Peter Lyon
April 9, 2025
It may be a car that was launched in Japan late last year, but the 35th Anniversary Edition of Mazda’s iconic MX-5, has just surfaced in Malaysia. As a model that came onto the market in 1989, sparking a boom in roadsters that led to the birth of the Z3, TT, SLK, Boxster and Barchetta, what the Hiroshima based carmaker has debuted is a fitting tribute to the million-plus Mazda roadsters that have sold over the past three and a half decades 35. Priced at RM316,154, the special edition MX-5 is fully imported from Japan.
Even though many fans favor the soft-top model, only the Retractable Fastback (RF) convertible body variant is eligible for the 35th Anniversary Edition upgrade and only Artisan Red Premium is available which boasts a three-layer treatment to accentuate the convertible’s contoured body.
These special edition come with an insignia engraved on the headrests of the tan upholstery and a serialized 35th Anniversary Edition badge on the rear fender. Additionally, the mats have embroidered logos from the 35th Anniversary Edition.
In addition to the special edition model, the new MX-5 has a number of upgrades like redesigned headlights, daytime running lights, and tail lights. In fact, the MX-5 now has full LED lighting, and the rear bumper has been modified with rear fog lights and reflectors while the two-door is fitted 17 inch wheels.
The MX-5 has a lot of mechanical mods including DSC Track Mode and a new asymmetric limited-slip differential to enable more aggressive driving while maintaining a passive “safety net.” For more accurate steering, the power steering system is now motor-assisted and a rear-cross traffic alert setup is now a feature of the MX-5’s enhanced safety system.
Only the 2.0-litre engine spec and RF body types will be offered for all MX-5 models in Malaysia. Given the cream of Mazda’s body colors, this special edition MX-5 is available in Deep Crystal Blue, Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray, Snowflake White Pearl, Jet Black, and the recently added Aero Gray—which debuted on the 2023 Mazda 2 and Mazda CX-3.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Given its iconic status—with over 1 million units sold so far—this anniversary version will no doubt land in showrooms generating significant interest among roadster fans looking for a that special version of indeed, something to invest in. The manual and automatic transmissions for the MX-5 RF start at RM294,154 and RM296,154, respectively. From April 10–13, the Mazda MX-5 35th Anniversary Edition will be on display at the Oval Concourse, 1 Utama.
