RE: Mitsuoka 'Rock Star' announced

RE: Mitsuoka 'Rock Star' announced

Friday 12th October 2018

Mitsuoka 'Rock Star' announced

After a more muscular MX-5? The Abarth 124 is no longer the only option...



What do you make of this, then? Mitsuoka, the Japanese coachbuilder infamous for its bizarre creations has struck again, announcing the MX-5-based 'Rock Star'.

As you can see, the aesthetic is very much Corvette C2 inspired. The rear end particularly so, but the wings and bonnet also hark back to the American classic, while the front adds some buggy little headlights into the mix which really throw the whole design off - try covering them up and see how much better it looks...


Inside and underneath it's all still ND MX-5. Not even the more muscular 2.0-litre version that we so enjoy, but the 130hp 1.5-litre. Nothing wrong with that motor in the diminutive roadster, of course, but in something as aggressively styled as the Rock Star, it does seem a tad underwhelming. Mazda's fantastic six-speed manual is still standard, though, which is some consolation.

The price for all this is £31,000 before options, which include things like an automatic gearbox, which seems like a lot until you remember that this isn't the first time that Mitsuoka has used an MX-5 as the base for a retro-inspired rebody. Back in 2015 it released the £53,800 Roadster to a similar reception. It's still going though - which can't be said of many, more conventional, automotive ateliers - a testament to the fact that its designs seemingly do have appeal to enough people to form a profitable market. And if this isn't to your taste? Well, there are even PHers having a go at turning their very own visions into reality.


 

 

Author
Discussion

NJ72

Original Poster:

183 posts

97 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
See, I really like the ND MX5's styling, so wouldn't want to change that, but am I the only one who thinks this doesn't actually look that bad?!

I agree about the headlight comment, though, and would look to incorporate some kind of 1971 Dodge Charger style covered lights methinks...

deejay005

51 posts

177 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
I like that. Something of the BMW Z8 about it...if you squint...quite a lot.


DBRacingGod

609 posts

191 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
I think it’s fair to say that this effort, lovely as it is to these old eyes, is easily more gong than dinner.

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
Rubbery.

Pericoloso

44,044 posts

162 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
The 50K+ price tag is approaching what's required for a real C2 Corvette.

I don't get it....frown

Veeayt

3,139 posts

204 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
I like that, but then 31K buys you a real thing with some change

samoht

5,633 posts

145 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
The real thing, for reference


Mitsuoka is missing the strong beltline just above the wheels.

unsprung

5,467 posts

123 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
several thoughts

a) a bit "glad it exists, but not my cup of tea, thank you"

b) it's charming to look at, but those flying chrome bumpers are too large (out of scale); happy to see these shrink in size or disappear altogether

c) for this sort of money, most of us would rather an actual C2, right? (I see like-minded readers, here)

as an aside: apart from the split-windowed coupe of '63, I must admit that I'd rather have an example of the subsequent series; the chromed-bumper C3 is just that little bit more preposterous biggrin which I quite like in this sort of car







J4CKO

41,286 posts

199 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
Mk1 Manta, Corvette and MX5, I like it.

carl_w

9,154 posts

257 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
Pericoloso said:
The 50K+ price tag is approaching what's required for a real C2 Corvette.

I don't get it....frown
Good job it's only £31k then

996Keef

435 posts

90 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
I posted this yesterday and the mods close it and say this is the main thread. Nice work . Try and keep up with the news guys

GranCab

2,902 posts

145 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
It appears to use the original Mazda doors - hence the lack of the Corvette's "belt-line".

Cold

15,207 posts

89 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
samoht said:
The real thing, for reference


Mitsuoka is missing the strong beltline just above the wheels.
The real, real thing for reference.



laugh

don logan

3,511 posts

221 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
I feel like I’ve been tricked by a beautiful pre op transexual!

I might feel better after it’s had the “op” at Flyin Miata

W12GT

3,502 posts

220 months

Friday 12th October 2018
quotequote all
That needs more power!

To my eyes that is rather fantastic.....

theholygrail

261 posts

167 months

Saturday 13th October 2018
quotequote all
Normally these things make me cringe but that is a rather good effort. At least the price is approaching reasonable this time, unlike the Roadster. Does need a bigger engine though. Would make me smile if I saw one smile

Rock Star though? Mmmm....

carl_w

9,154 posts

257 months

Saturday 13th October 2018
quotequote all
This Roadster seems to have depreciated somewhat during its 530 miles: https://www.mitsuoka-motor.co.uk/used-cars/

Nerdherder

1,773 posts

96 months

Saturday 13th October 2018
quotequote all
Mitsuoka keep going at it so someone must buy these. But WHO and WHY.

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

178 months

Saturday 13th October 2018
quotequote all
It does look much better than the MX-5, but I don't know who would pay that much more than the normal MX-5 for it!

That said, I'm glad that there are people who will, and I hope that one of them is near me as I'd like to see one for real

SonicShadow

2,452 posts

153 months

Sunday 14th October 2018
quotequote all
Pericoloso said:
The 50K+ price tag is approaching what's required for a real C2 Corvette.

I don't get it....frown
A C2 in Japan will cost significantly more than it would here, for one.