Photo: Mitsuoka
Mitsuoka has recently announced their plan to produce 10 units of the Himiko in 2024. The second-generation Himiko, which was introduced in 2018, is based on the fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata. Despite its existence, the Himiko has been largely forgotten due to its low production volume. However, as a car-oriented website, Jalopnik should have been more attentive to Mitsuoka.
When you look at the Himiko, it’s hard to ignore the strong influence of Morgan in its design. Surprisingly, the integration of the Miata is done quite well, considering that the Himiko is 26 inches longer than its base model. While it may not be considered gorgeous, it could have been much worse.
The illusion that the Himiko is anything other than a Miata quickly disappears once you see the near-stock interior. However, if you are someone who wishes that modern cars had a classic appearance, the Himiko might appeal to you. Despite some minor proportion issues, Mitsuoka managed to execute their idea better than expected for a Miata that has been elongated by two feet and given a Morgan-style body.
The problem with the Himiko lies in its lack of uniqueness. We want something unusual, something that makes us say “WTF.” Mitsuoka has a history of creating such cars, like the Mitsuoka Buddy, a modified Toyota RAV4 that resembles a K5 Blazer, or the Galue, which is an almost-Bentley based on the Japanese-market Nissan Altima’s cousin, the Teana. These are the true Mitsuokas.
On the other hand, the Himiko is too close to resembling a regular car, making it feel less like a true Mitsuoka. Where is the spirit of Orochi? While a Mazda-based Himiko may offer better reliability, we would much prefer a genuine Morgan. The ALL NEW Himiko is missing that special touch.