Our patience was wearing thin with Mazda as the Zoom-Zoom company took its time unveiling the 35th Anniversary Edition of the Miata. The much-anticipated debut finally occurred over the weekend at the Fuji Speedway in Japan during the Mazda Fan Festa 2024. While full details about the sports car duo were not disclosed, at least the convertibles made their stage appearance. Both the soft top and its RF counterpart will be available exclusively in Artisan Red, a triple-layer paint introduced a few years ago on the rear-wheel-drive SUVs. The hardtop model is equipped with 17-inch wheels, while the standard roadster with a fabric roof rolls on 16-inch alloys. The manually folding top features a beige finish, mirroring the interior of both models. The red-over-tan interior evokes memories of the NB Special Edition sold in the early 2000s, and looking back, there was also a similar M-Edition of the NA in the mid-1990s.
The striking paint job extends inside the car, covering the air vent bezels, the top part of the door cards, and even the key fob. Additional enhancements include a 35th Anniversary logo embroidered onto the headrests, and the floor mats signify that this is no ordinary Miata. Mazda opted for regular seats instead of the Recaros fitted to the 30th Anniversary model in 2019. The previous special edition boasted front Brembo brakes and Bilstein dampers, but it remains unclear if the 35th Anniversary version will follow suit. It seems this edition is more focused on comfort than sportiness. Production will be limited by time rather than the number of units. Mazda will individually number these cars but won't artificially limit production: "We don't have a limited quantity because we want to deliver to everyone who wants it," according to Miata's Program Manager Shigeki Saito. A special plaque placed ahead of the rear wheel on the right side will indicate the car's position in the production sequence.
Following the unveiling of the 35th Anniversary Edition, Mazda officials took the stage to announce that there's still life left in the ND. Despite the fourth generation having been around for a decade, with its debut in September 2014 and sales starting in 2015, another special edition next year to mark 10 years of the ND isn't out of the question. In January, an MX-5 Miata RS was showcased at the Tokyo Auto Salon, where Mazda announced it would go into production. This model was the opposite of the special edition, focusing on track performance with suspension and aerodynamic upgrades. The RS could be one of the "very cool special editions" promised about a year ago by Shigeki Saito.
Source link: https://www.motor1.com
