Japanese coachbuilder Mitsuoka is gearing up to reveal its newest roadster later this year, and the latest preview suggests the car is built on Mazda MX-5 underpinnings while wearing the skin of a classic American sports car. The company announced the vehicle will debut in November, following a series of teasers that have increasingly clarified the car’s proportions and styling cues.
The third teaser image released by Mitsuoka shows the car from the rear quarter. The proportions match the open-top silhouette first seen in earlier sketches, confirming the design language leans heavily on the C1 Corvette. Specifically, the styling evokes the post-1958 version of the American coupe, which is known for its distinctive quad headlights and aggressive stance.
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The bodywork appears bespoke, featuring round headlights, a large grille, and side gills that faintly echo the original Corvette. The rear fenders curve outward and drop toward the tail, and the teaser reveals a sharp splitter, sporty side skirts, and a matching diffuser. Designer Takanori Aoki, who also penned the company’s previous creations like the Rock Star and Himiko, is credited with the design.
Despite the retro American styling, the roadster will likely sit on Mazda MX-5 underpinnings. This would not be the first time Mitsuoka has utilized the chassis for a unique build. The Mitsuoka Rock Star, introduced in 2018, was an MX-5 ND rebodied to look like a C2 Corvette, while the Himiko used stretched MX-5 NC or ND bones. The designer’s signature is evident in the sculpted lines and the way the rear fenders fall away.
If the MX-5 ND is the base, the car will probably use the naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. This powerplant is rated at 181 hp (135 kW / 184 PS). Power is expected to be sent to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox. The company has promised to share more details regarding the “fun and exciting origin of Mitsuoka’s identity” over the coming months.
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While Mitsuoka is known for building cars that look like nothing else on the road and answer to its own design logic, the use of a familiar chassis creates an interesting contrast. The company has built a reputation on eccentricity, but relying on an MX-5 platform shifts the focus from the chassis to the exterior bodywork. The eccentric Japanese coachbuilder has confirmed its next creation with a single teaser sketch.
The boutique outfit has kept the specifics to itself, which is standard practice for the company. Nearly everything Mitsuoka builds is a rebodied version of an existing production car, with the lone exception being the in-house Orochi supercar. The company plans to release more teasers in July, August, and September before the official debut in November. If past models are any guide, this one will be a limited-run offering for the Japanese market.