Wednesday 11th November 2015

Mazda MX-5 Sport Recaro Edition

Standard MX-5 simply too reasonably priced for you? Mazda's fixed that for you with a new special edition!

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We like Mazda MX-5s. We also like Recaro seats. 'Slow news day is it?' accusations may follow but the combination of the two into a £24,295, 600-car limited edition caught our attention as Mazda follows its tradition of manifold special editions spun off the base roadster platform.

Here in the UK these have generally been about special colours and quirky extras like the leather owner's wallet supplied with the NA MX-5 California; in Japan things were a little more involved up to and including the much hyped RS Limited, which made much of the fact it came with fancy ... Recaro seats! These remain hugely desirable among MX-5 fans, swapping hands for as much as an entire car if you can find someone selling a pair. Original RS Limiteds with their Recaros and other signature upgrades intact are much sought after, this fresh import with Goodwood Sportscars advertised for just shy of eight grand - two or three times what you'd pay for a less exotic Eunos. Some premium for some fancy seats.*

The mark-up for this new Recaro equipped MX-5 is thankfully not that much but Mazda clearly senses opportunity to accommodate those for whom the standard car's purist approach is simply too cheap! Based on the current range topping 2.0 Sport Nav with the Bilstein damped sports suspension and limited-slip diff, it adds those tasty looking seats, an Alcantara dashboard panel (albeit not where it would be any use to reduce reflections), a Sports Aero kit comprising black rear spoiler, skirts and front air dam and 17-inch diamond cut wheels.

Clearly nothing added to this car actually makes it go any faster but it does at least look the part and, if you've an eye to future tuning, might add some visual substance to your efforts. Cynicism aside it's a fair amount of extra kit for a grand on the price of the standard car. No MX-5 press release would be complete without a bit of Jinba Ittai feeling either and, inevitably, we're promised enhanced sense of connection thanks to the figure-hugging Recaros. A pity there's not any extra oomph to really test the theory or live up to the looks.

*Yes, there's more to the RS Limited than the Recaros...

[Sources: Bourne Road Garage]

[Edmundo2]

I can't understand we they've never done a hot version? It looks a great little car as did those that came before it but why not a limited edition with some nice finishing touches + 200 bhp + and a better noise? The reviews of BBR conversions etc seem to confirm that the extra grunt really makes the difference..

Mk 1 and Mk2's look like great cheap fun for £2.5k but I can't understand how anybody looking for a sports car could spend £25k on one of these and not feel slightly underwhelmed when said budget could buy all manner of nearly new cars that have that extra bit of grunt that really complements a good chassis and completes the package. I know it's not all about speed and you'd always have the base model if desired but I can't help thinking 200bhp, ( or even 175bhp ), in a 1000kg limited edition car which is good looking, small nimble, cheap to run and practical is a cracking recipe? 130 bhp per ton less so.

[MrBarry123]

"Standard MX-5 simply too reasonably priced for you? Mazda's fixed that for you with a new special edition!"

[Tuvra]

Edmundo2 said:

I can't understand we they've never done a hot version? It looks a great little car as did those that came before it but why not a limited edition with some nice finishing touches + 200 bhp + and a better noise? The reviews of BBR conversions etc seem to confirm that the extra grunt really makes the difference..

Mk 1 and Mk2's look like great cheap fun for £2.5k but I can't understand how anybody looking for a sports car could spend £25k on one of these and not feel slightly underwhelmed when said budget could buy all manner of nearly new cars that have that extra bit of grunt that really complements a good chassis and completes the package. I know it's not all about speed and you'd always have the base model if desired but I can't help thinking 200bhp, ( or even 175bhp ), in a 1000kg limited edition car which is good looking, small nimble, cheap to run and practical is a cracking recipe? 130 bhp per ton less so.

I agree, keep the base cars and then simply offer a "hot" version.

Toyota should do the same with their GT86 too. I ran a standard GT86 for a while and despite being fun, it simply wasn't powerful enough for me

[SFO]

the aero add ons are horrible

[a7x88]

Didn't the US get a hot version of the original? Mazdaspeed Miata IIRC... Think it had near on 200hp as they basically bolted in a turbocharger

[nunpuncher]

Despite owning several Mk1 and Mk2 mx5's I just find it difficult to be interested in the 3 and 4 in any way.

The most recent ones don't seem to represent what the old ones did. if you think about it. The Mk1 and Mk2 were to some extent as quick as a lot of hatches that were about then. They offered hot hatch performance in a unique package. The more recent ones don't seem to hit the same formula or maybe I just have a rose tinted view of the older ones.

I will also add that I hope the MX5 isn't the next car to have prices going silly. Part of a NA/early NB's attraction for me is that I can pick a ratty yet useable one up for sub £1k and have some fun for a few months before shifting on for the same.

[NDNDNDND]

a7x88 said:

Didn't the US get a hot version of the original? Mazdaspeed Miata IIRC... Think it had near on 200hp as they basically bolted in a turbocharger

There was a factory-sanctioned BBR turbo version of the Mk1 in the UK.

[Crusoe]

Talk of a fiat 124 Spider/Abarth (same as the mx5 underneath) with up to 240bhp next year, also talk of a steel wheel stripped down "pure" edition planned.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/fiat/92230/extreme-ab...

