Mazda MX-5 20th Anniversary Limited Edition launched

Mazda has released a limited edition MX-5 in Japan to commemorate 20 years of the MX-5

This is another in the Mazda series of ‘Only in Japan’. But if past history is anything to go by, we got the updates to the Mazda MX-5 a short time after Japan got them, and the same thing happened with the updated Mazda RX-8, so there’s a fair chance Mazda will give the Mazda MX-5 20th Anniversary Limited Edition an outing in Europe before too long.

It’s hard to believe that the little Mazda MX-5 – or Mazda Roadster, as it’s known in Japan – has been with us for 20 years, but it has. And in that time it has racked up sales of more than 850,000, making it the best-selling open roadser in history. Deservedly so. It’s a great little car. Stylish, well-made and simple. It’s also a joy to drive and Mazda hasn’t succumbed to the temptation of making it bigger, fatter and chocked full of giszmos with each iteration, so it’s still true to the original.

So what are Mazda throwing at the Roadster / MX-5 for this Limited Edition? Well, you can have it in two versions – either the soft-top, six-speed manual or the retracting tin-top auto’ – with red and black Recaro’s, the ubiquitous Limited Edition badging, 17″ alloys and heated seats. And you can only get it in white.

By our reckoning, we should see the Mazda MX-5 20th Anniversary Limited Edition announced for the UK in the next couple of months.