Friday, December 5, 2008

Mitsuoka's Himiko mimics the Morgan Roadster


Mitsuoka, arguably the most interesting car company in Japan, has released another Japanese homage to a classic British automobile, this time their unique take on what appears to be a Morgan Roadster. Sitting on the body of a Mazda MX-5, the Mitsuoka Himiko even manages to squeeze a folding hardtop roof into its tiny frame.

Featuring a 2.0L four-cylinder engine, the handsome Himiko will be sold in three different trim levels, including a Himiko Standard, a Himiko Premium and a Himiko Hi Premium. The car will be available with either a 6-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels, and the Mazda engine will generates around 170hp (119kW) with 190Nm of torque. Weighing in at around 2,800lb (1,280kg), the roadster should offer sprightly performance and handling thanks to its multi-link suspension system and MX-5 underpinnings.

If the Himiko is a little too small for your needs, then Mitsuoka will also be happy to sell you a Rolls Royce-esque limousine that we reported on earlier here - or if the Himiko is too large then you can check out their tiny 400lb (180kg) city car that looks like a 1930's racing car.

The base Himiko will start at around $60,000 in Japan, with premium versions price slightly higher. A completely custom interior can be ordered for around $1,000.

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