This Japanese Supercar Looks Like a Fish and Has a Toyota Camry Engine
If you’ve ever looked at a Ferrari 458 Italia and though it doesn’t look enough like a fish, I’ve got good news for you. Today we’ll be taking a look at one of the strangest supercars ever to come out of Japan. It’s called the Mitsuoka Orochi, and it features a Toyota V6 engine, Lamborghini-style scissor doors, and the Honda NSX’s chassis. The Orochi isn’t a one-off either. Mitsuoka produced the mid-engined supercar from 2007 to 2014. It is, however, quite expensive, carrying a six-figure price tag.
The Mitsuoka Orochi costs around $118,000
The Mitsuoka Orochi made its global debut during the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. According to Autotrader, Mitsuoka committed to building 400 units over a span of four years. Aside from being visually striking, the Mitsuoka Orochi is a bit of a parts-bin special. Underpinning the Orochi is the chassis out of the Honda NSX. Under the hood lives the 3.3-liter V6 engine out of the Toyota Camry. According to The Drive, the Mitsuoka Orochi’s engine produces 230 hp. The only transmission available is a five-speed automatic.
Like most supercars, the Mitsuoka Orochi features race-inspired materials such as carbon-fiber body panels. To enhance the styling, Mitsuoka adds on a body kit as well as a rear spoiler. Despite being NSX-based, Mitsuoka decided to throw away the original interior and add its own leather-wrapped interior with a unique dashboard layout. According to Top Gear, the Mitsuoka Orochi costs around $118,000.
Can I buy one if I live in the U.S.?
Surprisingly, yes. If the Mitsuoka Orochi has won your heart, you can actually purchase one. According to CarFromJapan, you can directly purchase a Mitsuoka Orochi from Japan and have it shipped to Baltimore’s port. It won’t be cheap, however. The earlier comparison to the Ferrari 458 Italia is not random. That’s because a used Orochi from Japan will cost you about the same as a used Ferrari 458.
CarsFromJapan currently has two Orochi’s listed for sale. Both available cars are early 2008 models and feature an asking price of upwards of $124,000. However, just because you can buy one doesn’t mean you’ll be able to register and drive it. Given that the Mitsuoka Orochi was never officially sold in the U.S., it likely doesn’t meet the government’s vehicle regulations. As a result, you may find yourself having to make extensive modifications so that you can drive it.
How about a Corvette-styled Miata-based roadster?
The Mitsuoka Orochi went out of production in 2014. Since then, Mitsuoka has produced a follow-up sports car. It’s called the Rock Star and is based on the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Instead of giving it a unique new design, Mitsuoka opted to take heavy inspiration from the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
Mechanically, the Rock Star is nearly identical to a Mazda Miata, with no major changes. Despite featuring a unique front and rear end, the doors, windshield, and interior look nearly identical to those in the MX-5. The Rock Star costs around $46,300 in Japan. In contrast, a 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata has a base price of $26,580. Unfortunately for U.S. buyers, the Corvette-styled Miata is only sold in Japan. Thankfully, the fish-like Mitsuoka Orochi is available.
