As with almost every other Japanese car as it seems, we won't be getting the new RS version of the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Japanese car enthusiasts with a passion for Miatas and speed are rejoicing. The more performance oriented model is finally here. It's a shame only Japanese car lovers are getting it, the US market wouldn't be able to get enough of it if it was to land here.

This new and improved Mazda Roadster RS has several performance upgrades over the standard one. Weirdly enough, none of them address the power issue, all of them are purely handling oriented, which is something the MX-5 never really lacked. None the less, here it is, and this is what's been done to it. There's new Bilstein dampers all round, a front suspension tower brace and a tuned steering rack, increasing handling and giving better turn-in. With increased cornering ability, Mazda thought it would be a good idea to improve the brakes. They've done this via bigger brake discs. People who complained about the noise have also been addressed with the help of an upgraded and improved exhaust. Naturally, when cars of this type are introduced, there's also changes done to the interior. In the Roadster RS we find Recaro seats and Nappa Leather. The trim has also been improved with the addition of Alcantara, making it an even nice place to spend time. Sound system lovers will no doubt celebrate the welcome addition of a Bose audio system.

Don't feel to envious however, as the Roadster RS still hasn't had it's major issue addressed. It's only available with the 1.5 liter engine with just 129 horsepower. While it may be enough, it's significantly less than the 2.0 which develops 155 horsepower that we get here in the US. However, the JDM one comes a a six-speed manual and not an automatic. With a car of this nature, people really do want the manual, and no one would bother with the automatic even if it was available. So, it's a trade off in the end really. One is stress free cruiser, while the other is a mean little car, an enthusiast favorite. Let's just hope they bring it here so that everyone who enjoys sheer driving fun can have a slice of it too.

Follow the blog for more updates, as well as our Facebook. If you wish to improve your MX-5, our store has lots of performance parts for your Miata, you can check them out here for the following:

MX-5 90-97

MX-5 98-05

MX-5 05+