Transform an NA Mazda Miata into a Wild, Le Mans-Style MX Speedster
The Mazda MX-5 Miata has been the tried-and-true, dependable, and most affordable sports car since its debut. It was designed to be as agile and minimalist as classic British roadsters when it was released 34 years ago, i. Over the years, various aftermarket companies have fashioned numerous body kits to enhance the Miata’s stance. Most make the two-seater wider, more aggressive, and create a perfect on-track look. Yet, a newer entry into the Miata modification business provides an even better silhouette with the wildly nostalgic MX Speedster.
Who makes the MX Speedster re-body kit?
XENEX Motorsports builds custom race and sports cars. It takes credit for the old-school-style BMW Alpina 6.0 CSR concept car revealed at the 2021 Amelia Island Concours d’elegance. But the company’s first re-body kit available to customers is the MX Speedster.
Per the company’s website, the “purest, wildest, most extreme sportscars have always been Speedsters.” The company declares one of the greats, the 1954 Porsche 356 Speedster, was “stripped-down…dedicated solely to the sheer pleasure of driving.” XENEX emphasizes such is achieved “with little or no windshield and no weather protection.”
In 2021, XENEX Motorsports commissioned car designer Kasim Tlibekov, known for retro-inspired creations, and the design studio Tlibekua. The team picked the best-selling sports car of all time as their base, the Miata’s NA generation, and the “result,” the company says, “is the MX Speedster.”
How does XENEX build MX Speedster?
Actually, XENEX Motorsports says it doesn’t build a “turn-key” car; they simply build the re-body kit. Although the final cost remains undetermined, the company lists at least $9,850. For that, XENEX will send customers a full MX Speedster or MX Speedster “S” kit to build themselves. A sportier “RS” re-body kit will be available with an aggressive front splitter and special rear taillight panel for an additional $1,925.
XENEX will provide each customer with a video tutorial that will take them step-by-step through the installation process. The company is also available by email or telephone, but others can do it for the less mechanically inclined. The company says a “body shop is recommended,” which takes “about a day.”
Although it may remain unnoticed, there is a windshield, albeit one from a Moto GP racer. It has only the most basic teardrop headrests, and deep-lipped wheels fit snugly under the bulging fenders. Therefore, the MX Speedster slips through the air effortlessly, even if drivers may get bugs in their teeth.
Is the MX Speedster just a body kit?
The MX Speedster is more than just bumpers and side sills. It’s a complete conversion that includes air diffusers, new camshafts, exhaust systems, suspension components, and a Wilwood big brake kit, among many others. Moreover, it will feature custom interior trimmings like seat covers, luggage sets, and that all-important tonneau cover since it has no roof.
XENEX shows that there will be three versions of the MX Speedster. The entry-level MX Speedster has basic tuning done to the Miata’s 1.6-liter or 1.8-liter NA-generation engines. Upgrading to a spicier MX Speedster S will gain a Fastforward Superchargers kit, good for a total of 200 horsepower. The Speedster RS will convert the powerplant to a 350-horsepower LS V8—in a car weighing less than one ton. Nevertheless, XENEX says the MX Speedster is “engine agnostic,” taking anything that can fit into the NA-generation Miata.
When will the MX Speedster re-body kit be available?
XENEX says that re-body kit prices will be posted to their “soon-to-be-updated website” in February 2023. The company is slightly vague on when they will begin taking orders as it lists February 1st and March 1st. Regardless, it asserts that “delivery time is expected to be 45-90 days” for early 2023 orders after a 30 percent customer deposit.