Looks like a slightly shrunk s2000 which is a good thing IMO

Edited by Crusoe on Wednesday 11th November 12:21

[oliver9523]

When people ask for more power do they mean they want more low down power and torque?
I won a place on a Mazda experience day in Sept. where I got to borrow the new 2.0 Sport Nav for a whole day, just myself and the girlfriend. Yeah it could do with a bit more low down, but when you're spanking it and actually using the 150bhp it's plenty fast enough for B roads.

I just kept bouncing between second and third gears on back roads, it was fan-bloody-tastic!
http://www.motortrend.com/news/10-cool-nerdy-facts...

[dpop]

I would love to know when those Recaros are going to be offered as an option on the ND - looks like a definite upgrade to the stock seats. Couldn't care less for the aero bits or the terrible wheels though!

[cib24]

There was an MK2 Mazdaspeed MX-5 sold in Japan and the US for a very brief period. I think it was a 1.8L motor with a tiny turbo bumping output up to like 175hp. It was pretty decent but had absolutely no top end and wasn't reliable if you tried to push more power out of it.

[Ryvita]

Edmundo2 said:

I can't understand we they've never done a hot version?

Have I dropped through a wormhole to the year 2020? I only saw my first one of these on the street two weeks ago. A little premature to start bemoaning the lack of a boosted version isn't it?

That said, the likelihood based on previous models is that there won't be. Mazda seem to be perfectly happy for others (BBR etc.)to act as their AMG, Alpina or Ruf equivalent. The MX-5 has always been a mass-market appeal car without having to shoot for performance figures or ring times. Yes, enthusiasts can make it do all those things but 90% (95%? 98%?) of buyers just don't care.

Edit: I guess you were implying never done a hot version across all the models, rather than just the latest, but my point still stands.

[SteveSteveson]

To be honest, I think most enthusiasts would rather do their own thing. There is such a big supply of well respected tuners happy to supply you with everything from uprated drop links to a full on overhaul that I feel Mazda are better off doing what they do. Produce one very good basic car that you can use every day and is ripe for tuning and leave it to those who want to to do exactly what they want. Same with the GT86.

[MarkRSi]

oliver9523 said:

When people ask for more power do they mean they want more low down power and torque?
I won a place on a Mazda experience day in Sept. where I got to borrow the new 2.0 Sport Nav for a whole day, just myself and the girlfriend. Yeah it could do with a bit more low down, but when you're spanking it and actually using the 150bhp it's plenty fast enough for B roads.

I just kept bouncing between second and third gears on back roads, it was fan-bloody-tastic!
http://www.motortrend.com/news/10-cool-nerdy-facts...

I found the 2.0 Mk3 (160bhp IIRC?) a reasonable performer as well, once revved up it didn't feel much slower than my FN2 Civic Type-R I had at the time. In comparison I found the 1.8 Mk2s a bit flat even when revved out, had I not known I'd have thought they were 1.6s.

Not fast, but fast enough to have fun although I can't see any harm in a boosted/MPS version...

[KTF]

A special edition already? Are they not selling?

[DeltonaS]

Special edition ??

In the rest of Europe this just part of the Sport pack, or GT-M configuration.

[Edmundo2]

Yes that was my point - the first special edition is all about new seats??? It's early days yes but so far no hot version of the previous models so are we to assume there's not going to be one this time either. I appreciate there's tuner options etc but that all costs more money so you buy you £25k mx5 with special edition seats and then have to spend another £5k tuning to get to the 200bhp. Just seems like they're missing a trick but hey ho, I'll leave em to it ..

Ryvita said:

Edmundo2 said:

I can't understand we they've never done a hot version?

Have I dropped through a wormhole to the year 2020? I only saw my first one of these on the street two weeks ago. A little premature to start bemoaning the lack of a boosted version isn't it?

That said, the likelihood based on previous models is that there won't be. Mazda seem to be perfectly happy for others (BBR etc.)to act as their AMG, Alpina or Ruf equivalent. The MX-5 has always been a mass-market appeal car without having to shoot for performance figures or ring times. Yes, enthusiasts can make it do all those things but 90% (95%? 98%?) of buyers just don't care.

Edit: I guess you were implying never done a hot version across all the models, rather than just the latest, but my point still stands.

[rotarymazda]

a7x88 said:

Didn't the US get a hot version of the original? Mazdaspeed Miata IIRC... Think it had near on 200hp as they basically bolted in a turbocharger

I was in the US at that time and don't remember such a thing. I ended up fitting an M45 supercharger kit.

There were Mk1 Japanese versions with superchargers (B-Spec) and possibly some M- versions.

[matpilch]

Funny, as Recaro can't keep up with production, so the waiting list for the top of the range spec here in Poland is 9 months, while the non-Recaro models require 5 months.
I guess UK market has a higher priority, but still, there is a clear shortage of the seats.
Btw, they are great, comfy enough, good bolstering, look ace and have inclination adjustment. A must have, imo.

[hornetrider]

DeltonaS said:

Special edition ??

In the rest of Europe this just part of the Sport pack, or GT-M configuration.

Yes seems a bit of a strange one.

I had a 3.5 Sport Tech RC and one thing I was well jealous of our European cousins was the fact they could spec Recaros in their cars. I got as far as emailing a few in Holland and Germany about availability of seats as I fancied a swap, but I never heard back and didn't pursue it.