Dodge stopped the production of the Challenger, but you can still get one. You can either go for a unit from the inventory or what tries to be the next best thing: a Mitsuoka-branded Challenger copycat.
The M55 concept car is the copy-pasted Dodge Challenger that Mitsuoka Motor Co. unveiled in November 2023 to mark the brand's 55th anniversary. The firm got so many positive reactions on their concept car that they decided to send it into production.
Manufacturing kicked off last summer. Now, the company has announced that order books for the model are open. Those who want to take an M55 home will have to hurry. Only 100 such units will see the light of day. Each starts at 8,085,000 yen, which translates to $52,367 at the current exchange rates.
Mitsuoka plans to take orders from 350 customers through 30 dealerships nationwide, until January 19, 2025, when order books are set to close. However, the 100 future owners will be selected by lottery.
Those willing to join the lottery will have to pay an application fee of 550,000 yen, the equivalent of $3,563. Mitsuoka will return 250 application fees to the unlucky losers.
Photo: Mitsuoka
Customers won't be able to order or spec the model online or through a phone call. They will just have to get on a plane and fly down there.
The real deal is cheaper than the Honda Civic-based Mitsuoka M55
Dodge stopped building the Challenger, but a model from the inventory can be purchased for a price as low as $32,800. for the money, you get the real deal powered by a 3.6-liter V6, mated to a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission.
The M55 is just a conversion of a Honda Civic with a body kit that makes it look like a four-door Challenger with the rear end of a hatchback. Meanwhile, the louvers on the rear window remind us all of the iconic Lamborghini Miura.
There is, though, nothing iconic about Mitsuoka's M55. It just show with no go, since it is basically a Honda Civic, it comes with the 1.5-liter engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The firm is also considering rolling out a hybrid version as well as one with a CVT transmission.
The Japanese media claims that the M55 is intended to attract middle-aged and older customers with its retro styling.
The Dodge Challenger wannabe sports round headlights and an upright grille. It retains the stock greenhouse of the Honda Civic as well as the window chrome trim.
The Mitsuoka engineers also decided to go for the stock roof and doors but stretched the front and rear overhangs to achieve that muscle car type of design, while trying to get rid of the hatchback shape. They almost nailed it. But it still looks like a Dodge Challenger from the front.
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