This supercar is one of the most intriguing creations in the automotive world.
When you think of a Japanese supercar, vehicles like the Lexus LFA or Honda/Acura NSX might come to mind. However, another manufacturer threw its hat into the Japanese supercar ring in the 2000s, and whether or not it was successful in doing so depends on who you ask. That manufacturer was Mitsuoka, and the car was the Orochi.
Your first question might be: what is Mitsuoka? Starting in the 1980s, Mitsuoka is a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in coachbuilding, specifically taking everyday Japanese models, and restyling them to give them a retro-inspired look. Models like the Viewt, Himiko, and Buddy, all feature classic-inspired details like round headlights and chrome trim, despite being based on contemporary models like the Mazda MX5 and Toyota RAV4.
Recently, Mitsuoka has been making headlines by announcing that it would be putting a new model, the M55, into production, which was first introduced last year as a concept based on the Honda Civic restyled as an homage to muscle cars like the Dodge Challenger. However, being a supercar of its own, the Orochi is one of the most important, and intriguing moments in Mitsuoka’s history.
It was in 2001 at the Tokyo Motor Show that the Orochi debuted as a concept, with styling that can only be described as intriguing and avant-garde, and a low-slung, mid-engined supercar silhouette. It drummed enough attention that Mitsuoka decided to produce it, which would take five years as the Orochi made it to production in 2006 as a limited-edition supercar.
Despite its flashy looks and mid-mounted engine, it’s tough to consider the Orochi a supercar, as it’s powered by a 3.3-liter V6 engine from Toyota, which sends power to the rear wheels through a 5-speed automatic transmission. Production was slated to last four years, with a total of 400 units made. A convertible version was shown, which never made it to production.
Several special editions of the Orochi were made, which made production last much longer than Mitsuoka originally intended. These include the Orochi Kabuto, Orochi Zero, Orochi Gold Premium, and the Orochi Final Edition, which was succeeded by two anime-inspired one-off cars. The Orochi Seven Eleven Evangelion Edition, which is inspired by the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime, was revealed in 2014, and the Orochi Devilman, inspired by Devilman Crybaby was revealed in 2018.
With polarizing looks and a strange approach to design and engineering, the Mitsuoka Orochi is one of the most interesting supercars in recent automotive history. With cars in its lineup like the M55, however, it fits perfectly into Mitsuoka’s history of imaginative automotive designs, and perhaps once it falls under the 25-Year rule come the early 2030s, we may see some of these rare and polarizing machines on the road Stateside.
Image Source: Mitsuoka