Born in 1989, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is the best-selling roadster in the world. Currently in its fourth generation, the coupe has gone through many iterations and special editions over the more than 35 years. It is very popular among racing enthusiasts and enthusiasts. that there are more than a dozen countries that hold one-make Miata races.
Now, the Hiroshima-based automaker is getting into the rough patch with two of its ultimate logos: the Miata and the Mazda 3. At the recent 2024 Tokyo Motor Show in January, Mazda made headlines again by revealing a new sub-logo called Mazda. Spirit Racing and two new track-focused models, the Miata-based Spirit Racing RS and the Mazda3-based Spirit Racing 3.
Such a logo hasn’t existed since the heyday of Mazdaspeed’s functionality and customization branch, culminating in 1991 with victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the 787B race car.
The purpose of Spirit Racing is to present track-centric models with improved aerodynamics, chassis, suspension and brake paints that are based on the knowledge of the Super Taikyu (Endurance) series. What’s encouraging to see is that Mazda has its former design and weekend director. racer, Ikuo Maeda, to the rhythm of this new customization division, so we can expect some bold frames and paintings, as well as encouraged handling.
To get the ball rolling, the Miata has been given a painting task in shades of Nardo Grey, while a thick Gunmetal Grey stripe runs from the front of the bonnet to the end of the boot.
The seats on the Miata are supplied with racing harnesses.
Mazda Spirit Racing decals adorn the look of the car just beyond the front wheel arches, while bright red Brembo brake calipers sit behind six-spoke Ray alloys and Bridgestone Potenza tires. We can’t forget about the sporty kit of front and rear splitters of the bumpers, as well as the side skirts, which also feature a single-tunnel exhaust and sophisticated contrasting red stripes. We expected nothing less from Mazda’s cosmetics department, which makes the most beautiful cars in Japan.
While Mazda executives have been silent on the power figures of the new models, we expect the higher-performance Miata to use the same 181-horsepower 2. 0-liter 4-cylinder engine discovered in the existing model, which has yet to be tuned with some more grass.
Inside, the stalwart Miata has undergone some cosmetic tweaks, adding Recaro bucket seats, red stitching, racing parachutes, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel with a rare 12 o’clock marking, and racing harnesses.
From what we’re seeing here, it looks like Mazda Spirit Racing is becoming a reinterpretation of the 21st century Mazdaspeed, which we think is a clever thing to do. These two stalwart variants leading the way here can be a welcome return to the beautiful. Sporty models for a brand that, for the last decade, has focused on SUVs and crossovers such as the CX-5 and MX-30.
Mazda has expressed interest in offering those Mazda Spirit Racing features overseas, but it’s still unclear exactly when those important parts will arrive in the U. S. U. S.
There’s no doubt that many Miata enthusiasts are hoping that the Mazda Spirit Racing can create enough momentum to push the company’s bosses to greenlight the excellent rotary-engine-equipped hybrid concept, the Iconic SP. Fingers crossed.