The Mazda MX-5 RS Is An Enhanced Miata Most Of The World Can’t Buy

The new MX-5 is already a jolly good proposition for enthusiastic drivers, but what if you’re an especially keen pilot? The new MX-5 RS might just be the answer.

Each generation before the ND has received an RS edition, so it was only a matter of time before the new car was given the same treatment. This time around, Mazda has taken the 1.5-litre version of the roadster as a base, and added a suspension strut tower bar, Bilstein dampers, larger brakes and a set of rather lovely looking Recaro seats.

As well as the seats, there’s a range of equipment upgrades including a Bose sound system and blind spot monitoring. There’s also something Mazda is calling an ‘induction sound enhancer’, without going into detail about exactly what it is. We’re hoping it doesn’t refer to sound piped in through the speakers…

The engine is unchanged, so you still only have a modest 130bhp to play with. That’s not a big issue though, as when we drove the 1.5 it seemed suitably brisk. What is an issue is where this car is going on sale: it’s for the Japanese market only. Boo.

It’s on sale now at a price of ¥3,196,800 (£17,550).