Japan Report: Mitsuoka to Build Left-Drive Orochi

Mitsuoka, Japan’s most famous and inventive replicar maker has had a busy week.

First came the announcement that, starting this August, the Orochi, Mitsuoka’s sinister, snake-like V-6 ‘supercar’ will start to be made in both right and left-hand-drive thus opening the door wider to exports.

Right now, the right-hook Orochi sells in Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore, and over the first 15 months, Mitsuoka’s received 70 orders for its unique, reptilian 3.3-liter creation.

(Click through to read more about the left-drive Orochi.)

By going left-hand-drive, does this mean the $112,000 Toyota Highlander-engined Orochi will now be heading to the US? Um. don’t bet on it.

Next up from the tiny Toyama-based company was the launch of the Mitsuoka Galue 204, a courageous, retro-look rebody of the domestic Toyota Corolla Axio sedan.

In the Mitsuoka scheme of things, the idea is that the 204 is smaller and cheaper version of the 2.5-3.5-liter ‘big’ Galue that the company sells.

With the 204, you thus get a choice of 1.5- or 1.8-liter Corolla engines to go with those ornate ‘50s looks and stickers in Tokyo run between $21,402-$29,452.

The Galue 204 makes a small piece of history by being the first Mitsuoka to be based off a Toyota. Normally, Mitsuoka goes with Nissan spin-offs, while the Nouera, the third piece of news from Mitsuoka this week is actually a disguised Honda Accord.

Mitsuoka has decided to call time on the 2.0-2.4-liter $27,994-$34,165 Nouera, arguably Japan’s ugliest car with that eye popping Edsel-like grille. Orders for the car end this month.