Mitsuoka introduces the M55 RS as a manual-only, retro-styled Civic. RS adds unique badges, exclusive colors, and a lightly reworked interior. Production is limited to 55 units for 2026, with a spicy price tag. Mitsuoka has made a habit of turning the Honda Civic into something it clearly isn’t, and it continues to find buyers who enjoy the illusion. Evidently, nostalgia sells, especially when it arrives wrapped in faux muscle car cues and a knowing wink. Following the sold-out M55 Zero Edition from 2024 and the M55 1st Edition from 2025, which has now been extended into 2026, the company has introduced the M55 RS. This latest version leans further into a sportier, more driver-focused brief. More: Mitsuoka’s Weirdest Toyota Finally Drops The Act Before you get too excited, the M55 RS is not based on the Civic Type R. Instead, it uses the more modest Honda Civic RS as its foundation. Power comes from a turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine producing 180 hp (134 kW / 182 PS), paired exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox. Honda has also introduced a Civic e:HEV RS with a hybrid setup and simulated shifts, though Mitsuoka has left that one alone, for now. 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 sets itself apart with unique badging and exclusive Shore Blue Metallic and Nardo Grey finishes. It also appears to sit on different alloy wheels, although Mitsuoka has yet to provide details. The splitter and rear spoiler carry over unchanged from the standard M55. Inside, the signature seats with ringed leather upholstery gain RS embroidery and contrasting red stitching. The same treatment extends to the leather gearknob, joined by carbon-style inserts and red accents. Beyond that, the dashboard, infotainment system, and switchgear remain straight from the Civic, aside from a Mitsuoka badge on the steering wheel. Double The Price For Retro Glory Mitsuoka will build just 55 examples of the M55 RS for 2026, noting that “production and sales for subsequent years are currently undecided.” Orders open on April 24, 2026, across all Mitsuoka dealers in Japan. More: The Next Honda Civic Is Getting Lighter, Sharper, And More Hybrid Pricing lands at ¥8,888,000 ($55,700) for the retro-styled hatchback. That puts the manual M55 RS a full ¥1,320,000 ($8,300) above the CVT-equipped M55 1st Edition, which is slated for a 250-unit run in 2026. It also means the M55 RS costs roughly twice as much as a manual Honda Civic RS, currently priced from ¥4,398,900 ($27,600) in Japan. Then again, a standard Civic does not try to pass itself off as something that might have prowled American roads in the 1970s. The M55 RS (above) and the M55 1st Edition (below).
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