Japan’s Latest Corvette Lookalike Is Just a Mazda MX-5 in a Styling Suit

Mitsuoka is doubling down on retro-flavored roadsters with its next creation, a two-seater that wears the skin of a 1950s Corvette but hides Mazda MX-5 underpinnings. The Japanese coachbuilder has released a third teaser ahead of the car’s November 2026 reveal, this time showing the rear quarter in the metal. The proportions and detailing confirm the styling apes the C1 Corvette—specifically the post-1958 version with its quad headlights—while the roadster rides on Mazda MX-5 underpinnings. Mitsuoka has more teasers scheduled for September before the November debut. The boutique outfit has a history of rebodied MX-5s, including the 2018 Mitsuoka Rock Star, which dressed an MX-5 ND as a C2 Corvette, and the Himiko, which rode on stretched MX-5 NC or ND bones. The new roadster’s design, credited to Takanori Aoki (designer of the Himiko and Rock Star), features round headlights, a large grille, side gills echoing the C1 Corvette, sculpted rear fenders, a sharp splitter, sporty side skirts, and a matching diffuser. If the roadster is based on the MX-5 ND, it will likely come fitted with the naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 HP (135 kW / 184 PS), paired to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. Mitsuoka has promised to reveal more about the “fun and exciting origin of Mitsuoka’s identity” in the coming months via social channels and a dedicated website, with additional teasers due in July, August, and September.