​The Mistral was Hirochi's entry into the fast-growing hatchback market of the 1990s. With its extensive range of options and engines, from a small 1.3-liter I4 to a 1.5-liter HITEC VVTL I4 and a 1.6-liter V6, it appealed to both regular car enthusiasts who wanted an affordable commuter vehicle and hot hatch enthusiasts who sought a ready-made car for the racetrack.

 In version 1.2.1:
- Functional engine mounts have been added (it took 4 years to do this, by the way)
- Rally lights, a roof-mounted air intake, and a sun strip have been added
- HITEC instruments have been updated for better readability at night
- A bug has been fixed that caused the roll cage to hit the driver's footrest
- The S1600 Gravel suspension has been improved
- Minor changes have been made to the models