Mazda Spirit Racing MX-5 Miata is Almost Ready to Hit Production

Spirit Racing Ready to Produce Its First Production Model

Mazda has been slowly expanding its Spirit Racing performance brand, a division intended to translate the company’s motorsport knowledge into road cars. The arm has already showcased a variety of projects ranging from modified road models to endurance-racing concepts, but until now, no mass-market vehicle has carried the Spirit Racing badge. That changes with the MX-5 Miata, which will serve as the first production car for the program.

According to reports out of Japan, pre-orders will begin this month, making the Spirit Racing MX-5 Miata available for reservations ahead of its limited run. For fans of the iconic roadster, this is both a welcome development and a reminder that availability will be severely restricted.

Limited Production Units, Focused Upgrades

Mazda plans to release the Spirit Racing Miata in two versions, both based on the ND-generation MX-5. The standard Spirit Racing Roadster (its JDM name) will be capped at 2,200 units, while the hotter Roadster 12R will be limited to just 200 units. The latter will reportedly be offered through a lottery in Japan, meaning not many interested buyers will get the chance to secure one.

Both cars feature a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated SKYACTIV-G inline-four paired exclusively with a six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive. Output remains 184 horsepower for the base Spirit Racing model, while the 12R raises that figure to an even 200 hp through upgraded cooling and other tweaks.

The standard car is equipped with Brembo brakes, Bilstein dampers, a reinforced tunnel brace, and aero elements developed through Mazda’s Super Taikyu endurance racing program. It also receives a cabin trimmed in Alcantara for a more focused driving atmosphere.

The 12R builds on this formula with Recaro full bucket seats, forged RAYS wheels, a serial-numbered engine cover, and a soft top roof. The package positions it as a factory-prepared track car rather than just a lightly modified Miata.

Pricier But Still Affordable

According to Creative Trend, the pricing in Japan for the Spirit Racing Roadster is set at 5,265,700 yen (roughly $35,000), while the 12R comes in at 7,612,000 yen (around $51,000). The latter price includes a special complete kit with unique aero parts, decals, and additional hardware. These figures place both versions above the regular MX-5 lineup, but still within reach of enthusiasts accustomed to spending on performance upgrades.

Mazda has not announced whether the Spirit Racing Miata will be offered outside Japan. Given the global popularity of the nameplate, we expect Mazda to deliver the model in the US. However, the low production numbers do provide uncertainty about its global availability, but we’re hoping that Mazda will consider its fans from all over the world for its hottest Miata yet.