Mazda RX-7 Spirit R: Time For Tea?

Inspired by our RX-7 PH Heroes story? Seal the deal with this video celebration of the run-out Spirit R

Forgive a slight Mazda RX-7 fixation over the last couple of days; after blogging about the delights of 90s Japanese cars, driving one for the photoshoot accompanying our PHHeroes piece and generally getting immersed in all things rotary related the charismatic Mazda has been front and centre of the PH mindset.

We'll draw a line under this in fitting style, as indeed Mazda did when it introduced the run-out RX-7 Spirit R for the Japanese market before production ended in August 2002. Fitted with BBS wheels, improved brakes, Bilstein dampers and with the full 280hp it looked - and went - like the business. In its most focused Type-A iteration you even got fixed-back Recaro seats, saving another 10kg off the already light kerbweight. Full geek-out from the Mazda press release here.

The vid here is from Motor Trend, who managed to convince Mazda USA to lend them their sole remaining Spirit R for a drive on sun-drenched Californian roads. It's a nice vid, well shot and suitably deferential and geeky in tone. Enjoy!

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