This Artisan Red limited run MX-5 features some retro-inspired wheels to match its retro-inspired interior.
While the 35th Anniversary Mazda MX-5 arrived on Malaysian shores at a price tag that made even diehards wince, it’s nevertheless worth remembering how lucky we are to have received it at all. Such is the case in Europe, where fans of Mazda’s pint-sized roadster weren’t even offered the chance to own one.
But before you start feeling too sorry for those in the old Continent, it turns out the Belgians had a plan of their own. Enter the MX-5 Toji, a bespoke creation by Mazda St-Michel in Belgium, developed in collaboration with boutique tuning outfit Gisèle Racing.
The Toji follows earlier special editions from Mazda St-Michel and Gisèle Racing, such as the Geshi and Shubun. This latest creation has been touted as a nostalgic tribute to the 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S, the brand’s first rotary-powered sports car.
Among the distinguishing features of the Toji is that it comes only in Artisan Red, a deep, luscious shade that isn’t even available across most MX-5 variants. This crimson color is paired with a fresh set of 17-inch Borbet alloys with a dual-tone BBS-style mesh design, giving it that sweet OEM-plus vibe, not to mention being a subtle throwback to the days of the original NA generation of Mazda’s roadster.
This trip down memory lane doesn’t stop at the paint and wheels. The seats and dashboard in the Toji come finished in a houndstooth pattern called Exclusive Heritage Cosmo upholstery — a throwback to 1960s design language (that is admittedly more Porsche than Mazda). The REAL Japan-sourced wood trim on the steering wheel and gear knob pushes that classic feel even further, while custom embroidery on the floor mats wraps up the package with an extra touch of flair.
Under the hood, the Toji unfortunately does not net any extra horses from the 129 already housed within the same 1.5-liter Skyactiv-G naturally aspirated four-pot. What is changed under the skin is the addition of Bilstein dampers (borrowed from the MX-5’s sportier trim lines), which should promise a more planted and poised experience without sacrificing the car’s famously communicative handling.
Just 12 units of the MX-5 Toji will ever exist, all hand-assembled for the European market, and all scheduled for delivery before the end of the year. Each of the dozen units is currently listed for €43,333 (RM 206,000), which is a whopping €11,543 (RM 52,000) premium over the standard 1.5-litre ND in Belgium… but is still annoyingly cheaper than what the officially imported 35th anniversary edition currently costs over here.
And here’s a bit of poetry to round things off: the name “Toji” — Japanese for *Winter Solstice* — might just be a subtle hint at the setting sun of the ND-generation MX-5, which has been on sale since 2015. Don’t fear, however, because the next-gen is apparently soon to be on its way. And if rumors are to be believed, it might just even be packing a 2.5-litre in what will still be the same lightweight roadster concept!
