We’ve lamented the general lack of color in Mazda’s line-up, particularly for its most cheerful model, the MX-5 Miata. It’s taking steps to fix this, as it’s finally introducing a green hue for the car later this year, but even that is so desaturated it hardly qualifies. We’re not the only ones who want colorful Miatas, either, as some Japanese Mazda dealers convinced the company to create a special yellow model to coincide with the annual Mazda Fan Festa event.
The only problem is that Mazda is only building six of them.
Mazda Roadster FSW Ver. 2 from the rear three-quarter angleMazda
The Team That Builds Mazda Concept Cars Made These
The Mazda Fan Festa is put on by four Japanese Mazda dealers each year, and they got Mazda to create the yellow special edition MX-5 you see here. It doesn’t have a particularly elegant name, called Mazda Roadster FSW Ver. 2, but the color makes up for it. It’s apparently called Sunflower Yellow, and is based on a yellow used on the NC Miata. Only one yellow ever appeared on NC Miatas in the U.S., and it was called Competition Yellow. Competition Yellow also looks a bit warmer and more saturated than Sunflower Yellow to our eyes, so we don’t think it’s a case of just a name change, and rather it’s a unique hue that we simply didn’t get.
Mazda doesn’t offer this color regularly, so each of the six special edition cars is custom-painted by Mazda Engineering and Technology. The department builds all of Mazda’s low-volume specialty products such as emergency vehicles, concept cars, prototypes, and vehicles for those with limited mobility. In addition to the exterior color, the department matches the upper door sills on the interior, and even adds yellow accents to the vent rings. The car also features a front splitter, side skirts, rear spoiler, and rear diffuser section from the Mazda accessory catalog.
Other than the paint scheme, the Roadster FSW Ver. 2 is stock. It’s based on the relatively low-level S Special Package. It also comes with the smaller 1.5-liter four-cylinder, rather than the optional 2.0-liter unit we get in America.
Close-up of Mazda Roadster FSW Ver. 2 interior detailsMazda
How Much Does It Cost?
According to the release for the special Roadster, the custom paintwork adds 1,452,000 yen, or $9,227 at current exchange rates, to the base car’s price, and the accessory body parts add 163,979, or $1,042. The total cost is 4,871,979 yen, which comes to $30,959. That’s actually lower than the base price of a Miata in the U.S., but keep in mind that the yen is quite weak to the dollar right now, plus this is for the smaller-displacement car. Now, if someone at the Fan Festa buys an example, they’ll get a discount that takes about $1,000 off the price tag.
Whether you have the money for the car is almost secondary for actually acquiring it, though. That’s because the opportunity to buy one is being given away in a lottery at the event. So you’ll have to be lucky enough to be picked. However, the fine print does say that if the cars aren’t sold out at the event, the dealers can sell them at their own discretion. As such, it may be possible to get one even without winning the lottery.
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Top Down Orange Front Angled ViewMazda
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
In the press materials for this Roadster, owners’ desires for the bright color are cited as why it was chosen for this special edition. We’re glad that Mazda is listening at least a little bit, but it’s hard to call six yellow cars a real answer to fans’ prayers. Surely Mazda could do annual special editions with volumes in the three- or four-digit range to satisfy people looking for a little vibrancy. Subaru does it occasionally with its sporty cars. Mazda even made a scorching orange special edition several years ago.
You’re getting onto the right track, Mazda, but you could do a little more.
