It might look like something plucked from a manga comic but this Japanese sports car is more than an elaborate fantasy. The Suzusho Supasse, unveiled at the Tokyo motor show, which opened last week, has been three years in the making. It goes on sale in Japan next summer and comes from the design pen of Kenji Mimura, a former racing driver. Judging by this latest venture, the need for speed is still on his mind.

Traditionally, Suzusho has made kit-car replicas of models such as the Caterham Seven and Lotus 7, but now it has been bold enough to produce a rival to its British heroes.

Lotus is the clear inspiration, with the Supasse — an abbreviation of “superpasser” (overtaker) — boasting a supercar-worthy power-to-weight ratio. At 850kg the two-seater weighs less than a Lotus Exige S, thanks to its carbon-fibre bodywork and aluminium monocoque chassis. Beneath the cartoonish bodywork lies a mid-mounted 2.3-litre turbocharged engine from the Mazda3 MPS hot hatch, tuned to 265bhp, making it more powerful than the Exige S.

Look beyond the performance figures, though, and Suzusho’s kit-car roots begin to show. The doors open skywards to a spartan interior. There is a simple plastic dash, no carpet on the aluminium floor and luggage space is restricted to a tiny area under the bonnet. Antilock braking and stability control are absent.

A European launch late next year is under discussion. But with a likely price tag in excess of £60,000, Lotus lovers may need a little more persuasion to switch allegiance.

Suzusho Supasse

Engine 2.3-litre, four cylinders, turbocharged
Power 265bhp
Torque 280 lb ft @ 3000rpm (estimated)
Transmission Six-speed manual
Acceleration 0-60mph: 6.0sec
Top speed 160mph
Price 9m yen (£60,500)
On Sale Summer 2010, initially in Japan
Verdict Japan’s answer to the Lotus Exige