Mazda’s Most Hardcore Street-Legal Miata Could Be Hitting the Road Soon

A new report suggests that the automaker is about to open reservations for its up-spec MX-5 performance offerings in Japan.

Glossy black five-spoke car wheel with red brake caliper and Yokohama tire on a white Mazda Spirit Racing car.

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By Gray Van Dyke

Published October 7, 2025

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After Mazda took a historic overall victory at the 1991 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it would be another three decades before the automaker would make a return to factory-backed racing.

That day finally came in 2021 when Mazda launched a new sub-brand — Mazda Spirit Racing (MSR) — to serve as its motorsport and performance arm. From young driver development to Super Taikyu competition, the outfit puts Mazda vehicles through their paces to learn how technologies can be applied to road-going cars.

White Mazda convertible sports car with black and red accents displayed on stage next to a presenter and a large screen showing a workshop scene. — The MSR Roadster 12R made quite a splash upon its unveiling at the Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this year.

And now the fruits of those labors have finally arrived, as the firm’s first vehicle is about to hit the market in the form of MSR ‘Roadster’ (how the MX-5 is sold in Japan). It previewed at the Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this year, and it makes for one of Mazda’s most hardcore street-legal MX-5 Miata models to date.

Embodying the spirit of racing

According to a Japanese publication by the name of Creative Trend (h/t to Carbuzz), Mazda will be opening reservations for its standard MSR Roadster and MSR Roadster 12R starting on October 24th.

Right-hand drive car interior with black suede steering wheel, manual gear shift, and black seats with red accents. — Being an enthusiast-focused offering, the Roadster will only be available with a six-speed manual.

Being the entry point into the MSR experience, the former is a bit milder in execution. Output for the car’s 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G four-cylinder remains unchanged at 184 horsepower, though it does benefit from improved cooling thanks to a new radiator.

What’s more, Mazda Spirit Racing has worked to refine the car to increase responsiveness and improve handling, fitting Brembo brakes, a set of Bilstein dampers and other tweaks gleaned from racing like aero bodywork elements and additional chassis bracing.

Gray and black Mazda Spirit Racing car number 55 with orange accents on a race track grid. — MSR applies its experience on the track to make the company’s road-going vehicles better, too.

Assuming those upgrades aren’t enough, though, Mazda is simultaneously offering the even more potent Roadster 12R. Thanks to some engine tuning and further cooling provisions, it puts out 197 horsepower — among the highest of any MX-5 to date.

To accommodate the extra grunt, it also comes with a pair of supportive Recaro seats, and it rides on a set of Rays forged aluminum wheels. Rounded out by some special serialized engine head covers, it makes for quite an enthusiast’s offering.

Close-up of a Mazda SKYACTIV-G engine with visible hoses and a black strut bar labeled "MAZDA SPORT RACING. — Though the base Roadster doesn’t get any additional power, the Roadster 12R takes things up to 197 ponies.

Exclusive (and exclusively) manual

Beyond their exclusivity to the Japanese market, the MSR Roadster and Roadster 12R are exclusive because of their transmission options as well as their production counts.

That is to say: Mazda is only offering these special MX-5s with the option of a six-speed manual transmission. After all, they are intended to be even more driver-focused expressions of the base vehicle.

Silver convertible sports car driving on a curved desert racetrack with dry shrubs and mountains in the background under bright sunlight. — Mazda’s MX-5 is a difficult vehicle to improve on, so the Roadster has its work cut out for it.

What’s more, the Roadster will be limited to 2,200 units in total, while the hotter Roadster 12R will be limited to just 200 units in total. In addition to bringing some impactful performance upgrades, then, these MSR drop-tops will join the company of the rarest versions of Mazda’s iconic convertible.

Finally, as if that wasn’t enough, the latter will supposedly only be available for purchase through a lottery-based allocation system. While interest in the vehicle will undoubtedly be high, few will even have a real opportunity at purchase.

A dark gray convertible sports car with a beige interior, viewed from above. The car has two seats, a black soft top folded down, and sleek, modern design lines. The vehicle is parked on a concrete surface with a tiled strip in the background. — With sufficient demand, Mazda could decide to bring its MSR Miata to other markets around the world.

Worldwide potential?

At this time, Mazda has yet to indicate whether the MSR MX-5 will make its way around the rest of the world. However, given that the 35th Anniversary version originally started out in Japan before releasing in other markets, it is at least possible.

That said, given rumors of Mazda’s collaboration with Toyota on a new sports car, the automaker may have other plans for markets like the United States. In the meantime, we’ll have to wait and see once the MSR finally goes on sale. The Roadster and Roadster 12R are set to retail for 5,266,000 yen and 7,610,000 yen, respectively.

White Mazda convertible sports car with black soft top, black wheels, and "Mazda Spirit Racing" text on the door.

Mazda MX-5 Miata MSR Roadster

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About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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