Serpent’s kiss

Okay, so the headlights look a little like a beat-up 1998 Toyota Corolla, but that’s about the only element of the Mitsuoka Orochi, the new supercar now in production and very much on sale, that looks remotely Japanese – and in the sports car market, that’s a very good thing. And don’t bang on about the Honda NSX, please. Or the Mazda M2.

 

It’s actually taken quite a while to get the Mitsuoka Orochi onto the road. The initial designs were completed in 2001, then two sets of redesigns followed, and the current car was completed in 2005, and only how has it managed to get showroom space. And while it might not make Porsche enthusiasts urn Japanese, it can certainly make Audi drivers look again. And again. at $80,000, it’s a healthy competitor to both.

Interestingly, and we think that’s the right word, Orochi means eight-headed serpent in ancient Japanese folklore. Strangely, it only has six cylinders. 

 

The Orochi seems to have inspired by several different supercars, ranging from the 1960s Ferrari-inspired headlights to the aggressive Honda NSX rear.

 

The five-speed automatic gearbox is actually operated by the exact same gear-shift and box as a Lexus RX SUV

 

The slight disappointment is that the Lexus 3.3-litre V6 engine is actually that of a simple mid-range saloon. No grunts or snarls, just smooth touring performance. 

 

Clearly the result of the modest powertrain, the Mitsuoka’s horsepower tops out at 231bhp, and it takes an interminable seven seconds to get to 100kmh.

 

Proving that comfort seems to be as important as performance – they sit in a lot of traffic jams in Tokyo – the interior is made from hand-stitched leather, with exquisite build quality.

 

Under the chassis is double wishbone suspension, standard fare in racing circles, the set-up of which has been overseen by Mazda’s chief test driver.