Skip advert
Advertisement

Mitsuoka to enter UK with retro MX-5-based Roadster

Distinctive Morgan-style roadster will soon make its official UK debut

You might not be familiar with Mitsuoka. If you are, the chances are that you’ve seen an example of the ‘Viewt’ – a reinterpretation of the classic Jaguar MkII on the less-than-auspicious chassis of an old Nissan Micra.

Until now Mitsuoka’s products have been exclusively grey-import only, but from mid June you’ll be able to walk into a UK showroom and put down your order for the Roadster.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Known as the Himiko in Japan, it is, at a glance, reminiscent of Morgan’s Aero range – though there the similarities end. While the new Aero 8 sits on an aluminium chassis and utilises a brawny BMW V8, the Mitsuoka Roadster has the humble underpinnings of a third-generation MX-5.

The benefits are that Mitsuoka’s retro Roadster inherits the nimble chassis, revvy engine and mechanical integrity of the evergreen Japanese sports car. Power comes from a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine and like the Mazda, offers a six-speed manual or six-speed Powershift automatic with wheel-mounted paddles.

The car also retains Mazda’s power-retractable hard top, which transforms the Roadster from coupe to convertible in twelve seconds.

Where the Roadster differs from the Mazda is in the styling – though the keen-eyed will spot the unchanged doors and windscreen surround (and much of the interior). Mitsuoka has also significantly extended the wheelbase and bodywork – the Roadster is 580mm longer than an MX-5 and its wheelbase a full 700mm greater. At 1280kg in its Japanese specification, it’s also piled on 107kg compared to a regular 2.0-litre MX-5.

Befitting the car’s luxury billing – if not completely justifying a hefty £53,800 price tag – the Mitsuoka also has heated leather seats, automatic climate control, and the same safety and security features as its donor, including ABS, stability control and traction control.

The car will be sold in the UK by T W White & Sons through its showrooms in Surrey, South London and Kent. Jen White, Mitsuoka project manager at the firm, says they believe the Roadster can ‘make a real impression on those that want exclusive luxury’.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Mazda MX-5 RF 2025 review – evo Car of the Year 2024’s people’s champion
Mazda MX-5 RF front
Reviews

Mazda MX-5 RF 2025 review – evo Car of the Year 2024’s people’s champion

The Mazda MX-5 RF is a real palate cleanser in an otherwise heavy, disconnected 2025 performance car marketplace
23 Jan 2025
Mazda MX-5 review – Japan’s evergreen roadster refreshed
2025 Mazda MX-5
In-depth reviews

Mazda MX-5 review – Japan’s evergreen roadster refreshed

The Mazda MX-5 is better than ever and is a breath of fresh air in the 2025 performance car landscape
25 Sep 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

TVR: Why we think it’s all over
TVR Griffith
Opinion

TVR: Why we think it’s all over

There’s barely a flicker of life when it comes to TVR and the ‘new’ Griffith. We can only fear the worst
17 Jul 2025
Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!
Range Rover
News

Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!

Discounts on new Range Rovers are so big you could buy a new Renault 5 with the money you save…
15 Jul 2025
​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars
Best hot hatchbacks 2025
Best cars

​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars

Contracted though the hot hatch market may be, there are still some great models out there, from the electric Alpine A290 to the five-cylinder Audi RS…
14 Jul 2025