American tuning company Xenex Motorsports has finally revealed the first production version of the MX Speedster, its take on an aerodynamic version of the Mazda MX-5 Miata. The car was revealed on the lawn at The Amelia in Florida earlier this month.
One of America’s premiere concours events, the show was an ideal place to reveal the classically-inspired vehicle. In a series of photos released on designer Kasim Tlibekov’s Instagram account, the updated speedster can be seen next to a first-generation Corvette.
Based on a rendering by Tlibekov, the design was licensed by Xenex Motorsports (inspired by an article on Carscoops), which in December announced that it would be producing a real version of the car, and selling it as the MX Speedster.
The result of more than a year of development, the company says it has created a “high-quality, paint ready re-body kit,” that you can see above. Involving more than just the removal of the windshield and soft-top mechanism, the reworked, sharper body lines are on full display in these photographs.
More: Remember That Wicked Mazda MX-5 Speedster Render? It’s Entering Production!
Additional details, such as the snap points for the tonneau cover, the thin side mirrors, and more can be seen, too. With those additions, though, there were deletions, such as the futuristic head and taillights, which appear to remain stock in real life. Overall, though, it is a largely faithful, and quite successful realization of the rendering.
Xenex Motorsports says that it will offer three levels of the car. The simplest, the MX Speedster, adds only the body kit, and removes 250 lbs (113 kg) of weight from the car. Buyers can also opt for a track-ready suspension kit, competition Wilwood brakes, and 17-inch wheels.
The MX Speedster S, meanwhile, adds a Fastforward Supercharger, which helps the NA Miata driveline produce 200 hp (149 kW/203 PS). With a curb weight of less than 2,000 lbs, and other improvements, it should be worthy of the name “speedster.” Finally, the MX Speedster RS replaces Mazda’s four-cylinder engine with an LS V8 that makes over 350 hp (261 kW/355 PS) at 6,800 rpm.
Although the tuner doesn’t list prices on its website, it claims that, if owners are willing to sell the fenders, windshield, soft top, and other parts that are removed from the base Miata, that they can “easily” build the most basic version of the MX Speedster for less than $15,000.