Mitsuoka is certainly no stranger to eccentric and often polarizing builds rooted in mainstream models. However, their latest project, designed for the company’s 55th anniversary, might just be their wildest one yet. Enter the Mitsuoka M55 Concept that fuses the Dodge Challenger’s design onto an 11th-generation Honda Civic Hatch creating a five-door muscle car with Japanese underpinnings.The celebratory concept draws its inspiration from the ’70s, a golden age of muscle cars that coincided with Mitsuoka’s establishment in 1968. The transformation posed a unique challenge due to the 5-door hatchback body style of the donor car, which might not appear to be the ideal canvas for creating a Dodge Challenger replica. Nevertheless, Mitsuoka designers did their best implementing extensive visual modifications to bring this project to life.
The M55 Concept unmistakably carries the
genetic traits of its Honda Civic Hatchback roots in its profile as it retains
the stock greenhouse, chrome-trimmed windowline, roofline, and doors. However,
to give it a dash of American flair, the designers stretched the front and rear
overhangs while adding sportier alloy wheels with eye-catching white lettering
on the tires.
The front end stands out as the most
convincing aspect of this replica. The quad round headlights, grille, bumper,
and hood come together to emulate the Challenger’s distinctive style. At the
rear, the fastback-style silhouette of the Civic proved to be ideal for adding
Mustang-style louvers above the rear glass, leading to an integrated spoiler.
The custom rear fascia includes new taillights, a redesigned hatch that looks
like a tailgate, and a new rear bumper. A closer look at the rear quarter
panels reveals the body-colored panels covering the area that used to be
occupied by the Civic’s stock taillights.
Predictably, the interior is largely
shared with the donor car with the exception of a retro-flavored blue leather
upholstery gracing the seats and a (some might say, rather cheesy-looking)
Mitsuoka badge on the steering wheel. The vintage minimalist style of the
Civic’s dashboard is quite fitting for the occasion while integrating modern
connectivity tech in the 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen.
The underpinnings have also been carried
over from the Civic, meaning that this FWD muscle car impersonator has half of
the cylinders compared to its RWD V8-powered source of inspiration. Honda’s
turbocharged 1.5-liter four-pot is good for 180 hp, sending
power to the front axle via a 6-speed manual gearbox which sounds a lot more
fitting than the CVT. Reading the specs we can’t help but wonder if Mitsuoka
could build a Hellcat or a Demon version of the bodykit based on the more
potent Honda Civic Type R.
Unfortunately for Honda Civic owners who
are hardcore fans of the Dodge Challenger, Mitsuoka currently has no plans to
put the M55 Concept into production. Nevertheless, for those eager to get an
up-close view, the Mitsuoka Azabu Showroom in Tokyo will proudly display it from
November 24 to December 16.
