Mitsuoka M55 Concept: Honda Civic to Dodge Challenger Transformation

author: FutureCar Staff    

Japanese coachbuilder Mitsuoka has unveiled a concept called M55, which combines the current-generation Honda Civic with a Challenger-inspired body. This is not the first time Mitsuoka has transformed a vehicle into something unexpected, as they have previously turned a Toyota Yaris hatchback into a Jaguar Mark 2 look-alike and given the Toyota RAV4 a retro-styled design inspired by 1980s Chevrolet pickups and SUVs.

The M55 was developed to celebrate Mitsuoka's 55th birthday and features a muscle car-like front end with four round headlights, a throwback grille, and a strip of bright trim. From the side, it is clear that the M55 is an evolution of the Civic, with its front and rear doors, side windows, and roof line borrowed from the popular Japanese model. The rear of the M55 includes louvers on the hatch's window, a spoiler, and oval headlights surrounded by a black panel. The design is completed with specific alloy wheels.

Inside the M55, most of the features are reminiscent of the Civic, with the exception of a Mitsuoka-branded steering wheel, concept-specific trim on the dashboard, and blue upholstery with a muscle car-like stitching pattern. The switches, buttons, and touchscreen are directly from Honda's parts bin.

Under the hood, the M55 is powered by a stock, Civic-sourced 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Turbocharged, it produces 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, which is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. It is important to note that the M55 is more of a showpiece than a high-performance vehicle. For comparison, the least powerful variant of the 2023 Challenger is equipped with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine rated at 303 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque.

Mitsuoka has clarified that the M55 was created solely to celebrate its birthday and has no plans to put the concept into production. Even if the company changes its mind, there is no indication that the 1960s-inspired Civic will be approved for use on American roads.

FutureCar Staff