Mitsuoka Orochi History

The Orochi (named for the eight-headed serpent of Japanese mythology) debuted as a concept at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show and entered production in 2006 as Mitsuoka's most technically ambitious vehicle. Unlike the company's coachbuilt models, the Orochi was designed from the ground up with a full bespoke body of fibreglass and carbon fibre over a tubular steel frame. Motivation came from a Toyota-sourced 3.3-litre V6 (3MZ-FE) making 233 hp (173 kW), driving the rear wheels through a five-speed automatic.

Over eight years of production — 2006 to 2014 — approximately 400 Orochis were built in total, making it one of the rarest Japanese cars of the era. The low-slung body drew comparisons to snakes and exotic fauna rather than any single stylistic predecessor, though Mitsuoka cited the organic forms of Japanese nature as the inspiration. Notable limited editions included the track-only Kabuto (five units, 2009) and the Gold Premium (twenty units, 2010) with gold paint, a quad exhaust, and Alcantara trim.