2005 Mazdaspeed Miata: A Principally Forgotten Mannequin With a Manufacturing facility Turbocharged Engine

To this present day, the Mazda MX-5 Miata wears the crown because the best-selling convertible sports activities automobile, with multiple million models bought since its inception. Spanning 4 generations, the Miata all the time adopted the identical tried and examined components: A rear-wheel-drive sports activities automobile with a handbook transmission and a rev-happy naturally aspirated engine.

Truthfully, there’s nothing fallacious with this components, proving as soon as once more, if it ain’t broke, why hassle fixing it? Nonetheless, everybody needs to let their hair down and go wild now and again – even Mazda and their Miata. In 2004, the Japanese carmaker unveiled a rule-shattering Miata known as the Mazdaspeed MX-5, based mostly on the NB Miata. The Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata ditched the naturally aspirated four-banger in favor of turbocharged bliss.

What’s the Mazdaspeed MX-5, Then?

I nonetheless bear in mind the primary time I heard concerning the Mazdaspeed Miata. It’s like our prayers have been answered. Lastly, a extra highly effective Miata! Miatas have all the time been praised for his or her nimble dealing with and fun-to-drive demeanor, however lacked horsepower in comparison with different sports activities automobiles within the class. Then once more, they by no means wanted a lot energy, contemplating they weigh as a lot as a moist fabric.

Nonetheless, within the early 2000s, Mazda determined sufficient was sufficient, they usually needed to bump up the NB Miata’s energy determine. As an alternative of placing in a bigger engine at the price of further weight, an IHI ball-bearing turbocharger was added to its 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, boosting energy from 142 hp to 178 hp. Torque additionally elevated from 125 lb-ft to 166 lb-ft.

With the modifications the Mazdaspeed MX-5 delivered to the NB’s engine, different areas have been additionally modified. Sadly, the engine’s redline dropped from 7,000 rpm to six,500 rpm, however the turbo Miata reached its redline faster. 0 to 60 mph took 6.7 seconds – 1.4 seconds faster than the usually aspirated NB.

In comparison with modern-day sports activities automobiles, 6.7 seconds sounds sluggish, nevertheless it was sufficient to maintain up with different, way more highly effective sports activities automobiles on the time. It additionally benefitted from a stiffer suspension setup with Bilstein shocks and a limited-slip differential. Its exterior additionally differed ever so barely from the bottom mannequin NB, with greater wheels, a physique equipment, and a refined ducktail to inform you it means enterprise.

Sadly, the Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata by no means obtained the like it deserved. With fewer than 6,000 examples bought internationally, the Miata with a snail underneath its hood is surprisingly uncommon. For reference, that’s about thrice as uncommon as a Ferrari 458 Italia. Then once more, different components have been at play as to why the Mazdaspeed Miata obtained missed.

What Does It Value, and Is It Value It?

Within the early 2000s, fairly a handful of groundbreaking Japanese sports activities automobiles emerged and stole its highlight. The Nissan 350Z, Subaru WRX STi, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and, in fact, the Honda S2000 have been the discuss of the city. Reality be informed, the turbocharged Mazdaspeed MX-5 didn’t fairly meet expectations. Many, together with myself, have been anticipating it to interrupt the 200 hp mark and to bump heads with the opposite mighty Japanese sports activities automobiles, nevertheless it didn’t stay as much as the hype.

Over the previous 5 years or so, gearheads have a newfound appreciation for 2000s automobiles that have been as soon as missed. Consider the BMW E60 M5, the Porsche 986 Boxster and Cayenne, and VW Phaeton. All of those automobiles aged like nice wine and have develop into fairly sought-after since 2020.

When new, a Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata carried a beginning MSRP of $25,780 – that was solely about $1,000 greater than the top-spec naturally aspirated Mazda Miata LS on the time. Whereas base mannequin NBs promote for only a few grand, the Mazdaspeed mannequin held its worth, promoting on common for almost $16,000 these days.

Whereas some might argue that paying $16,000 for a Miata that’s twenty years outdated is pretty much as good as flushing your cash down the bathroom, I’d argue that you just’re paying pennies on the dime for a future basic within the making.

Regardless of the Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata’s shortcomings, it stays the one factory-turbocharged Miata ever made, and it’s one of the distinctive Japanese sports activities automobiles ever made. Who is aware of, perhaps we’ll see one other turbocharged Miata sooner or later, however for the time being, the Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata stays a uncommon gem hidden in plain sight.