Mitsuoka is certainly no stranger to eccentric and often polarizing builds rooted in mainstream models. However, their latest project, designed for the company’s 55th anniversary, might just be their wildest one yet. Enter the Mitsuoka M55 Concept that fuses the Dodge Challenger’s design onto an 11th-generation Honda Civic Hatch creating a five-door muscle car with Japanese underpinnings.
The celebratory concept draws its inspiration from the ’70s, a golden age of muscle cars that coincided with Mitsuoka’s establishment in 1968. The transformation posed a unique challenge due to the 5-door hatchback body style of the donor car, which might not appear to be the ideal canvas for creating a Dodge Challenger replica. Nevertheless, Mitsuoka designers did their best implementing extensive visual modifications to bring this project to life.
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The M55 Concept unmistakably carries the genetic traits of its Honda Civic Hatchback roots in its profile as it retains the stock greenhouse, chrome-trimmed windowline, roofline, and doors. However, to give it a dash of American flair, the designers stretched the front and rear overhangs while adding sportier alloy wheels with eye-catching white lettering on the tires.
The front end stands out as the most convincing aspect of this replica. The quad round headlights, grille, bumper, and hood come together to emulate the Challenger’s distinctive style. At the rear, the fastback-style silhouette of the Civic proved to be ideal for adding Mustang-style louvers above the rear glass, leading to an integrated spoiler. The custom rear fascia includes new taillights, a redesigned hatch that looks like a tailgate, and a new rear bumper. A closer look at the rear quarter panels reveals the body-colored panels covering the area that used to be occupied by the Civic’s stock taillights.
Predictably, the interior is largely shared with the donor car with the exception of a retro-flavored blue leather upholstery gracing the seats and a (some might say, rather cheesy-looking) Mitsuoka badge on the steering wheel. The vintage minimalist style of the Civic’s dashboard is quite fitting for the occasion while integrating modern connectivity tech in the 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen.
The underpinnings have also been carried over from the Civic, meaning that this FWD muscle car impersonator has half of the cylinders compared to its RWD V8-powered source of inspiration. Honda’s turbocharged 1.5-liter four-pot is good for 180 hp (134 kW / 182 PS), sending power to the front axle via a 6-speed manual gearbox which sounds a lot more fitting than the CVT. Reading the specs we can’t help but wonder if Mitsuoka could build a Hellcat or a Demon version of the bodykit based on the more potent Honda Civic Type R.
Unfortunately for Honda Civic owners who are hardcore fans of the Dodge Challenger, Mitsuoka currently has no plans to put the M55 Concept into production. Nevertheless, for those eager to get an up-close view, the Mitsuoka Azabu Showroom in Tokyo will proudly display it from November 24 to December 16.
