Mizuiro Motor Company

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Mizuiro Hikyaku '00
In March of 2000, Rinkai Motor Company announced that it would be buying out Japanese luxury automaker Shimizu Automotive, as part of an effort by both companies to focus on the triad of "fun, luxury, and value". The resulting merger created the Mizuiro Motor Company, which continued to sell rebranded Rinkai and Shimizu models as usual. Not long after, though, Mizuiro would launch its first car, the Hikyaku (飛脚; courier)—a wagon with various trim levels designed to cater to each of the company's "three points".

The base E model was powered by an 80 kW (108 hp) two-litre V6 and weighed 1346 kg (2967 lb), making it less of a performance vehicle than a practical, no-nonsense daily driver. The luxury-oriented L model used the same engine as the E, but was outfitted with an electronically controlled automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, electronic stability control, and a comfortable luxury interior.

The crown jewel of the Hikyaku trim levels, however, came in the form of the S. This performance-oriented variant was equipped with a 168 kw (226 hp) version of the standard 2.0 V6 mated to a five-speed sequential gearbox sending power to the rear wheels, as well as upgraded suspension and 71 kg (157 lb) of weight lost.

With the Hikyaku, Mizuiro served as an adequate successor to Rinkai and Shimizu, but their new car was only the beginning of a diverse series of vehicles designed to cater to many different markets.

E
SPECS
Layout FF
Engine Name MV0-6D
Aspiration TB
Displacement 1998 cc
Peak Power 80 kW (108 hp) @ 6000 RPM
Peak Torque 188 Nm (139 ft-lb) @ 2400 RPM
Weight 1346 kg (2967 lb)
Weight Distribution Front/Rear 55/45
STARTING PRICE
¥1,680,000 JDM
$16,000 USDM
COLOURS

Ardour Red

Steel Blue

Sandy Khaki

Steel Grey

Pewter Grey

Sumi Black
L
SPECS
Layout FF
Engine Name MV0-6D
Aspiration TB
Displacement 1998 cc
Peak Power 80 kW (108 hp) @ 6000 RPM
Peak Torque 188 Nm (139 ft-lb) @ 2400 RPM
Weight 1393 kg (3071 lb)
Weight Distribution Front/Rear 54/46
STARTING PRICE
¥2,032,000 JDM
$19,000 USDM
COLOURS

Ardour Red

Steel Blue

Sandy Khaki

Steel Grey

Pewter Grey

Sumi Black
S
SPECS
Layout FR
Engine Name MV0-6D
Aspiration TB
Displacement 1998 cc
Peak Power 168 kW (226 hp) @ 7400 RPM
Peak Torque 253 Nm (187 ft-lb) @ 5000 RPM
Weight 1275 kg (2811 lb)
Weight Distribution Front/Rear 51/49
STARTING PRICE
¥1,875,000 JDM
$17,500 USDM
COLOURS

Ardour Red

Steel Blue

Sandy Khaki

Steel Grey

Pewter Grey

Sumi Black