Road and Track just posted photos of the lightweight k.o 7 and k.o 8 sports cars—significant because their creator is Ken Okuyama, the former chief designer for Pininfarina who is responsible for the Ferrari Enzo. "Striking out on his own, he is seeking to re-create Spartan sports cars similar to Colin Chapman's famed Lotus 7," the report said—and so far, it seems he's succeeding.

Here's the breakdown:

- The k.o. 7 (the silver one) is a mid-engine design with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 250 hp. It's basically a track car with carbon fiber fenders and body panels, along with polished aluminum side panels. The car is only 141 inches long—4 inches shorter than a Mini Cooper—although its 72.8-inch width and 43.3-inch height are wide and low enough to compete with some Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

- The k.o 8 (the red one) is a coupe, with more traditional body panels and a removable targa top. This one's entirely electric—powered by next-generation lithium-ion batteries, with a 100-mile range and a 100kW, three-phase electric motor, according to the report.

The article said that both models will be built in limited numbers over in Japan, but for worldwide export.