One of the points in favor of the Mazda MX-5 is the extensive ‘aftermarket’ catalog with which the Mazda two-seater can be touched up and improved. There are many companies that offer kits to transform this classic roadster into something even more pure or wilder. The mx speedster, of Xenex Motorsports, falls into the latter category because makes the crazy idea of creating a Miata with a V8 come true.
It has nothing to do with the MX-5 Speedster Evolution that Mazda presented in 2016 based on the fourth generation (ND) of its sports car. This project started later: it was in 2018 when the designer Kasim Tlibekov published his particular vision of the Mazda MX-5 NA. That interpretation did not go unnoticed by Xenex Motorsports (an American company specializing in the restoration and modification of vehicles), which contacted its creator to make it a reality.
full conversion
After a year of work, the MX Speedster is about to become a reality. The idea goes beyond a simple body kit: it completely converts the Mazda MX-5 through one of the craziest transformation processes seen so far.
The MX Speedster loses 250 pounds compared to the Mazda MX-5 NA on which it sits. And it does so thanks to a custom-made bodywork that is inevitably reminiscent of the old Le Mans models. The ‘new’ Miata lose the windshield and debuts LED headlights (front and rear) with a minimalist design. Also new is the front bumper and the rear diffuser, which incorporates an exhaust outlet on each side. The roads have been widened and under these rounded forms it is difficult to find the donor model. Optionally, 17-inch wheels can be mounted as well as Wilwood brakes and a circuit-oriented suspension system.
Do it yourself
Xenex’s plan is to sell its body kit — made up of a dozen fiberglass panels and parts — for customers to assemble on their own. They believe that with a certain capacity they will be able to do it and, furthermore, They will provide you with video instructions. to guide you throughout the process. And if someone needs to keep any of the original components to comply with the regulations, such as the windshield, they will explain how to carry out the necessary modifications. In case anyone is wondering: a workshop could also do all this work.
A V8 signed by General Motors
In these first two versions (there are four), the engine remains unchanged: we therefore have the naturally aspirated 1.6 or 1.8-liter four-cylinder inline. The third level of the MX Speedster adds an S to its name and a compressor of 20 kilos signed by according to Fastforward Superchargers. With his presence, the power goes up to 171 CV (1.6) or up to 203 CV (1.8).
At the top of the range, it appears andl MX Speedster RS which replaces the original Mazda MX-5 engine with a General Motors V8 which derives from the well-known LS series and transforms the Miata into a completely different sports car. Not surprisingly, it delivers its 355 horsepower at 6,800 rpm. According to Xenex, the commercialization is scheduled for the beginning of March 2023 and, at the moment, nothing is known about the price.
Images: Kasim Tlibekov