Mazda Spirit Racing sub-brand launched with racier MX-5 and Mazda 3

Mazda Spirit Racing - an all-new sporting sub-brand of the Japanese marque - has been teased via a pair of hardcore, track-focused variants of its MX-5 and Mazda 3 models at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Oh hello.

Such a thing hasn't existed since the days of the Mazdaspeed performance arm, which peaked in 1991 with victory at Le Mans with the (blisteringly loud) 787B.

Christened the ‘Spirit Racing RS’ and ‘Spirit Racing 3’, details are few and far between - even a potential release is yet to be confirmed. But if they do make production, Mazda says they'll demonstrate its learnings from the Japanese Super Taikyu endurance series, which it has been competing in since 2021. Tasty.

Kicking off with the world’s best-selling roadster, the MX-5 has been given a Nardo Grey-like coat, while a Gunmetal Grey pinstripe stretches from the mid-point of the bonnet to the end of the boot. Mazda Spirit Racing vinyls are tucked in just past the front wheel arches, while bigger Brembo brakes sit behind the six-spoke Ray’s alloys and Bridgestone Potenza rubber. So far, so good.

It’s also difficult to ignore the dramatic splitter kit attached to the front and rear bumpers, as well as the side skirts, which are further complemented by a single-tunnel exhaust and sparingly-used bright red accent strips. The generally moody look really works for us.

Interior modifications also bring the Spirit Racing RS more in tune with your cousin’s excessively modified first-generation MX-5, headlined by Recaro bucket seats, racing parachutes, and an Alcántara-clad steering... thingy.

The Spirit Racing 3 looks to adopt all of these changes, and given its similarly low ride height, we expect a much more stiffly sprung suspension to set it apart from the other car. The only real difference (aside from an extra two doors, obviously) is a big rear wing and a set of connector wires attached to the front splitter. It should steal plenty of attention at your next KFC car park meet.

These two models could represent a welcome return to sporting products for a brand which, over the last few years at least, has focussed more on SUVs and crossovers like the MX-30.

Perhaps Mazda Spirit Racing could even have a hand in bringing the gorgeous twin-rotor Iconic SP to life. We can dream…