Japanese company Mitsuoka has held a presentation of the Buddy crossover prototype - its latest brainchild - and simultaneously announced the start of its sales. Buddy (means "buddy") was announced back in October, but then were distributed only computer images of the car. Recall, Mitsuoka specializes in extravagant conversions of serial automobiles.
The new Mitsuoka differs from the original Toyota RAV4 with original plumage and changed rear part of the body. The front fenders, hood, and bumper are made in retro style. Its forms and lines, as well as the abundance of chrome, refer to the classic American off-road Chevrolet K5 Blazer from the 1970s-80s. Block headlights from RAV4 are replaced by universal "rectangles". The grille is in the form of a nickel-plated "grill." At the back, the style is changed relative to the usual RAV4 with the original bumper with a chrome plate, as well as integrated through the adapter vertical lights from Cadillac. Completing the retro-exterior are chrome hubcaps of the wheels.
Since all of its conversions Mitsuoka produces in small batches, the original exterior panels are made inexpensively - from fiberglass-reinforced plastic. But for the Buddy, the company decided to use a different technology - molding from ABS sheet and polypropylene. These solutions are more expensive, but they provide better visual quality and more accurate panel geometry compared to fiberglass.
Mitsuoka president Akio Mitsuoka described the novelty as "a true American vintage". Executive director of the company Minoru Watanabe added that the car is addressed to people who like to dress in a T-shirt and jeans and live in casual style.
As the basis for Mitsuoka Buddy can be used as usual RAV4 with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and variator or "sequential hybrid" option with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and electromechanical transmission. In both cases, the drive can be either front or all-wheel drive at the customer's choice.
Prices for Buddy in Japan start from 4,697,000 yen , orders will be accepted from November 26, shipment of cars to customers will start from June 2021. The car will be produced in small batches: 50 units will be produced in 2021, and 150 units in 2022.
The standard RAV4 in Japan costs from 2,743,000 yen for a 2.0-liter engine, "manual" and front-wheel drive
November 26, Mitsuoka held a premiere crossover Buddy (translated as "buddy"), styled as the Chevrolet K5 Blazer of the 1970s-1980s. Only a week later, the company announced impressive demand for the novelty (by the standards of its modest capabilities), and if you order the car right now, you won't get it until 2023 at the earliest. Mitsuoka has declared about it on the page in Twitter.
In 2021 the Japanese are going to produce 50 "buddies", and 150 more cars will be shipped to customers in 2022. We shall remind, that the model is based on Toyota RAV4 crossover, thus the company forms external panels of ABS sheet and polypropylene, though for its other conversions Mitsuoka uses fiberglass plastic.
The basis for the Mitsuoka Buddy can be either a conventional RAV4 with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and variator, or a "sequential hybrid" variant with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and an electromechanical transmission. In both cases, the drive is either front or all-wheel drive at the customer's choice.
