Mitsuoka stayed silent about its plans right up until it dropped the first sketch. The Japanese coachbuilder is working on a new two-seat roadster — and by the looks of it, this one car has to fill two empty slots left behind by the departures of the Rock Star and the Himiko. The reveal is set for November 2026, but the name, the technical base and the price all remain under wraps for now.
The first teaser showed a low, open-top body with a long hood, round headlights and pronounced rear fenders. In July, Mitsuoka pulled back the curtain a little further with a partial front-end shot: a red body, a contrasting light-colored insert, chrome-trimmed headlight surrounds and a compact bumper. The details bear an uncanny resemblance to the first-generation Chevrolet Corvette from the late 1950s. Mitsuoka hasn't officially confirmed the link to the American icon — but it hasn't denied it, either.
The leading candidate for the technical base is the Mazda MX-5 of the ND generation. The logic checks out: Mitsuoka already built the Rock Star on that very roadster, and the Himiko also grew out of Mazda underpinnings. Familiar proportions are a strong hint, but not proof. Officially, the company has only confirmed a rollout of four teaser images and the November premiere date — everything else is still guesswork.
The timing couldn't be better. Himiko production wrapped up in 2025 with the Final Himiko series — just ten units priced from 6.78 to 7.08 million yen. The Rock Star, launched back in 2018, has also been discontinued. That leaves Mitsuoka's Japanese lineup without a single open-top sports car right now — the first time in a long while.
Two more images are promised in August and September. Until the official unveiling, the engine, transmission, production numbers and any potential limited editions remain pure speculation. One thing is certain: Mitsuoka is once again betting on an open top and retro design, and it'll show its full hand in November.
