The Acura ZDX - A Big, Hot Mess or a Work of Art?
Mitsuoka planning to export LHD Orochi supercar

Mitsuoka planning to export LHD Orochi supercar

Viknesh Vijayenthiran March 31st, 2008 Viknesh Vijayenthiran By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Author March 31st, 2008
  • Articles Contributed: 3138
  • Comments Posted: 0
  • Leaderboard Rank: N/A

December 31st, 1969 Japanese car designer Mitsuoka is building a left-hand-drive version of the car that brought its brand to fame - the NSX-based Orochi supercar. The introduction of LHD for the Orochi means the car will be available for sale outside of Japan for the first time and officials already have a number of export markets shortlisted. Currently there are around 70 examples of the Orochi being driven in Japan, but until now these have all been RHD models. Autoweek reports that in December of 2007, Mitsuoka was approached by an auto-aficionado from Qatar who wanted a LHD Orochi and of course price was no option. That car is finally nearing completion and is just the first of a number of LHD Orochi’s destined for production. Other markets the Orochi will be sold include the UAE, Thailand and Jordan. The most recent Orochi features a 3.3L Toyota 3MZ-FE V6 engine with 230hp on tap, and is being produced in a limited run of just 400 cars. Orochi also revealed a new special edition ‘Kabuto’ version of the car at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show but there’s no word on whether this car will enter production.Mitsuoka Orochi Kabuto
Mitsuoka planning to export LHD Orochi supercar

Mitsuoka planning to export LHD Orochi supercar

Enlarge Photo

Japanese car designer Mitsuoka is building a left-hand-drive version of the car that brought its brand to fame - the NSX-based Orochi supercar. The introduction of LHD for the Orochi means the car will be available for sale outside of Japan for the first time and officials already have a number of export markets shortlisted.

Currently there are around 70 examples of the Orochi being driven in Japan, but until now these have all been RHD models. Autoweek reports that in December of 2007, Mitsuoka was approached by an auto-aficionado from Qatar who wanted a LHD Orochi and of course price was no option. That car is finally nearing completion and is just the first of a number of LHD Orochi’s destined for production. Other markets the Orochi will be sold include the UAE, Thailand and Jordan.

The most recent Orochi features a 3.3L Toyota 3MZ-FE V6 engine with 230hp on tap, and is being produced in a limited run of just 400 cars. Orochi also revealed a new special edition ‘Kabuto’ version of the car at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show but there’s no word on whether this car will enter production.
Mitsuoka Orochi Kabuto
Gallery
  • mitsuoka orochi motorauthority 001
  • mitsuoka orochi motorauthority 002
  • mitsuoka orochi motorauthority 003

Tags: Supercars, Odds and ends

Posted in: News


Comments (10 total)

Meet the top commenters on the Leaderboard

  1. By Gus #1, Posted: 3/31/2008

    Go Speed Racer, GO!

    Not my cup of tea, but I'm sure it will sell...

  2. By ehessel #2, Posted: 3/31/2008

    First impression is what the ? but it does definitely have something interesting going on?!

  3. By germandude #3, Posted: 3/31/2008

    Absolutely friggin' beautiful! Now that's what I call design... I wish there were more cars out there that look so good. Sadly it doesn't have the power to match the looks, when I first saw it I thought it would have 600+ hp

  4. By mlevere1992 #4, Posted: 3/31/2008

    I don't know how they can call it a supercar with only 240hp

  5. By James #5, Posted: 3/31/2008

    Those who buy this car can only expect negative attention as it's underpowered, presumably overpriced, and looks like a flattened spider on meth.

  6. By Tony #6, Posted: 3/31/2008

    this is very ugly, not much more I can say

  7. By Delby #7, Posted: 3/31/2008

    Okay this Is Not A Very Bad Looking Car I Actually Think Its Pretty Good Looking but 260HP Theres No Excuse For It New Rule If A Car Doesnt Ouput Atleast No More Than 500bhp Then It Has No Right To Call Itself A Modern Day SuperCar (Unless of Course We're talkin About A Car Like A Lotus wich is an extrmely powerful low HP Car)

  8. By Jahved #8, Posted: 3/31/2008

    I think this is the ugliest car i have ever seen . .
    Absolutely horrible

  9. By Andy Bartha #9, Posted: 4/1/2008

    Now the pimps of the world have their own extra ugly pimp mobile. Now they don't have to make Caddys extra ugly. This thing comes that way.

  10. ma_mburleigh8 avatar by mburleigh8 #10, Posted: 1/13/2009

    One of the most beautiful cars ever built, wish i could get one.

Post a Comment

Post anonymously
Sign In |
will stay private
your 'posted by' name will link to the URL

More from MotorAuthority

More from High Gear Media