Never let it be said that the days of the JDM special are done. At a pleasingly busy Tokyo show something called a Mazda Spirit Racing Roadster 12R made its first appearance. A name straight from Gran Turismo, and the ideal label for something the world has been yearning for decades. Or certainly our world has, at least: a 200hp, naturally aspirated MX-5 built by Mazda.
Well, Mazda Spirit Racing technically, the new performance offshoot launched at Tokyo last year and is tasked with bringing some motorsport kudos to Mazda’s showroom models. Obviously the MX-5 is the only place to start. Thanks to all the desirable, expensive modifications we love to see on an atmospheric engine - a freer flowing head, a new piston design, unique cams and exhaust manifold - the 12R takes the MX-5 from 184hp to the heady heights of 200 for the first time. Nobody said nat-asp gains were easily achieved…
Additionally the Spirit Racing car gets a swathe of upgrades to make good on the power. All the stuff you’d have spent Gran Turismo credits on improving something called a 12R, essentially, including Rays wheels, Brembo brakes, Yokohama AD09 tyres, Bilstein dampers, Recaro seats and a Fujitsubo exhaust. Finally, there’s an MX-5 from the factory with a proper sports car spec.
Not that there will be very many of them. From what can be pieced together right now, there will be just one hundred 12Rs made (to honour a #12 MX-5 Super Taikyu racer) that seem likely to stay in the domestic market. They’ll be priced at seven million yen, or about £36,000. Which, yes, isn’t much more than a normal MX-5 will cost here in 2025. But there is some hope for UK-based enthusiasts, because there’s also a plain Mazda Spirit Racing Roadster at Tokyo. The grey car goes without the extra power, but does benefit from similar upgrades to the wheels, brakes, suspension, interior and body as the 12R. So perhaps a more serious brand of factory-backed MSR accessories isn’t out of the question for the future. There’s always BBR on hand if not…
