The production will be limited by time, not by the number of cars
We were starting to lose patience with Mazda, as the Zoom-Zoom brand took its time unveiling the 35th Anniversary Edition of the Miata. The long-awaited reveal finally happened over the weekend at the Fuji Speedway in Japan during the Mazda Fan Festa 2024. While full details about the two sports car models weren’t disclosed, both convertibles were at least showcased on stage.
The soft top and its RF counterpart will be offered exclusively in Artisan Red, a triple-layer paint introduced a few years ago on Mazda’s rear-wheel-drive SUVs. The hardtop comes with 17-inch wheels, while the fabric-roofed roadster features slightly smaller 16-inch alloys. The manual folding top has a beige finish, similar to the interior of both models. The red-over-tan color scheme recalls the NB Special Edition from the early 2000s, and even further back, the NA M-Edition from the mid-1990s had a similar style.
The striking paintwork carries over to the interior, featuring on the air vent bezels, the upper part of the door panels, and even the key fob. Additional touches include a 35th Anniversary logo embroidered on the headrests, with floor mats also marking this as a special edition Miata. Unlike the 30th Anniversary model from 2019, which came with Recaro seats, Mazda opted for standard seats this time.
The previous special edition featured front Brembo brakes and Bilstein dampers, but that may not be the case here. It seems the 35th Anniversary model is focused more on comfort than sportiness. Regardless, production will be time-limited rather than restricted to a set number of units.
Mazda will individually number each car, but there won’t be a cap on production. As Miata Program Manager Shigeki Saito explained, “We don’t have a limited quantity because we want to deliver to everyone who wants it.” A special plaque, located in front of the rear wheel on the right side, will display the car’s position in the production run.
After unveiling the 35th Anniversary Edition, Mazda officials confirmed that the ND generation still has life left in it, even though it’s been around for a decade. While it debuted in September 2014, sales began in 2015, so we wouldn’t be surprised if another special edition is released next year to celebrate the ND’s 10th anniversary.
In January, Mazda showcased an MX-5 Miata RS at the Tokyo Auto Salon, announcing it would enter production. Unlike the 35th Anniversary Edition, the RS was a track-focused model with suspension and aerodynamic enhancements. This RS could be one of the “very cool special editions” hinted at by Shigeki Saito about a year ago.
