Buddy, Japan’s motor magicians Mitsuoka’s latest transformation is quite a sensation!
Just hours after we broadcast news of Aznom’s dubious Palladium last evening, this quite sensational transformation just popped up on our inbox. And we bet, like us you’ll never guess what lies under it’s skin…
A LITTLE HISTORY FIRST
What we can tell you up front, is that this is the Mitsuoka Buddy, A Yankee pickup truck inspired SUV based on a popular model that will certainly cause you to read it again. But before we reveal that base, allow us to indulge you in a little history first…
Bizarre Japanese carmaker Mitsuoka is famous ror its retro cars – its froggy Orochi, a Jaguar MkII clone or the Viewt based on a Nissan Micra are examples. The more recent Corvette-like Rock Star based on the Mazda MX-5 was, well, a hit. The company actually earns its living as the full-time Japan importers for VW, Audi, Fiat and Chevrolet.
This new Buddy is inspired by ‘70s Chevrolet and Ford trucks in a look clearly that cites those gas guzzling US icons the 80s. But this one is quite sensible under irs adopted, long hood.
SO WHAT’S UNDER THE SKIN, BUDDY?
Roll the drums, focus the spotlights and lift that curtain – here it is. Ladies and gentlemen, you are actually looking at a rebodied Toyota RAV4!
Besides that skin, the Buddy’s RAV4 base remains untouched underneath. Customers can choose between the regular 123 kW two-litre petrol engine or the the 125 kW 2.5-liter and CVT transmission. The biggest spec change is that body modification increases Buddy’s overall length by 13 centimeters in length to 4.73 meters.
But with slick new flanks, a Cadillac-like deriere and a chrome-laden truck like nose, this re-skinned RAV4 called Buddy has a quite special character all of it’s own.
