2027 Mitsuoka LA1

• The Mitsuoka LA1 combines C1 Corvette-inspired styling with the rear-wheel-drive platform of the Mazda MX-5 ND.
  
• Quad headlights, chrome bumpers, side gills and a stretched rear overhang reshape the Mazda donor car.
  
• Mitsuoka has not announced powertrain specifications ahead of the LA1's November 26 premiere.

The 2027 Mitsuoka LA1 takes a familiar Mazda MX-5 ND underneath and gives it a much less familiar shape. Mitsuoka's new two-seat roadster looks back to the first-generation Chevrolet Corvette, particularly the later C1 models, while retaining the modern rear-wheel-drive foundations of Mazda's small sports car.

Its official premiere is scheduled for November 26. For now, Mitsuoka has released exterior renderings showing how extensively the donor car has been altered.

Quad Headlights Reshape The Front

The nose takes most of its cues from post-1958 C1 Corvettes. Four round headlights sit above a prominent chrome bumper, with a larger grille and cooling openings below. A vented hood and front splitter add another layer to the conversion.

It is a substantial departure from the MX-5's original front end, though several Mazda components remain visible elsewhere.

MX 5 Proportions Meet A Longer Tail

From the side, Mitsuoka has recreated the C1's sweeping character line using decorative side gills and contrasting door graphics. The doors themselves come from the Mazda donor, as do the windshield frame and retractable soft top.

Chrome side skirts run beneath the doors, while newly shaped rear fenders extend into a longer rear overhang. That stretched tail changes the roadster's proportions without disguising every element of its MX-5 origins.

At the back, the retro treatment continues with taillights positioned on the quarter panels, extensive chrome trim, a vintage-style bumper and a bespoke trunk lid carrying Mitsuoka lettering.

Powertrain Details Remain Unconfirmed

Mitsuoka has not released engine or transmission specifications for the LA1. The source notes that Japanese-market MX-5 models are available with 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines, but those figures should not be treated as confirmed LA1 specifications.

The only confirmed mechanical foundation at this stage is the Mazda MX-5 ND's rear-wheel-drive architecture.

Cabin Details Still Under Wraps

The LA1 does have precedent within Mitsuoka's range. The company introduced the Rock Star in 2018, another MX-5 ND-based creation, although that car drew inspiration from the C2 Corvette. Designer Takanori Aoki worked on the Rock Star and has also signed the sketches for the LA1.

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