Skip advert
Advertisement

Tuned Mazda MX-5s revealed

Tuning company BBR supercharges and turbocharges Mazda MX-5s, new and old

Tuning company BBR has joined forces with Cosworth Engineering for a new Mazda MX-5 upgrade. The package is designed for the third-generation car, and straps a supercharger to its 2-litre engine, taking its power output from 158bhp to 235bhp. The ‘charger is a fourth generation Eaton MP62 unit, and comes mated to a Cosworth-designed cast integral inlet manifold. There’s also a BBR ECU fitted with new mapping. Dyno results are 235bhp @ 7130rpm and 190lb ft @ 5260rpm, results which compare favourably to the standard MX-5 2.0’s 158bhp @ 7000rpm and 139lb ft @ 5000rpm. The MX-5 BBRCosworth system costs £4995 fitted, but there’ll be a DIY option if you fancy getting your hands a bit scruffy. BBR has also announced a turbocharging kit for first and second-generation Mazda MX-5s in 1.6 and 1.8-litre trim. Also costing £4995, it takes the 1.6-engined car’s outputs up to a thoroughly modern 221bhp @ 6900rpm and 175lb ft @ 5100rpm. For £7500, BBR will sell you an upgraded mk1 Mazda MX-5 with the turbo kit, uprated brakes, a limited-slip differential, bigger wheels and a longer final drive for the transmission, to allow for more relaxed cruising. It also gains full leather seats and your choice of paint finish.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Mazda MX-5 review – the last surviving affordable sports car
Mazda MX-5 front
In-depth reviews

Mazda MX-5 review – the last surviving affordable sports car

The MX-5 is the perfect antidote to big, heavy, electrified performance cars – and tweaks to the current version have made it better than ever
19 Feb 2026
Latest Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 will best the Ferrari F40 on power-to-weight
Rocketeer MX-5
News

Latest Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 will best the Ferrari F40 on power-to-weight

Rocketeer’s been stuffing V6 engines into MX-5s for a few years now. Its operation is now expanding
11 Dec 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Peugeot’s new petrol engine swaps belts for chains to improve reliability
Peugeot Turbo 100
News

Peugeot’s new petrol engine swaps belts for chains to improve reliability

New engine isn’t performance-oriented but does address some reliability issues around so-called ‘wet belts’, swapping them out altogether for chains
16 Mar 2026
Four hyper hatches for two-thirds less than the new £92k Audi RS3 Competition
Used hyper hatches
News

Four hyper hatches for two-thirds less than the new £92k Audi RS3 Competition

Whatever happened to accessible hot hatchbacks? Nevermind the £92k Audi RS3 Competition, buy these instead
19 Mar 2026
Car makers are U-turning on EVs but car buyers are going to pay the price
Plug-in hybrid Lamborghini
Opinion

Car makers are U-turning on EVs but car buyers are going to pay the price

While the combustion engines we love have a stay of execution, the future won't be all sunshine and rainbows for car enthusiasts
17 Mar 2026