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Mitsuoka Orochi

JDM · Mitsuoka

Mitsuoka Orochi: Mitsuoka Orochi: The Dragon-Faced Sports Car With NSX Roots
Photo: Pocsywe / Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Mitsuoka Orochi: The Dragon-Faced Sports Car With NSX Roots

The Mitsuoka Orochi is a Japanese sports car that Mitsuoka built from 2007 to 2014. It is named after Yamata no Orochi, an eight-headed dragon from Japanese legend, and Mitsuoka called it a "fashion super car."

The Orochi first appeared at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show as a concept based on the Honda NSX platform, with revised versions in 2003 and 2005, including a convertible called the Orochi Nude Top. Mitsuoka launched the production car in October 2006 as a 2007 model, limited to 400 cars over four years, with first deliveries due in January 2007. The cabin was fully trimmed in leather and came with HID headlights, airbags, and a Panasonic navigation system.

Special versions kept coming. The cheaper Orochi Zero of January 2008 cut plated trim and soundproofing and was capped at 20 a year. The 2009 Orochi Kabuto, limited to five cars, added carbon-fiber panels, a body kit, a rear spoiler, four tailpipes, and more engine power. The 2010 Gold Premium, also limited to 20, added gold trim and a four-pipe exhaust. When Mitsuoka announced the end of the Orochi in April 2014, it built five Final Editions priced around US$125,000, and one-off cars later wore Evangelion and Devilman themes.

Western critics mostly hated the look. Publications such as Jalopnik commonly called it the "World's Ugliest Car," though some reviewers settled on bold or polarizing instead. Mitsuoka's own pitch was simpler: "Orochi is the car to ride to gather attention from everyone."

Frequently asked questions about Mitsuoka Orochi

What is the Mitsuoka Orochi based on?
It began as a concept based on the Honda NSX platform at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show. Mitsuoka, a Japanese automaker known for building on other brands' cars, put the Orochi into production for 2007.
How many Mitsuoka Orochis were made?
The standard car was limited to 400 over four years, plus small runs of special versions such as five Kabutos, 20 Gold Premiums, and five Final Editions. Orochi Zeros were capped at 20 a year.
Why is it called the Orochi?
The name comes from Yamata no Orochi, a legendary eight-headed, eight-tailed dragon in Japanese mythology. Mitsuoka marketed the car as a "fashion super car."
Is the Mitsuoka Orochi the ugliest car?
Plenty of critics thought so. Publications such as Jalopnik commonly called it the "World's Ugliest Car," while kinder reviews described its styling as bold and polarizing.
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