This is the 2012 Mitsuoka Himiko and its 1 of approximately 271 first-generation Himiko examples constructed between 2008 and 2018. If you aren’t familiar with the name Mitsuoka, it’s a small Japanese automotive company known officially as Mitsuoka Motor (光岡自動車) which has become known over the years for their unconventional styling. Mitsuoka was first founded in 1968 by Susumu Mitsuoka and was officially recognized in 1996 as the 10th ever Japanese auto manufacturer to be registered in Japan ever since Honda in the year 1963. One of the companies more attractive looking automobiles is the Himiko, which is in the UK is known simply as the Mitsuoka Roadster. The designer, Takanori Aoki worked to recall the lines of English sports cars of the 1950s. In order to accomplish this look, Mitsuoka used an extended Mazda MX-5 (NC) chassis as a base, however, replaced a solid majority of the body panels with fiber-reinforced plastic paneling. The Himiko sports a long bonnet line that is reminiscent of the Jaguar XK120 or the Morgan Aero 8, and despite the classic appearance on the exterior, the interior is decked out with modern touches such as a navigation screen, a contemporary steering wheel, and fine leather upholstery. Other touches include a dashboard trimmed elegantly with wood, and both luxurious and sporty instrumentation that allows for a great mixture between classic styling and modern comfort. The exterior design theme is said to emulate a ‘ship riding the high seas cruising majestically as one with the waves'. Notably, each Mitsuoka vehicle is entirely hand-crafted by a group of around 45 or so people at the Japanese Mitsuoka factory in Toyama City, Japan. The first-generation Himiko was followed up in 2018 by a second-generation model which is still in production to this day.
How many made? Approximately 271 first-generation cars
Engine: a 2.0L Mazda MZR I4 with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic
Debut: n/a
Top Speed: around 136mph
0-60mph: around 6.8 seconds
Photo Credit: @note_auto_haven
Research: @rarecarsonly