List of Mazda MX-5 colors and special editions

This is a list of exterior colors and special editions of the Mazda MX-5. It is organized by model year.
Special editions are production models (ie cars out of the assembly plant) with non-standard features, either mechanical, body, trim, and/or colors. They are usually marketed in one country or region, for a single year.
Limited editions are special editions with a pre-defined production volume. Some limited editions are not marketed as such, only as special editions.
Some special and limited editions are individually numbered; of these, some display the number on a badge on the car.
Mazda and its local subsidiaries have often created, independently from each other, original names for these editions.
In this list:
* the first bullet within each model year indicates standard production colors as named by Mazda USA (the model's biggest market)
* bullets following the first one indicate special editions and respective exterior colors in each market's official name.
Colors in bold were introduced in that model year, in which case any alternative names used elsewhere in the world are also shown. For paint codes, see the [http://www.miata.net/gallery/#colors Miata.net Gallery].
First Generation (NA)
1990
* Classic Red, Crystal White, Mariner Blue, Silver Stone Metallic (from March 1990 in North America)
* British Racing Green (aka Neo Green, 250 in Australia)
1991
* Classic Red, Crystal White, Mariner Blue, Silver Stone Metallic
* British Racing Green (4,000 in USA as Special Edition numbered with badge; 1,051 in Canada as Limited Edition; in New Zealand as V-Spec; in UK as Special Edition)
* Brilliant Black (aka Brilliant Black Clearcoat) or Neo Green V-Special (Japan)
* 24-Hour Le Mans (24 in UK, see Color Curiosities for color scheme)
1992
* Brilliant Black, British Racing Green (Europe only), Classic Red, Crystal White, Mariner Blue, Silver Stone Metallic, Sunburst Yellow (Vivid Yellow from 2002, aka Speed Yellow)
* Sunburst Yellow (503 in Canada as Limited Edition)
* Brilliant Black (403 in Canada as Special Edition; in USA as C Package; 200 in UK as Special Edition)
* Sunburst Yellow J-Limited (800 in Japan)
* Brave Blue Mica M2-1001 (300 in Japan)
* Brilliant Black or Neo Green (British Racing Green) V-Special (Japan)
1993
* Brilliant Black, British Racing Green (Europe only), Classic Red, Crystal White, Mariner Blue
* Brilliant Black (741 in Canada as Special Edition)
* Brilliant Black (1,505 in USA as Limited Edition, numbered; 1,000 in Japan as S-Limited; 150 in UK as Special Edition; 120 in France as Cuir et Bois; 300 in Canada as Limited Edition)
* Brave Blue Mica M2-1002 (300 in Japan)
* Brilliant Black or Neo Green (British Racing Green) V-Special (Japan)
* Brilliant Black, Chaste White (White in USA), Classic Red or Laguna Blue Metallic S-Special (Japan)
1994
* Brilliant Black, British Racing Green (Canada and Europe only), Classic Red, Laguna Blue Metallic, Sunburst Yellow (Europe only), White (aka Chaste White)
* Montego Blue Mica M-Edition (3,003 in USA; 500 in Japan; in Europe)
* Sunburst Yellow J-Limited Type 2 (800 in Japan)
* Brilliant Black or Chaste White M2-1028 (300 in Japan)
* Brilliant Black, Chaste White, Classic Red or Laguna Blue Metallic S-Special (Japan)
* Brilliant Black Tokyo Limited (40 in Japan)
* Brilliant Black, British Racing Green or Chaste White V-Special Type II (Japan)
1995
* Brilliant Black, British Racing Green (Canada and Europe only), Classic Red, Laguna Blue Metallic, Montego Blue Mica (not Canada), White
* Merlot Mica (aka Vin Rouge Mica) M-Edition (3,500 in USA)
* Montego Blue Mica (500 in Japan as RS-Limited; 400 in UK as Gleaneagles)
* Satellite Blue (Starlight Mica in USA) or Chaste White R-Limited (1,000 in Japan)
* Satellite Blue G-Limited (1,500 in Japan)
* Speed Yellow (99 in Austria as Yellow, 500 in Germany and 50 in Switzerland as Sunracer, 300 in UK as California)
* Brilliant Black, Chaste White, Classic Red or Laguna Blue Metallic S-Special (Japan)
1996
* Brilliant Black, British Racing Green (Canada and Europe except UK only), Classic Red, Montego Blue Mica, Sunburst Yellow (Europe only), White
* Starlight Mica M-Edition (2,968 in USA)
* Merlot Pearl Clearcoat (Mahogany Mica in USA, aka Art Vin Red Mica) VR-Limited Combination A (700 in Japan)
* Excellent Green Mica (Excellent Pearl Green Mica in USA) VR-Limited Combination B (800 in Japan)
* Brilliant Black, Chaste White, Classic Red, Laguna Blue Metallic or Montego Blue Mica S-Special Type 2 (Japan)
* Vin Rouge Mica Merlot (600 in UK; in Europe)
* British Racing Green Monaco (450 in UK)
1997
* Brilliant Black, British Racing Green (Canada only), Classic Red, Montego Blue Mica, Sunburst Yellow (Europe only), White
* Marina Green Mica (3,000 in USA as M-Edition, 150 in Canada as Speedster Edition)
* Twilight Blue Mica (1,500 in USA as STO Limited Edition and 400 in UK as Dakar, numbered with badge; 1,000 in Japan as B2-Limited)
