MITSUOKA M55 RS Brings a 6-speed Manual Back

Por Fabio Isidoro / 23 de April de 2026

MITSUOKA M55 RS - Sky Blue Muscle Car Front Fascia With RS Grille — Sky Blue Muscle Car Front Fascia With RS Grille

MITSUOKA M55 RS puts the manual gearbox back at the center

Mitsuoka has expanded its M55 lineup with the new M55 RS, announced on April 23 and scheduled to go on sale from April 24, 2026. The headline is not subtle: this is a 6-speed manual-only special edition priced at ¥8,888,000, with production capped at 55 units for 2026. That combination tells you exactly where Mitsuoka is aiming: collectors, long-time Japanese-car enthusiasts, and buyers who value specification rarity as much as design.

The M55 nameplate itself is one of the most unusual modern Japanese projects on sale because it was conceived to celebrate Mitsuoka’s 55th anniversary and to speak to drivers who grew up with analogue cars. The RS becomes the third chapter in that story after the M55 Zero Edition and the M55 1st Edition. The crucial shift is that Mitsuoka has now translated demand for a manual variant into an actual production allocation, rather than leaving it as a wish-list item.

Model	MITSUOKA M55 RS
Transmission	6-speed manual
Price	¥8,888,000
2026 production	55 units
Exclusive colors	Shore Blue Metallic, Nardo Gray
Launch date	Sales start April 24, 2026

MITSUOKA M55 RS - Silver Mitsubishi M5S Rear View With LED Tail Lights — Silver Mitsubishi M5S Rear View With LED Tail Lights

What Mitsuoka changed for RS buyers

The RS-specific treatment is more than a badge exercise. Mitsuoka has fitted dedicated RS emblems at the front and rear, while the interior adds seats with RS-embroidered detailing. Those elements matter because the M55 RS is not trying to win on raw output or track credentials; it is selling a more emotional kind of exclusivity, where cabin presentation and model identity are part of the product story.

Paint choice also plays a larger role than usual here. The RS receives two dedicated body colors, Shore Blue Metallic and Nardo Gray, both of which lean into the current taste for understated, expensive-looking finishes. That matters in the same way design-led specials do on cars like the BMW 7 Series facelift coverage: the visual message is intended to look expensive before the key is even turned.

💡

💡 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NEXT

The M55 RS is not a power game. It is Mitsuoka proving there is still a market for manual, low-volume Japanese specials with clear identity. That makes it a useful contrast to the luxury-tech arms race seen in the BMW Série 7 Recebe Facelift and the broader premium shift covered in the Hyundai Staria Electric preview.

Continue reading below ↓

Why the manual return matters more than the badge count

Mitsuoka says the current M55 1st Edition has been well received despite being offered only with an automatic transmission, but feedback from classic-car fans repeatedly called for a car they could “operate with their own hands.” That detail is important because it explains the logic behind the RS better than any marketing line: the manual gearbox is the product, not a bonus.

MITSUOKA M55 RS - Black Leather Sport Interior With Carbon Trim — Black Leather Sport Interior With Carbon Trim

To secure the supply, Mitsuoka had to negotiate base-car procurement again, and the result was enough allocation to build 55 manual cars for 2026. For readers tracking the broader enthusiast market, this is the same cultural pressure point that keeps manual special editions relevant in projects such as the Pininfarina NSX Tensei manual revival and the Hennessey Venom F5 LF manual. Different cars, same message: engagement still sells when the execution is genuine.

💡

💡 DID YOU KNOW?

The original M55 concept was created to resonate with people who share Mitsuoka’s own 55-year life stage. The RS keeps that emotional target, but adds the one specification those buyers were asking for most: a manual gearbox. That makes the car a rare case where customer demand directly changed the model strategy.

Continue reading below ↓

The collector-angle: rarity, pricing, and ownership logic

At ¥8,888,000, the M55 RS is positioned as a premium niche purchase rather than a volume product. The pricing reads deliberately memorable, and the production limit of 55 units ensures that scarcity is built into the car’s identity from day one. In practical terms, that means Mitsuoka is selling a curated ownership experience: a manual gearbox, low allocation, unique exterior colors, and cabin details that distinguish the RS from the rest of the M55 family.

For buyers, the real question is not whether the M55 RS is fast in the modern sense. It is whether the car delivers enough character, specificity, and exclusivity to justify the premium. Based on Mitsuoka’s own framing, the answer is yes for the right customer. This is a car for enthusiasts who want a mechanical ritual, not just transportation.

MITSUOKA M55 RS - Black Leather Gear Shifter With Red Stitching — Sky Blue Muscle Car Front Fascia With RS Grille

FAQ

What is the MITSUOKA M55 RS?

A limited-edition M55 series model launched as a 6-speed manual-only version with RS-specific exterior and interior details.

How many MITSUOKA M55 RS units will be built?

Mitsuoka says 55 units are planned for 2026.

What is the price of the MITSUOKA M55 RS?

The Japanese market price is ¥8,888,000.

What colors are exclusive to the MITSUOKA M55 RS?

Shore Blue Metallic and Nardo Gray are RS-only body colors.

Why does the MITSUOKA M55 RS matter to enthusiasts?

Because it responds directly to demand for a manual, driver-focused variant in a low-volume Japanese special, which is increasingly rare in the market.