.jpg?p=120209_04:29)
.jpg?p=120209_04:31)
.jpg?p=120209_04:54)
.jpg?p=120209_04:35)
.jpg?p=111221_03:51)
If you're an ardent fan of Top Gear telly - or just unable to receive any other channel but Dave on your Freeview box - you'll remember James driving a massive sumo bloke around Japan in the bizarre Mitsuoka Galue a couple of series back.
As well as the Rolls-aping Galue and that fabulously disgusting Orochi sort-of-supercar, Mitsuoka also builds a Jaguar Mark 2 almost-replica... based on the Nissan Micra.
No, really. It's called the Viewt and this is the all-new version, due to debut in Tokyo this week.
Mitsuoka has been building the Viewt on the Micra platform since 1993, 16 years in which exactly no people have been fooled into thinking it was actually a classic British car rather than a painful city car knock-off.
But for some reason, we rather like this, the third-generation Viewt. It's certainly not the engine choices that are doing it: you get the choice of a 1.2-, 1.4- or 1.5-litre petrol engine, putting out between 90bhp and 109bhp.
And it's not the interior. Apart from the steering wheel badge, Mitsuoka appears to have left the Micra's cabin utterly unchanged: not even a whiff of faux walnut or leather-effect PVC. Disappointing.
But still, we want one. Not even sure why, but we do. In a sort of off-beige, ideally. Anyone else similarly tempted?
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
Biohazard commented on this article
at 03:50 pm on 19 October 2009
That thing is absolutely awefull...
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Mikeado commented on this article
at 03:58 pm on 19 October 2009
What a brilliantly stupid idea. I actually saw one of these on a motorway once being driven by an old biffer - I just hope he hadn't been conned. Either way, you'd need a sense of humour to own a Mitsuoka. They also make an MX-5 based Morgan Aero 8 knock-off called the "Himiko", and it is much the same practice - re-badged steering wheel, and that's it for the inside, then it's got the same engines as the donor car. Which, in that case, isn't such a bad thing. Until you come across a real, V8-powered Morgan at the lights. But when is that ever gonna happen?
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
JamesDunham commented on this article
at 04:53 pm on 19 October 2009
Revolting, rubbish, ridiculous!
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
The_GTS commented on this article
at 05:39 pm on 19 October 2009
I'm all for reviving classics by redesigning them, just look at the Fiat 500, Chevy Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Mercedes SLS, I could go on. This though, this is despicable. This isn't redesigning, this is copying, of a British icon, in Japan, using a Nissan Micra. Thought I'd just write it again, so hopefully one can gain a sense of perspective.
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Amitiel commented on this article
at 05:50 pm on 19 October 2009
Some people have too much spare time (and money) on their hands..
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.