- This modified Mazda MX-5 wants to be a Honda S2000 when it grows up.
- It is based on the MX-5 NC, and looks clean despite being nearly 17 years old.
- The eye-catching exterior is combined with performance and chassis upgrades.
The Mazda MX-5 NC: heavier, more comfortable, and the unsung hero of the Miata lineup, or so the internet debates. Among all four generations of the world’s most popular roadster, the NC is infamous for its chubbiness but equally celebrated for being the most livable. A fine example of this compromise is currently up for sale in Italy, sporting an attention-grabbing Honda S2000-inspired front bumper and a host of custom tweaks.
This particular NC is a 2008 pre-facelift model (known as the NC1) that’s clocked 108,000 km (67,100 miles). Despite its mileage, it looks impressively well-kept, perhaps better than some of us after 17 years of wear and tear. The eye-catching Brawix Sunflewe Yellow? That’s a wrap over the original Brilliant Black paint, doubling as a protective layer against chips and scratches.
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Setting aside the vivid color, the highlight is the custom front bumper with a smaller intake and a pronounced chin sharp chin that channels the Honda S2000 AP2. The updated look feels more modern, even if the fit and finish could use a little fine-tuning. It’s not perfect, but hey, we’ve all seen factory body panels with less-than-stellar alignment, so maybe don’t look too closely.
Other visual upgrades include a discreet ducktail spoiler with a carbon finish, red-tinted taillights, and a set of dark-finished Japan Racing JR5 alloy wheels. Behind the electrically-reclining hardtop (introduced by Mazda in 2006 in the Roadster Coupe version) and the tinted windows lies a full-black interior with yellow stitching. The leather seats are heated, and the center console features an aftermarket infotainment display.
EM-Power
Under the hood, this NC sticks to the tried-and-true formula: a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed manual and a limited-slip differential. But thanks to an ECU remap and a few additional tweaks, output jumps from the standard 167 hp (125 kW/170 PS) to a zippy 183 hp (137 kW/186 PS).
More importantly, the chassis setup has been upgraded with adjustable coilovers from BC Racing, bringing the Miata closer to the ground. Meanwhile, the braking system has been beefed up, borrowing larger discs from the Mazda RX-8 and a set of Brembo calipers lifted from an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde.
Despite its age, the owner claims this Miata has been meticulously maintained, regularly serviced, and free of any major issues.
The car is listed on the Italian website EM-Power for €18,000 ($18,800). That’s certainly not cheap, especially considering that lightly used examples of the newer ND generation aren’t much farther out of reach. While the NC’s custom upgrades make it a one-of-a-kind build, some prospective buyers might find themselves drawn to the angrier face and modern features of the new generation instead.
