Mitsuoka introduces the M55 RS as a manual-only, retro-styled Civic. The RS variant gets special badges, exclusive colors, and a custom interior. Production is limited to 55 units for 2026, with a spicy price tag. Mitsuoka is back at turning Honda Civics into muscle car impersonators, proving that nostalgia is a powerful drug and that Japanese enthusiasts are more than happy to pay a premium for a time-traveling aesthetic. Following the sold-out M55 Zero Edition from 2024 and the subsequent M55 1st Edition from 2025 that just got a life extension into 2026, the company has launched the M55 RS, leaning into a sportier and more driver-focused territory. More: Mitsuoka’s Weirdest Toyota Finally Drops The Act Before you get too excited, the M55 RS is not based on the fabled Civic Type R. Instead, the donor vehicle is the Honda Civic RS. Under the hood lies a turbo 1.5-liter gasoline engine with 180 hp (134 kW / 182 PS), exclusively mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Honda has just launched a Civic e:HEV RS with a hybrid and a simulated gearbox, but Mitsuoka hasn’t touched that yet. As with the previous M55 variants, the bespoke five-door fastback exterior is inspired by American muscle cars like the Dodge Challenger, and classic Japanese sports cars like the “Kenmeri” Nissan Skyline. Only the doors, windows, and roofline are carried over from the donor vehicle, with fully redesigned front and rear ends. More: The RAV4 Wanted To Be A 1970s Chevy And Mitsuoka Agreed The RS is distinguished by the special badges and the exclusive Shore Blue Metallic and Nardo Grey shades. It also appears to ride on different alloy wheels, although Mitsuoka hasn’t detailed those. The splitter and rear spoiler are identical to the standard M55. Inside, the signature seats with the ringed leather upholstery gain RS embroidery and contrasting red stitching. The same treatment has been applied to the leather gearknob, joined by carbon-style inserts and red accents. Other than that, the dashboard, infotainment, and switchgear are carried over from the Civic, albeit with a Mitsuoka emblem on the steering wheel. Double The Price For Retro Glory Mitsuoka plans to produce only 55 units of the M55 RS for 2026, with “production and sales for subsequent years are currently undecided”. The company will start accepting pre-orders on April 24, 2026, across all Mitsuoka dealers in Japan. More: The Next Honda Civic Is Getting Lighter, Sharper, And More Hybrid As for the price, the privilege of owning this retro-flavored hatchback will cost you ¥8,888,000 ($55,700). This means that the manual M55 RS is a full ¥1,320,000 ($8,300) more expensive than the CVT-equipped M55 1st Edition that will be produced for 250 units in 2026. Crucially, the M55 RS is double the price of a manual Honda Civic RS which currently starts at ¥4,398,900 ($27,600) in Japan. But then again, a standard Civic doesn’t look like it just rolled out of the ’70s. The M55 RS (above) and the M55 1st Edition (below).
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