Is it just me, or are cars all starting to look the same? Perhaps it’s that carmakers are discovering that when you’re trying to make cars as efficient and streamlined as possible, that there’s not much wiggle room for design. Well, whatever the reason, the cars coming out of Japan these days are looking remarkably like anything coming out of China, Korea, or Europe. There are exceptions, of course. To my eye, the Polestar 2 is the most beautiful thing on wheels right now.
That Polestar’s a stunner, but if you’re looking for quirky, original, and downright weird on wheels, then you really can’t go past Japan’s Mitsuoka. Hang on, Mitsu-who?
If you’ve never heard of Mitsuoka, then that’s not surprising. Japan’s 10th biggest carmaker is hardly a motoring giant, but it’s at least well known in Japan for its quirky, original and offbeat creations. Mitsuoka’s schtick is to pay homage to classic cars from a bygone age with mechanicals from much bigger Japanese automakers. Mitsuoka calls them replicas, and it’s all done with a sense of fun and playfulness. You get the impression that Mitsuoka is a carmaker that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
British Obsessions
Take the Mitsuoka Galue, for example. It just screams Rolls Royce, Bentley and old-world money with those conservative lines and elegant interior. But underneath that bodywork is a good old Nissan Altima.
The Mitsuoka Ryugi offers similar British-to-the-bootstraps style in a pint-sized edition. But unlike a Rolls Royce that delivers stupendous power from its colossal 6.75 litre V12, the Ryugi offers a more pedestrian pace, because it’s based on a Toyota Corolla, with a rip-snorting 1.5 litre engine. Mitsuoka does, however, offer a station wagon version of the Ryugi. Now that’s a design innovation that’s never occurred to those famed British marques, so take that Rolls Royce!
Americana
But you’d be wrong if you thought the lads at Mitsuoka were uniquely obsessed with all things British, because they’ve also created the Rock Star. Yes, seriously, that is what they’ve called their cut down version of a classic Chevrolet Corvette. Now, if most of Mitsuoka’s offerings famously take a walk on the weird side, it has to be said that the Rock Star is positively gorgeous. Gorgeous, and strangely familiar to anyone who’s owned a Mazda MX5, because at heart that’s what the Rock Star is – an MX5 sexed-up with some luscious American curves.
World’s slowest supercar
Speaking of curves brings me to the Orochi. It’s Mitsuoka’s totally original attempt at a supercar. It’s got more curves than the late Marilyn Monroe, but unlike that legendary American beauty, it’s been unkindly described as the ugliest car in the world. Ouch! Some people have seen design cues from everything from Japanese dragons to Koi Carp in the Orochi, but Star Wars fans will instantly recognise inspiration from the face of Admiral Akbar in its headlights and grille, while the spoiler on the back has just a touch of Hercule Poirot’s moustache about it.
Quirky, original, and weird - the Orochi is many things, but fast isn’t one of them. It’s powered by a 3.3 litre Toyota V6 driven through a 5-speed automatic, giving it modest acceleration by supercar standards, and a top speed of just 180km/h.
You’ve got to hand it to Mitsuoka. In a world of bland copycat cars, they’re consistently producing some original creations that pay homage to motoring history with cars that are guaranteed to stand out in any street. And while they can probably keep the Orochi, I’d have one of their Rock Stars in a flash!