Mitsuoka, a Japanese company mostly known for dressing popular Japanese models with retro bodies, has just launched a new Viewt. The new Mitsuoka Viewt Story effectively replaces the Viewt supermini, but instead of using the old Nissan Micra / March as a donor car, it is now based on the new Toyota Yaris.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Mitsuoka Viewt, which was originally introduced back in 1993. Despite deviating from the Nissan underpinnings for the first time in three decades, the fourth-gen retains the quirky design theme of its predecessors, inspired by the 1963 Jaguar Mark 2.
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Loyal fans of the Viewt will probably love the bulbous face of the new generation with the round headlights positioned close to each other, chrome bumpers, and the signature Jaguar-style grille. There are also chrome strips on the retro-shaped bonnet and above the front fenders which are running through the doors. The profile and the greenhouse are carried over from the Yaris – setting aside the bloated front overhang that drastically changes the proportions of the supermini. On top of that, Mitsuoka added a new set of 14-inch chrome-infused steelies, and a unique color palette.
The rear end is also completely redesigned, adopting a hatchback silhouette that is more practical compared to its sedan predecessor. The single round LED taillights are positioned lower than the stock units, and the custom bumper has plenty of chrome around the indicators / reverse lights. Still, the weird-looking shut lines couldn’t be avoided in order to match the shape of the original body panels.
The interior has been reupholstered with light-colored trim on the seats, dashboard, and doors, matching the retro ambiance of the exterior with a Mitsuoka badge retrofitted on the steering wheel. Other than that, the rest is all familiar Yaris stuff, including the infotainment and the Toyota Safety Sense ADAS suite.
The Mitsuoka Viewt Story measures 4,090 mm (161 inches) long, 1,695 mm (66.7 inches) wide, and between 1,500-1,515 mm (59-59.6 inches) tall depending on the variant. This makes it 70 mm (2.8 inches) longer than the fourth-gen Toyota Yaris, with identical width and height.
Predictably, the TNGA-B architecture and the powertrain options mirror the JDM-spec Yaris. Thus, there is a choice between 1.0-liter and 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engines as well as the 1.5-liter hybrid which is the most efficient option. Power is transmitted to the front (2WD) or to all four wheels (4WD) through a six-speed manual, a CVT, or an eCVT transmission depending on the powertrain.
Pricing for the Mitsuoka Viewt Story starts from ¥3,008,000 ($22,295) for the base-spec 1.0-liter 2WD manual, and goes up to ¥4,202,000 ($31,145) for the flagship hybrid. Naturally, those figures represent a hefty premium over the equivalent Toyota Yaris, justified by the custom bodywork and the reupholstered interior.
