Currently reading: Mazda MX-5 celebrates 25 years

Special edition of the roadster gets an upgraded engine, new paint and improved interior

Mazda has unveiled a modified version of the current MX-5 roadster at the New York motor show to celebrate the model’s 25th anniversary, which fell on the 14 February this year.

The core changes are in the engine, which has been built up with hand-selected parts. Components including the flywheel, connecting rods and pistons have been specially chosen from the standard production batches.

Mazda says that the company engineers have selected the “best of the best… lightest and best balanced” parts for the 25th Anniversary engines. The claim is that these 2.0-litre units will “rev even more freely, delivering extraordinary response and acceleration”. The special model gets 165bhp, while the six-speed auto version gets 156bhp

Inside, the latest MX-5 has off-white leather seats - with a 25th Anniversary logo and stitching - and door trims, special stainless kickplates, aluminum pedals, 17-inch gunmetal grey alloy wheels and Bilstein dampers on the manual-transmission version. The car comes in one colour, Soul Red metallic, with contrasting black A-pillars.

There’s no news on prices or availability for the UK as yet.

Read Autocar's history of the MX-5.

Read more New York motor show news.

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The Mazda MX-5 is still great fun, and more grown up in its third generation. For pure driving fun, little gets close

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