Making its public debut at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon are Mazda’s first Spirit Racing models based on the MX-5. Officially called the Spirit Racing Roadster 12R and Spirit Racing Roadster, both come with a series of performance upgrades, although the former is a little more special as it is limited to just 200 units and receives a power bump.
Based on the soft top version of the MX-5, the Spirit Racing Roadsters are powered by a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine. This is already a big deal, as the soft-top MX-5 in Japan is only offered with a 1.5 litre NA inline-four unit making 136 PS (134 hp or 100 kW) and 152 Nm of torque. The 2.0 litre engine is reserved for the MX-5 RF (known as the Roadster RF there), which brings with it 184 PS (181 hp or 135 kW) and 205 Nm.
The 2.0 litre engine’s output figures are for the regular Spirit Racing Roadster, while the 12R version gets a new cylinder head, exhaust system, pistons, camshafts and revised cooling system for 200 PS (197 hp or 147 kW) and an undisclosed amount of torque. Power goes to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.
Other things specific to the 12R include Recaro sport seats with four-point racing harnesses, but beyond that, the Spirit Racing Roadsters come standard with Brembo brakes featuring red-painted calipers and four-piston units at the front, Bilstein height adjustable dampers and a set of forged Rays TE37 wheels paired with Yokohama Advan Neova AD09 tyres.
In terms of styling, there is an aerodynamic package developed based on knowledge gained from the brand’s participation in the Super Taikyu endurance race series. Components include a front spoiler lip, side skirts, a rear diffuser and a boot lid spoiler. The 12R version is offered with an Aero Gray paint job, special decals and a black-painted tower bar. Inside, you’ll find a generous amount of Alcantara on the steering wheel (with a 12 o’clock marker), dashboard, centre console and gear knob.
In addition to the cars, Mazda is also launching a range of Spirit Racing parts which include a sports muffler, reinforced bushings and shorter bump stops and slotted brake rotors paired with sports pads. These items, along with four-point harnesses and Advan Neova AD09 tyres, are also available for purchase by existing owners.
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