Mitsuoka Galue S50 Limousine plops onto the scene
Click above for gallery with more images, if you dare
Mitsuoka, that tiny Japanese manufacturer who makes the wonderfully wacky Orochi sea monster, has introduced its latest automotive mash-up, just in time to give us a Halloween fright. It is a derivative of the company's Galue III (the return of the shapeshifter) and is known as the Galue Limousine S50. This shouldn't be confused with the company's Galue 204 Toyota Corolla rebody, or the Galue Convertible, which is based on the Ford Mustang. Instead, this limo is based on the Infiniti M, but incorporates styling touches from such classic designs as the '94 Cadillac Fleetwood, the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Apple iPhone. While that might not sound too offensive, trust us, it is.
Remember the classic Beetles with the R-R grilles? Imagine that on a new Infiniti M35. And out back, that gracefully curved rear has been amended with Caddy taillight protrusions. Where once stood a B-pillar, we now have a foot-wide panel that houses an oversized iPhone-like glass panel. Like the retro-classic Excaliburs of the '70s and '80s, Mitsuoka apparently feels people will like modern running gear hidden beneath "classic" British looks. Priced between 8,016,750 yen (68,600 euros at the exchange) for the 223-hp 250LX to 9,345,000 (80,000 euros) for the 313-hp 350LX 4WD, we think that's a lot of coin for a Frankencar like this. Heck, you could probably find a used Continental GT for about the same. You could even rebadge it as a Hyundai if it makes you feel better.
Gallery: Mitsuoka Galue S50 Limousine
[Source: Mitsuoka via Autblog Spanish]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
hypermiler 3:33PM (10/27/2008)
At least Mitsuoka stretched it instead of adding cosmetics to same old Nissan Cima body.
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3seriesisking 3:36PM (10/27/2008)
Has to be one of the ugliest vehicles I have ever seen. Had they put a new Acura grille on the front it would take the cake.
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eb110americana 3:43PM (10/27/2008)
You obviously know nothing of Mitsuoka's work (oh how I envy you). The Orochi has dimensions of ugly that this Galue S50 could only dream of.
http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Mitsuoka+Orochi&spell=1
The Luigiian 3:57PM (10/27/2008)
@eb: I disagree. While the Orochi is offensive visually, it's also stylistically coherent. The Galue looks like a family sedan crashed into a back end of a Rolls Royce and they decided to leave it like that.
fixitfixitstop 3:41PM (10/27/2008)
I thought adding old Cadillac taillights was for pickups in Truckin' magazine.
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Coco 3:42PM (10/27/2008)
a Rolls/Cadi mishmash? best of both worlds eh?
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Ramiro BA 3:51PM (10/27/2008)
I think it´s great that little companys are still able to build these kind of anusual vehicles. Not that I would buy one, but it´s nice to see something different. I hope they find the market to continue making them...
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JZeke 3:51PM (10/27/2008)
I just threw up a little in my mouth.
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The Luigiian 3:51PM (10/27/2008)
Oh come on guys, you know it's really truly a beautiful car. I mean, just look at the styling influences: The headlights come from a Jeep Patriot, the body's a Toyota Camry, then they took the back end of a hearse and pinched it off at the end. Oh yeah, and then they added two lights underneath the main ones just in case the big lights break down. Truly a styling masterpiece.
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TJ 4:02PM (10/27/2008)
huh? The Patriot has square headlights...
The Luigiian 4:08PM (10/27/2008)
Actually, I meant the Compass, but both technically have round headlights. It's the Liberty you're thinking of, I'm pretty sure.
But the Compass's headlights have the lights bulging from the hood, which reminded me of this car, and vice versa. My head just isn't working at full capacity today.
Corey W. 4:11PM (10/27/2008)
Holy Crap!! That is God-awful ugly... I can't believe something like that sells.
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Gregg 4:02PM (10/27/2008)
What on earth???
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dukeisduke 4:05PM (10/27/2008)
Hideous. The designer should do the honorable thing, and commit seppuku.
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joe23521 4:13PM (10/27/2008)
Apple iPhone...LMAO
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VladdyTrout 4:18PM (10/27/2008)
This vehicle could be used in a remake of the classic 1970s James Brolin movie, The Car!!
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Evotec 4:39PM (10/27/2008)
i usually dont find cars ugly,but i must make a exception on this...
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ken_aisin 4:48PM (10/27/2008)
Actually, the Galue-III isn't that bad. Here are the pics of the Galue-III convertible.
http://carday.blogspot.com/2008/02/mitsuoka-galue-iii-60s-britain-in.html
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exkart 4:48PM (10/27/2008)
It's not bad looking, it's just the grill ruins it.
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ken_aisin 4:52PM (10/27/2008)
Here's the sedan:
http://www.mitsuoka-motor.com/lineup/galue3/index.html
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