Japanese tuner Mitsuoka creates retro-inspired Honda Civic concept

Mitsuoka, the Japanese company that created the alien-looking Orochi supercar, reimagined the Toyota RAV4 as a 1980s American SUV, and spent nearly three decades transforming humble Nissan sedans into malformed Bentley limousines is at it again.

This is the Mitsuoka M55 Concept, a 2023 Honda Civic hatch like you’ve never seen before.

Claimed to be an interpretation of 1970s Americanised Japanese cars, the M55 channels front fascia of the Datsun 240K, the rear louvre of the liftback Celica and ornate tail lamps and integrated indicators of the era.

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When grafted onto the current-generation Honda Civic hatch, the front and rear overhangs of the M55 are significantly pronounced. The main panels have been retained, with new clips, and even a blanking plate to cover the location of the Civic’s taillights applied to the Honda’s body.

Inside, the majority of the Civic’s already retro-inspired dashboard remains, but a clumsy Mitsuoka logo replaces the ‘H’ on the steering wheel, and the seats have been given an overhaul in line with some Ferrari Daytona-style ribs and funky metal eyelets.

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Despite Mitsuoka’s form of creating wild retro-conversions for the Japanese market, the M55 remains a concept at this point.

The car will be on display in two of the brand’s showrooms in Japan between November this year and January 2024.