special offer campaign, with big price savings on selected models.

Aimed at highlighting this year’s Centenary celebrations and Daihatsu’s reputation for quality, reliability and low running costs, the price cut campaign runs from 1 July until 30 September.

All new Daihatsu Terios compact 4x4s are available with a £1,000 reduction, while the best-selling Sirion range of five-door hatchbacks enjoys a £500 saving.

It means the Terios 1.5 S now costs £11,995 on-the-road despite a high standard specification which includes air-conditioning, power-steering, ABS with EBD and full-time four-wheel drive with electronic centre diff-lock.

Also standard on the Terios are driver, passenger and side airbags, radio/CD player, four electric windows and even reverse parking sensors.

Being considerably larger than the previous Terios – and boasting a generous 380 litre capacity boot – the Daihatsu flagship also has three rear-seat three-point seat-belts.

Running costs are low for a 4x4 with a ‘politically-correct’ Extra Urban fuel consumption of 40.4 mpg for the Terios 1.5 S and a highly-competitive Group 7D insurance rating.

In addition, the Sirion range of 1.0 and 1.3 litre hatchbacks now start at £6,955 on-the-road with, again, generous equipment which includes air-conditioning, ABS with EBD, driver, passenger and side airbags, radio/CD player, four electric windows and remote central-locking.

The Sirion also has outstanding fuel economy, recording 64.2 mpg on the Extra Urban Cycle for the 1.0 litre version which also has an ultra-low CO2 of 118 g/km.

The price cuts are backed by a national ‘Crazy Not To’ advertising campaign that includes targeted TV slots on Channel 4, FIVE and satellite stations such as Sky and UK Living.

Meanwhile, the funky new Materia Mini MPV has now gone on sale at £10,995 OTR despite a high specification and is already attracting the strongest consumer interest for any Daihatsu product for several years.

Daihatsu’s forerunner, Hatsudoki Seizo Company Limited, was founded in 1907 to manufacture internal combustion engines.

The first truck was produced in 1919 and a range of three-wheeled vehicles introduced in 1930, followed by the mid-sized four-wheeled car – the FA – in 1937. In May 1965 Daihatsu became the first Japanese manufacturer to export to Britain with the 797 cc Compagno Berlina.

This exact car is now owned by Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited and regularly takes part in classic car rallies and dealer events.