Japan is home to some of the world's largest automakers. The Land of the Rising Sun is home to Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Mazda. The country's robust and undoubtedly unique automotive culture is primarily due to its place as one of the epicenters of the automobile industry.This applies to all parts of the automobile industry, including manufacturing, innovation, motorsports, and even street racing.Japan also has small automaker companies, such as Mitsuoka. Notably, Mitsuoka is known for creating one-of-a-kind cars with unorthodox styling, some of which are quite modern. In contrast, others emulate the look of 1950s and 1960s American, European, and mainly British retro cars.One of Mitsuoka Motors' notable cars is the MItsuoka Orochi. Orochi was one of their more successful projects. It began as an idea in 2001, and production lasted from 2006 to 2014, with various special editions. Mitsuoka only manufactured 400 examples of the Orochi.Here are some of the best features of the Mitsuoka OrochiRELATED: The Real Reason Lotus Cars Are So Popular In Japan

The Orochi’s Exterior Is On Steroids

White 2006 Mitsuoka Orochi
TTTNIS

Orochi’s appearance was one to make people stop and look at it. Mitsuoka were able to add dragon facial traits into the design.

The front hood's eight apertures resemble nostrils in appearance. The front and rear perspectives are each characterized by four headlights and taillights.

Mitsuoka hid the Honda NSX chassis behind the body. Mitsuoka debuted the open Orochi Nude Top Concept in Tokyo four years after the coupé. This convertible version, however, was never produced. Instead, starting in October 2006, Mitsuoka made the Orochi coupé as a limited edition.

Honda Inspired The Orochi’s Interior

2009 Mitsuoka Orochi interior
Via J-Spec Imports

It's like stepping into a time machine and being transported to the cockpit of a Honda NSX, as well as a touch of the Nissan 300ZX.

Orochi's interior is completely covered with leather. The Orochi also features some unique elements, such as seat patterning, rivets, dashboard trim, and door cards, but it has a functional layout that is in line with its intended use of driving around cities.

Motorized door mirrors, automatic air conditioning, a Panasonic HDD Navigation system in the center, power windows, an immobilizer, and three gorgeous yet functional gauges in front of the steering wheel are all standard. Airbags, a side-impact door with built-in steel beams, and a handcrafted steel space frame are among the safety features.

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The Orochi’s Vast Car Editions

2018 Mitsuoka Orochi Devilman Edition
Tokumeigakarinoaoshima Via Wikimedia Commons

Mitsuoka released different versions of the Orochi during its seven-year to eight-year haul. Mitsuoka made these different variants to capture the Orochi in different aspects.

2007 Orochi Kabuto: The production of this car was only limited to five cars. Carbon fiber body panels, a body kit, and a rear spoiler are all included on the Orochi Kabuto. The car's exhaust system has four tailpipes to increase exhaust noise. The engine is fine-tuned for increased output.

The inside is also updated, with several interior pieces being replaced with aluminum versions. It also has leather seats with diamond stitching.

2008 Orochi Zero: When most automobile manufacturers introduce a special edition, it usually entails custom colors, possibly new interior components, and a 10% to 20% price increase.

Mitsuoka, on the other hand, moved in the opposite direction, releasing the Orochi Zero, a special edition of its Orochi model. It is around 10% less expensive than the standard model. Mitsuoka reduced the number of metal-plated accessory elements and replaced some of the inside upholstery with synthetic leather.

2010 Orochi Gold Premium: The Gold Premium model has a front and rear spoiler and a modified variable note exhaust system with four tailpipes instead of the standard Orochi's two tailpipes. Alcantara covers the seats and steering wheel. The Orochi Gold Premium has a fresh paint job with gold trim and insignia on the outside.

2014 Orochi Final Edition: Mitsuoka only made five of them, marking the end of the Mitsuoka Orochi. This car has two unique paint colors: Gold Pearl and a purple shade named 'Fuyoru.' It also has unique black-painted alloy wheels that aren't seen on any other Orochis.

A front lip spoiler, a rear wing, and a unique set of 19-inch aluminum wheels enhance the vehicle's exterior, but the interior features more unique features.

Orochis in Gold Pearl have an Ash Grey and Dark Red color scheme in the center console and Alcantara-wrapped seats and steering wheel. Orochis in Fuyoru have an Ash Grey-colored center console, comparable Alcantara seat trim, and contrasting purple stitching.

The Bonus Editions: Mitsuoka announced the Orochi Evangelion version in 2014, with a striking multicolored paint scheme inspired by the enormous robots from the Evangelion anime series from the 1990s. It's built on the Gold Premium basis and limited to just one car.

Mitsuoka teamed up with Go Nagai, the designer of Devilman Crybaby, to create the Orochi Devilman based on a car from the anime series. It's also limited to one vehicle.