We all know that Japanese have always done things with a certain sense of flair and amazing creativity and that is all the more true in regards to the way they have played around with electronics and automobile technology for the last five decades. If you thought that the major brands of Japan that you knew form the motoring world were unusual, then just take a look at what lies beneath the surface and you will be stunned. Mitsuoka Motors has been a part of Japanese automobile industry for 40 years now and despite its anonymity, it is the brand that dares to stand apart.
Mitsuoka doesn’t advertise, and with sales of just 750 cars a year, it relies on earnings from its dealership arm, which sells imported Lamborghinis, Chryslers, and Volkswagens, to fund vehicle development. Mitsuoka cars stand out from the blur of Toyotas, Nissans, and Hondas on Japan’s roads. Mitsuoka’s lineup has everything from compact models resembling vintage British marquees to the Orochi, a $100,000-plus super-car.
The Orochi, named after an eight-headed serpent, says a lot about Mitsuoka’s quirky approach. Launched in 2006, it looks like a super-car but its 3.3-liter V6 engine generates just 233 hp. The Orochi was born after Susumu Mitsuoka’s wife challenged him to show something different as a concept car for the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show. Impressed by the designs, Mitsuoka executives put aside concerns over costs and decided to enter production in 2006. The company has a range of cars like the ViewT, Galue 204, K-4 and the MC-1EV that are as unusual and special as any. That too is only the tip of the iceberg as the company is really as wacky as it claims to be. Take a look at a few other models and judge for yourself.
