MX5 Special Editions

[JonnyFive]

Not sure if anyone will find this interesting.. I was doing some training today about the MX5 and these were on there;





















I'd never heard of the Trilogy before, diamonds in the fob

[Mr MXT]

Sounds fabulous dharling!

I'm surpised by the word "blower" re the BBR on an official Mazda document?

[Richyvrlimited]

And that's just the UK versions.

Mazda really do FAR to many 'special editions' it's bonkers.

[Raffles]

I'm annoyed that when I went to the Mazda dealer to order my new MX-5 last year that the salesman knew nothing about any planned special editions.

[JonnyFive]

Raffles said:

I'm annoyed that when I went to the Mazda dealer to order my new MX-5 last year that the salesman knew nothing about any planned special editions.

Black Edition is out soon.. Sounds cool!

Red/Green or White and black wheels & roof.

[Raffles]

JonnyFive said:

Black Edition is out soon.. Sounds cool!

Red/Green or White and black wheels & roof.

That does sound sweet!

[Bonefish Blues]

IIRC there hasn't been a single non-Special Edition car sold in the last 15 years

[youngsyr]

... and what's so special about the Mk3/3.5 "special" editions?

You just seem to get optional extras (audio, heated seats, climate) or styling. Where are the performance upgrades for special editions?!

[MX-5 Lazza]

The same place they always have been. The only UK special with a performance upgrade was the BBR Turbo and that was a Mazda approved UK modification, not a factory special.

[VladD]

JonnyFive said:

Raffles said:

I'm annoyed that when I went to the Mazda dealer to order my new MX-5 last year that the salesman knew nothing about any planned special editions.

Black Edition is out soon.. Sounds cool!

Red/Green or White and black wheels & roof.

That's a bit random. I'd been wondering if you could special order one like that.

[JonnyFive]

VladD said:

That's a bit random. I'd been wondering if you could special order one like that.

A dealer could do it for you, no problem.. But would come from Mazda as just a normal MX5, then the dealer would do the rest.

These are from the factory, with black wheels and roof.. From the picture I've seen of a red one they look really bloody good.

The green is the Spirit Green Colour;



That kind of thing, just without graphics on it.

The red looked like a candy apple kind of red, but I'd imagine its Copper Red. And white.. Is well, white

[youngsyr]

MX-5 Lazza said:

The same place they always have been. The only UK special with a performance upgrade was the BBR Turbo and that was a Mazda approved UK modification, not a factory special.

I don't follow: there's been the Mk1 RS (albeit JDM only), the MK2 10AE, the MK2.5 Sport and probably others that I've forgotten about with performance upgrades. The Mk 3 ones just seem to be styling and optional extras included as standard?

[MX-5 Lazza]

youngsyr said:

I don't follow: there's been the Mk1 RS (albeit JDM only), the MK2 10AE, the MK2.5 Sport and probably others that I've forgotten about with performance upgrades. The Mk 3 ones just seem to be styling and optional extras included as standard?

RS was JDM only. The only real performance upgrades on this (and other JDM specials) were to make it a lighter/revier engine, it barely has any more power than standard.
10AE has different cams to make it a bit livelier but no more powerful so not really a performance upgrade. Mk2.5 Sport is a standard model (equivalent to Mk1 & Mk2 1.8iS), not a special and has no more power than the base model Mk2.5 1.8.
The only UK car with what can be called a performance upgrade is the BBR turbo.

[youngsyr]

MX-5 Lazza said:

youngsyr said:

I don't follow: there's been the Mk1 RS (albeit JDM only), the MK2 10AE, the MK2.5 Sport and probably others that I've forgotten about with performance upgrades. The Mk 3 ones just seem to be styling and optional extras included as standard?

RS was JDM only. The only real performance upgrades on this (and other JDM specials) were to make it a lighter/revier engine, it barely has any more power than standard.
10AE has different cams to make it a bit livelier but no more powerful so not really a performance upgrade. Mk2.5 Sport is a standard model (equivalent to Mk1 & Mk2 1.8iS), not a special and has no more power than the base model Mk2.5 1.8.
The only UK car with what can be called a performance upgrade is the BBR turbo.

I guess it depends what you mean by "performance" upgrade, I see all of the below as performance upgrades:

- Bilstein dampers
- Lightweight flywheel
- More aggressive intake cam profile
- Higher redline

Basically anything that isn't cosmetic or related to driver comfort. The Mk1 and 2 seemed to get a few models with specific performance upgrades. The Mk3 seem to get only cosmetic or comfort upgrades.

[Richyvrlimited]

youngsyr said:

- More aggressive intake cam profile
- Higher redline

I guess you mean the MK2 RS? as the MK1 RS had a completely stock engine, nothing different to any other S1 MK1.

[rfn]

Jonny - when will you get more info on this new special edition - as if you can get the 2.0 RC in White or that Green I'd be very interested.

I was about to pounce on a very keenly priced '59 2.0 Sport but now tempted to hold off??

[JonnyFive]

Will do, it's due in July (99% sure).. And I think they will be RC

[MX-5 Lazza]

- Bilstein dampers - Mk1 too hard for UK roads, standard Mk1 suspension works better. Mk2 Billies are better but not restricted to special editions
- Lightweight flywheel - Revier, no performance improvement
- More aggressive intake cam profile - A touch more top end, a touch less midrange. No more power.
- Higher redline - More revs, not more power. Power is tailing off long before redline.

Any of the specials that have these mods might feel a touch nippier but are no quicker than any other model so I couldn't call them performance upgrades.

youngsyr said:

Basically anything that isn't cosmetic or related to driver comfort. The Mk1 and 2 seemed to get a few models with specific performance upgrades. The Mk3 seem to get only cosmetic or comfort upgrades.

I'd say a there were a number of Mk1 & Mk2 specials with mods that made them sportier. They have no more power or torque and no improvement in acceleration.

[Agrilla]

Thanks for posting this - very handy to have this info so easily accessible in chronological order.

[hornetrider]

I like that green. Is it the same green as the launch colour of Mazda 2? Black wheels would look good with black soft top and maybe mirrors too. Green stitching in the leather seats?