This is very limited edition MX-5 Coupe which many of us did not know about.
Mazda has been enjoying the global success of all their models in the last decade, but for three decades plus they have enjoyed the continued success of the MX-5 roadster , also known as the Miata.
This drop top two seater is a phenomenal ‘drivers’ car and not since the Lotus Elise and probably even the Exige has there been a worthy rival.
Ok, some might say that the Toyota GT86 and its sibling, the Subaru BR-Z are better ‘drivers’ cars, but they do not have an easy and effective convertible top.
So, this is why we are highlighting this very limited Mazda MX-5. A complete coupe actually. Many might not even know of its existence and might think it was a motor show concept.
Well, Mazda Motor Japan did, in fact, build this coupe Miata/Roadster for just their domestic market in very limited numbers.
Mazda engineers decided on the second-generation ‘NB’ MX-5 (Miata) as the model that got a special coupe version with a fixed roof, done in the style of the first-generation coupe concept.
It had very limited production number, just 179 units of these NB coupes were made and they were all Japanese-market models, so it is not often that one comes up for sale or will be seen on the road, even in Japan. Why just 179 units? Well, this we need an answer from Mazda management in Japan.
Meanwhile, Mazda Motors built four versions of the MX-5 Coupe, each with their own distinctive style. The base model and the Type S most closely resembled their soft-top donor car, sharing a similar front nose treatment.
The base model came with Mazda’s popular and well balanced 1.6-litre engine, making 93kW and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. The Type S Coupe got the larger 1.8-litre engine with a ready 118kW and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.
Just three colours were available from the factory, Pure White, Sunlight Silver, and Classic Red.
A few months later, two very special models, marketed by Mazda Motor Japan as ‘Type A’ and ‘Type E’ were released. Both models only came in Lightning Yellow or Velocity Red.
Mazda faced production issues and only produced about 50 units of the ‘Type-A’ out of a total 179 MX-5 Coupes. The Type-A was powered by the 1.8L engine working with a 6-speed manual gearbox while other models used the 1.6L engine and 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic gearbox.
The MX-5 Coupe had a roof that was made from steel and it was a structural member, yet this Coupe weighed just 22 pounds more than the standard drop top MX-5 roadster.
If you are lucky, you might find a unit for sale in Japan and its asking price hovers around in the ¥2-2.5 million range (which is about RM72,000 to RM93,000 before delivery and local taxes).
Is it worth the effort? Well, we think not. Better to live with the MX-5 roadster and enjoy open top motoring where possible with the worlds best value roadster.
