There are a few adjectives that could be used to describe the Orochi sports car from Japanese auto manufacturer Mitsuoka, but we’ll play it safe and go with distinctive. The car first appeared as a concept vehicle based on the Honda NSX platform at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2001 before undergoing some updates and revisions and finally being put into production and offered for sale in late 2006. The company now unveiled the Orochi Gold Premium model.
The Orochi is a two-door rear-wheel drive coupe equipped with a 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission and Toyota-made 3.3-liter V6 engine providing a maximum output of 233 hp (172 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 328 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm. It can go from 0-100 kmh in eight seconds and the new Gold Premium model gets a rear spoiler and a new "variable note" exhaust system with four lines instead of two. There is also Alcantara upholstery on the seats and steering wheel.
Mitsuoka is limited the number of Orochi Gold Premium vehicles to just 20, which goes some way to explaining the car’s 10,500,000 Yen (approx. US$115,100) price tag. The car is available to Japanese buyers now and will be exported to the wider Asian market later this year.
* For anyone interested, the Orochi gets its name from a legendary eight-headed and eight tailed Japanese dragon, (which we guess would've given it a distinctive appearance as well), that was slain by the Shinto storm-god Susanoo.
