2025 Mazda Spirit Racing Roadster headed for production

Mazda has used the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon to detail its hottest factory-produced MX-5 to date, building on last year’s debut of the Spirit Racing RS.

Now known as the 2025 Mazda Spirit Racing Roadster 12R, the track-focused roadster has been confirmed for production packing 147kW courtesy of new camshafts, a new cylinder head, pistons, exhaust manifold and high-performance radiator.

There’s been no word yet on how much torque the enhanced 2.0-litre mill develops, but odds are it’s risen over the standard car’s 205Nm in conjunction with the 12kW power increase – any marginal power gains provided by the optional titanium muffler haven’t been confirmed.

The extra firepower is complemented by a set of bespoke Bilstein dampers and all-new coil springs, a swathe of extra underbody stiffening and a Mazda Spirit Racing strut brace, not to mention a Brembo braking kit and high-performance tyres.

Advertising the extra track capability are a series of gloss black and red exterior trim bits, a carbon-fibre body kit, lightweight Rays TE37 wheels (17-inch), grey Mazda Spirit Racing decals and the obviously lower ride height.

The black and red theme continues within the cabin and extends to the upholstery, Recaro bucket seats, steering wheel and four-point harness, with purists no-doubt delighted to read the ensemble will only be offered with a six-speed manual transmission.

Less exciting is the confirmation of just 200 units being produced globally, almost certainly reserved for the MX-5’s native Japanese market.

Thankfully there are plans to produce and export something known as the Mazda Spirit Racing Roadster – a watered-down version packing the standard MX-5’s 135kW engine and most of the same chassis goodies.

Mazda Australia is yet to confirm its interest in the sharpened convertible but did manage to secure 50 examples of the MX-5 35th Anniversary Edition for our market, so for now at least, the Spirit Racing could be an odds-on bet.

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