Mx5 NA Turbo - when available in Japan?

[andy97]

I know that BBR and Mazda introduced the Mk1 MX5 Turbo about Nov 1990 in the U.K., but does anyone know if there was Japanese Domestic Market Mk1 MX5 turbo available before that?
Thanks.

[VladD]

I'm not an expert, but as far as I'm aware only BBR did an "official" turbo MX5 for the NA.

[ian_c_uk]

I don't believe so - there was the Mazdaspeed NB, but don't think there was anything prior?

[xu5]

ian_c_uk said:

I don't believe so - there was the Mazdaspeed NB, but don't think there was anything prior?

Was the turbo Mazdaspeed NB USA only?

[Risonax]

xu5 said:

ian_c_uk said:

I don't believe so - there was the Mazdaspeed NB, but don't think there was anything prior?

Was the turbo Mazdaspeed NB USA only?

It was also Japan and Australia (and maybe New Zealand). Australia also got the 2002 SP Turbo, which was developed for Mazda Australia by Prodrive.

I remember that the Mazdaspeed didn't actually sell that well; dealers had unsold inventory (I recall one dealer in Missouri swapping the wheels onto a regular car to push through the sale).

[Risonax]

VladD said:

I'm not an expert, but as far as I'm aware only BBR did an "official" turbo MX5 for the NA.

They sold dealers a kit. I think some of the kits ended up in the US (including the lesser known 1.8 version), so its conceivable some also went to Japan