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TGMY electric conversion of the Mitsuoka Himiko – Click above to watch the video after the jump

The Mitsuoka Himiko roadster has received an electric makeover that adds green cred to its retro-style allure. TGMY, the company responsible for the conversion, debuted the car at the 2011 Japan EV show, and the two-seater got at least as much attention for how far it could go – the stated range is 341.8 miles – as it did for its looks.

Typically, the Himiko comes with the running gear found in the Mazda Miata that it’s based on, but instead of a 2.0 liter DOHC gas engine and a 6-speed manual, TGMY’s version features an AC induction motor and controller from Azure Dynamics mated to a 2-speed gearbox from Shigehara Inc. The batteries that give the electric Himiko its industry-leading range are lithium polymer.

Orders are expected to be taken during the second half 2011. Hopefully by then we’ll have more details regarding specs, performance and pricing. For now, though, hit the jump for video of the car being presented by company president Takashi Ashida. Thanks to David for the tip!

[Source: Diginfo / TGMY]

Continue reading TGMY’s Mitsuoka Himiko goes electric, gets 340-mile range

TGMY’s Mitsuoka Himiko goes electric, gets 340-mile range originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Japan

Mitsuoka Orochi

Mitsuoka Orochi Premium Gold – Click above for high-res image gallery

So you’re headed to Japan and need to rent a car. What to choose? The island nation is a smorgasbord of metal foreign to American tastes, from a wide buffet of pint-sized kei-cars to more American-sized contraptions. But what if none of those options have the kind of flair you require for that special business meeting? Fear not. Mitsuoka has you covered. The company has just announced a rental program that will let you pick up either of its two sports cars for a fairly low per-day rental rate in Osaka.

For a mere $390 per day, you can play around with the ridiculously over-the-top Orochi, complete with its underwhelming Toyota 3.3-liter V6 mounted mid-ship. If you require something topless, Mitsuoka will be happy to put you in the driver’s seat of its roadster, the Himiko for a mere $177 per day. Whichever you choose, you’ll need a fair command of the Japanese language to navigate Mitsuoka’s site. Our Google Translator was no help at all.

Gallery: Mitsuoka Orochi Premium Gold

[Source: Mitsuoka via Gizmag]

Mitsuoka Orochi now available to rent in Osaka originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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