New Mitsuoka Roadster - The £54,000 Retro MX-5!

The Mazda MX-5, now in its fourth generation, is an iconic Japanese roadster which has been around for more than 25 years and has signalled that you do not need a massive budget to purchase a thrilling Rear Wheel Drive sports car you can use regularly. However, as the best selling sports car in the world with the total number of units produced approaching 1 million, it is not exactly an original choice. If you must have an MX-5 but favour something a little different, check out the Mitsuoka Roadster!

Looking like it is unsure whether it wants to be a Mazda MX-5 or Morgan Roadster, the Mitsuoka is based on stretched version of the third-generation MX-5 platform with a visual twist. Virtually unheard of in the UK, Mitsuoka has a reputation on its home turf - Japan - for building unique cars with styling inspired by retro British classic cars. This explains why the Roadster has a striking resemblance to the Jaguar XK150.

Unlike the exterior, what you find underneath is still relatively modern - power comes from Mazda's normally aspirated 2.0 petrol engine producing 158 hp and can be specified with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. The Mitsuoka also features the interior and folding hardtop roof you find on a conventional third-gen MX-5. The price for this oddball machine? £53,800. If you are in the market for a compact roadster, that sum of money can get you a Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG or Porsche Boxster GTS, both of which feature more desirable branding, high-quality interiors and significantly more power. The Mitsuoka Roadster is an extreme case of a niche, but there is no doubt its unique styling will help it shift a number of units.