The minicar portion of the crowded Japanese car market is booming, says Subaru. That's why the company is launching a new such keicar, the Stella, which sports the segment's customary 660cc engine, along with a new i-CVT transmission. It's also got some novel approaches to maximizing space: The two rear seats can sidle up to the back of the front seat independently, letting mom tend to her rugrats; the front passenger seatback folds into a table; each front door panel can accommodate a tissue box; and the doors swing out nearly 90 degrees to the side. A supercharged model is also on the ticket, though we're waiting for some clever sort to slap in a Hayabusa engine. That would be pretty novel.

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More on Japan's keicars [internal]

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