XF Sedan

Make
Jaguar
Segment
Sedan

Mitsuoka, a niche manufacturer in Japan known for crafting C2 Corvette-lookalike Miatas, has revealed a new generation of the quirky Viewt.

New, you ask? Yes, it's an all-new model. Under the retro-inspired exterior lives the underpinnings of a humdrum hatchback. Mitsuoka bases the new Viewt on the fourth-generation Toyota Yaris (not sold in the United States) but replaces the modern exterior with components that resemble a classic Jaguar Mark 2 - a spiritual predecessor to the XF Sedan.

The automaker has produced the Viewt for 20 years and, since then, has sold more than 13,000 examples to customers who want to stand out from the crowd. Interestingly, this is the first time Mitsuoka has based the Viewt on something other than a Nissan March/Micra.

Despite the old-school exterior, the new Viewt is based on a thoroughly modern car and, as such, comes with all the amenities one would expect.

The exterior is the most controversial part of the Viewt. While the Mark II Jag is one of the most gorgeous sedans ever built, the distinctive cues sit at odds with the compact dimensions of the Yaris. The front end is classic Jaguar while the rear is more generic - there are hints of the reborn Fiat 500.

Three engine choices are up for grabs. The Viewt can be specified with minuscule 1.0-liter and 1.5-liter three-cylinder powerplants. The smaller motor can only be fitted with a CVT transmission, while the latter offers a manual gearbox option.

The 1.5-liter Viewt can also be equipped with all-wheel drive, but springing for this option forces you to take the CVT. Lastly, there's a hybrid derivative that uses a 1.5-liter engine paired with an electric motor. Here, an eCVT transmission is the only option.

Don't expect mind-blowing performance; the most powerful of the trio musters up just 123 horsepower. Then again, it's not exactly a heavyweight. In its lightest guise, the Viewt tips the scales at just 2,766 lbs.

So far, it sounds like the perfect car for traversing Japan's narrow streets and alleyways.

Mitsuoka offers customers two trim grades, LX and DX. Both are decently equipped, with the LX getting the nod for superior equipment. For your money, you'll find radar cruise control, road sign assist, lane-keep assist, a backup monitor, and automatic high beam assist, among other things.

Prospective buyers can also equip the Viewt with a blind spot monitor and a panoramic view monitor. Pricing ranges between ¥3,080,000 (approx. $22,830) and ¥4,290,000 ($31,800). That's a lot of money for a compact car, but Mitsuoka appeals to the sort of people that want to stand out from the crowd, as evidenced by the wacky supercar the brand produces.

Mitsuoka hopes to launch the new Viewt in the fall but is already taking pre-orders for the left-field city car. In Japan, the standard Yaris retails for the equivalent of $10,900, which makes you wonder why anyone would pay more than double that for a retro-styled version of the same car.

It's also worth noting that Toyota Japan will happily sell you a Yaris GR Sport for around $19,700. Yes, it may not be the full-fat all-wheel drive model, but it's certainly more exciting than a base variant with retro bodywork.

Then again, it's a matter of personal taste. Mitsuoka clearly has a small but loyal following, and we're guessing the latest Viewt will attract many more customers who demand a unique car for not much outlay. The company also produces a Toyota RAV4-based SUV that's been styled to look like a classic American SUV.