Monday 8th December 2008

Mitsuoko Make a Morgan

MX-5 based roadster for Japanese market

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They keep making ‘em, so we’ll keep showing you… this latest ‘homage’ to the British automotive tradition from Mitsuoka is the Himiko roadster, complete with old-timer fenders and vestigial running boards.

The arguably Morgan-esque Himiko is a coachbuilt custom machine based on the floorpan of an MX-5 roadster, with a stretched wheelbase to accomodate that extended retro snout.

The interior and folding roof are basically stock MX-5, as are the engine and transmission options, so buyers will get a 2.0 litre four with either six-speed manual or auto.

Lucky Japanese punters with £40-50k to spare can join the queue now, with production scheduled to start sometime in 2009. And no, you can’t have one over here.

[Fetchez la vache]

boy. That is grim

[gareth.e]

WOW... What a rip...

[leon9191]

the world is going into melt down, I've got an idea..... who on earth is gonna buy one of these, dont answer cause i dont want to know!

[Tony*T3]

Would look so much better with wire wheels.....

[dublet]

Considering most of their other models, that's a beauty!

[Mr Gear]

Not the sort of thing I'd be interested in buying, but it looks OK to me. The Japanese do modern retros quite well in my opinion.

[FlossyThePig]

We've been discussing this on the kitcar forum since last Thursday.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[LooseCannon]

looks OK, if a little better fom the front.

[Gizmo!]

Expensive, but quite cool IMO. Get an S/C engine under the bonnet and it'd be a giggle.

[corcoran]

Oh i just LOVE that..

[dpbird90]

£50k for what's basically an MX5 with some Halford's special parts bin stuff bolted on? Needs a least 6 cylinders and 350bhp before I would consider it at that price

[TUS 373]

More power needed - but I actually rather like it, especially in that colour. An everyday car with yesteryear looks. Nice.

[havoc]

dublet said:

Considering most of their other models, that's a beauty!

Oh, I dunno - the fish-like supercar they did looks rather good in an 'individualist' sort of way...

[Baffled Spoon]

For £50k I'd rather get an actual Morgan.

[garyfrogeye]

I've seen worse looking cars but as mentioned, it is a bit pricey for a car with that drivetrain.

[Lil' Joe]

Seriously though, with this and the other Roll's type rip off, are Mitsuoka not infringing some kind of copyright laws? They are both awfully similar to other marques cars...

[dublet]

Lil' Joe said:

Seriously though, with this and the other Roll's type rip off, are Mitsuoka not infringing some kind of copyright laws? They are both awfully similar to other marques cars...

Similar, but not the same. Hence no breach of any copyright. Some Chinese marques violate copyright by making the same, just cheaper and rubbish, hence why you don't see those marques selling over here yet, as they don't believe in copyright in good old China.

[Pharle]

The front end is bad, but in my opinion is a more successful modern interpretation of the classic Morgan than Morgan's own first attempt at the Aero 8 (the one which looked very cross-eyed from all angles other than absolutely dead straight head on).

[azureyes]

Ahhh...could be nice....but lacks...soul....why can't the capture the essence of a car...is it that hard....???? Lacks artistic clarity....something like that...not really unique to the eye....looks like and low end upgrade....nuff said.....wish it were interesting...I'd buy one....with more power.....LTS

[silly chap]

actually its not quite as expensive as the article states.

price is 36,000 pounds at todays exchange rate.