What is a MSM/RT/SE ?

 

The Mazda Miata has won multiple awards the most coveted being the best selling convertible two seater sports car in the world with over one million units produced. The MAZDASPEED MX-5 Miata (or MSM) represents an extremely small percentage of that total so it with its siblings the Australian MX-5 SE and Japanese Roadster Turbo are somewhat rare. So what makes a MAZDASPEED different from a regular Miata?
 
All MAZDASPEED MX-5 Miatas came with the following features that a regular Miata MX-5 did not:

​

Mechanicl Features

IHI single-scroll turbocharger
Denso air-to-air intercooler
Larger Oil Cooler
Modified combustion chambers, reshaped pistons
6-speed manual overdrive transmission with short throw shifter and gear shot-peened shaft and gears
Stronger pressure plate & disc for clutch 
Bosch torque sensing limited slip rear differential
Optimized steering rack stroke (reduced from 60.5mm to 53.2mm)
Suspension was dropped 7mm in ride height through the use of red painted, shorter springs with higher spring rates
Gas filled Bilstein® shock absorbers with revised valving (painted silver)
Larger front and rear stabilizer bars (painted red)
Front suspension tower brace (painted silver)
Larger radiator with increased core volume  (increased from 6.0 l to 6.2 l)
Antilock Brake System silver painted brake calipers
Toyo Proxes R28 205/40R17 80W rated tires
Lightweight oil dipstick

​

Exterior Features (click for pics)

• Red wrinkle finish on the engine valve cover

• Anodized aluminum oil cap with MAZDASPEED logo

• 17 inch Racing Hart aluminum alloy wheels

• Smoked headlamps

• Front under spoiler with recessed fog lamps

• Rear diffuser

• Rear deck spoiler

• Exhaust tip with MAZDASPEED logo

 

​

Interior Features (click for pics)

• Black cloth-trimmed upholstery with red centre inserts, red door inserts (2004 models only)

• Leather wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel, shift knob and parking brake handle with red stitching

• Centre panel and shift plate bezel with unique curlfit finish

• Silver instrument panel meter gauges with MAZDASPEED logo on tachometer

• Body coloured rear view mirror covers with MAZDASPEED logo

• Alloy foot pedals and driver's alloy foot rest with MAZDASPEED logo

• Stainless steel scuff plates with MAZDASPEED logo

• Carpeted floor mats with MAZDASPEED logo

 

Options:

A black cloth soft top with black leather-trimmed upholstery with red stitching (deleted red door inserts) was the primary factory option available known as the GT Package. This option package however, was not available in Canada.

Likewise Air Conditioning and Cruise Control were factory options in the USA but not available in Canada. However, Canadian Buyers could have these options installed by the Dealer and several did.

 

There were other lesser known options listed below:

Black soft tonneau cockpit cover

Door edge guards

Chrome-plated fuel door

Windshield sun shield

Cargo net

Anti-theft perimeter alarm

Some Dealer installed accessories were also available

 

 

Colours:

Velocity Red Mica (only colour available in Canada)

Titanium Grey Metallic (USA Only)

​

​

2005 MAZDASPEED MX-5 Miata Variations:

17 inch Racing Hart aluminum alloy wheels (slightly different than the 2004 model)

Black cloth trimmed upholstery (no red inserts)

Switchblade style key fob

 

 

Colours:

Lava Orange Mica (USA Only)

Black Mica (USA Only)

Velocity Red Mica (USA Only)

Titanium Grey Metallic (only colour available in Canada)

​

​

    

 

 

                                                                

 

  

CANADIAN MODEL UNIQUE FEATURES (click for pics)

• Daytime Running Lights

• Speedometer/Odometer registered in kilometers

• Standard interior only (GT option not available in Canada)

• 5 mph rear bumper support

• Bilingual labels on sun visors

• Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) label above driver’s door jam

• MAZDASPEED Floor Mats came in two styles

• Second style floor mats (most common) are slightly different (backs only)

All Canadian cars came with Frankenstein bolts and side striker plates for a hardtop from the factory........Interestingly enough no factory hardtop option was offered !!

​

​

​

​

• Lava Orange Model Unique Features

•  

• The Lava Orange MSM was actually a separate option available only for one model year. In 2005, the LS1 or Grand Touring (GT) option as it was known in 2004 was replaced with two available upgrade options.

• ​

• Option BL1 which was essentially the previous year's GT option, was available only in three colors (Black Mica, Titanium Grey and Velocity Red).

• ​

• Option OG1 was the Lava Orange model option. The car was painted a beautiful Lava Orange (Color Code 27Y). It included the black canvas top instead of vinyl as well as leather seats, steering wheel, shift knob and emergency brake handle trimmed with silver stitching instead of red.

​