* Chaste White R2-Limited (500 in Japan)
* British Racing Green (800 in UK as Monza, 75 in Australia)
* Silver Stone Metallic Harvard (500 in UK)
* Brilliant Black Classic (400 in UK)
1998
* (There was no standard model for model-year 1998)
* Excellent Green Mica VR-Special Type B (Japan)
* Sparkle Green Metallic or Chaste White SR-Limited (700 in Japan)
* Sparkle Green Metallic Berkeley (400 in UK, numbered with badge)
Second Generation (NB)
1999
* Brilliant Black, Classic Red, Emerald Mica (aka Grace Green Mica), Evolution Orange Mica (aka Copper and Gold) (not in North America), Highlight Silver Metallic, Twilight Blue Mica, White
* Sapphire Blue Mica (aka Innocent Blue) Mazda MX-5 10th Anniversary Model (7,500 worldwide, of which: 500 Japan, 3,000 USA, 150 Canada, 3,700 Europe, 150 Australia)
* Classic Red Sport (300 in UK)
* Twilight Blue Mica (200 in UK as Sport; 30 in Belgium and 400 in Switzerland as GTR, with white stripes and numbered with badge)
2000
* Brilliant Black, Classic Red, Emerald Mica, Evolution Orange Mica, Highlight Silver Metallic, Twilight Blue Mica, White
* Mahogany Mica (3,000 in USA; 250 in Canada as Special Edition; 500 in Japan as NR-Limited; 750 in UK as Icon; in New Zealand as Millennium 2000 Special Edition aka Miracle Edition)
* Unique Platinum Pearl or Brilliant Black Jasper Conran Special Edition (100+400 in UK)
* Sunburst Yellow California (UK)
* Classic Red Isola Special Edition (500 in UK)
2001
* Brilliant Black, Classic Red, Crystal Blue Metallic, Emerald Mica, Midnight Blue Mica (aka Midnight Blue), Pure White, Sunlight Silver Metallic
* British Racing Green Special Edition (USA)
* Brilliant Black, Pure White or Sunlight Silver Metallic YS-Limited (700 in Japan)
* Sunburst Yellow web-tuned@Roadster (450 in Japan)
2002
* Brilliant Black, Classic Red, Crystal Blue Metallic, Emerald Mica, Laser Blue Mica (aka Starry Blue), Midnight Blue Mica, Pure White, Sunlight Silver Metallic, Vivid Yellow (formerly Sunburst Yellow)
* Blazing Yellow Mica (aka Lightning Yellow) Special Edition (1,000 in USA, 250 in Canada)
* Blazing Yellow Mica, Sunlight Silver Metallic or Classic Red Arizona (135+135+80 in UK)
* Brilliant Black or Titanium Gray Metallic (aka Titanium Gray and Titanium Grey Mica) Phoenix (1,200 in UK; 2,300 in Germany; 40 in the Netherlands; 20 in New Zealand as Evolv)
* Brilliant Black Trilogy (333 in UK, numbered with badge)
* Garnet Red Mica or British Racing Green Montana (250+250 in UK)
* Titanium Gray Metallic (1,500 in USA; 300 in Japan as MV-Limited; in Europe as Special Edition)
* Starry Blue Mazdaspeed Special Edition (200 in Japan)
2003
* Brilliant Black, Classic Red, Emerald Mica, Garnet Red Mica, Midnight Blue Mica, Pure White, Splash Green Mica (aka Tropical Green), Sunlight Silver Metallic
* Strato Blue Mica (aka Indigo Blue Mica) Special Edition (1,500 in USA)
* Titanium Gray Shinsen Version (1,500 in USA)
* Titanium Grey Mica Special Edition (175 in Canada)
* Cerion Silver Metallic (400 in Japan as SG-Limited; in Europe and Australia as Limited Edition Classic)
* Garnet Red Mica or Splash Green Mica (in Japan as VS Combination A and VS Combination B)
* Eternal Red or Sunlight Silver Metallic Angels (175+325 in UK)
* Cerion Silver or Strato Blue Mica Nevada (1350+700 in UK)
* Classic Red or Pure White Club Sport Package (50 in USA)
* Garnet Red Mica Indiana (250 in UK)
2004
* Black Cherry Mica (aka Radiant Ebony Mica) (USA only), Brilliant Black, Classic Red, Emerald Mica, Mahogany Mica, Pure White, Strato Blue Mica, Sunlight Silver Metallic
* Titanium Gray Mica or Velocity Red Mica Mazdaspeed MX-5 (in USA)
* Velocity Red Mica Mazdaspeed MX-5 (300 in Canada)
* Classic Red Limited (350 in Japan)
* Blazing Yellow Mica (not confirmed), Classic Red, Pure White or Sunlight Silver Metallic (200 as Roadster Coupe Type A and 150 as Roadster Coupe Type B in Japan)
* Grace Green Mica, Pure White, Sunlight Silver Metallic or Velocity Red Mica Turbo (350 in Japan)
* Classic Red, Pure White and Sunlight Silver Metallic Type-S Coupe (Japan)
* Lightning Yellow or Velocity Red (200 as Coupe Type-A and 150 as Coupe Type-E in Japan)
* Brilliant Black, Titanium Gray Metallic, Velocity Red or Sunlight Silver Metallic (2,000 in UK as Euphonic, 150 in Spain as Hit, 200 in France as Etna, in Germany as Unplugged, in Italy as Backstage)
2005
* Black Cherry Mica (USA only), Classic Red, Mahogany Mica, Razor Blue Metallic (aka Steel Blue Metallic), Strato Blue Mica, Sunlight Silver Metallic
* Black Mica, Lava Orange Mica (aka Chili Orange), Titanium Gray Mica or Velocity Red Mica Mazdaspeed MX-5 (in USA)
* Titanium Grey Mica Mazdaspeed MX-5 (53 of 300 planned in Canada)
* Razor Blue Metallic, Titanium Gray Metallic or Sunlight Silver Metallic Arctic (2,000 in UK)
* Black Mica, Chili Orange, Titanium Gray Metallic or Sunlight Silver Metallic Icon (UK)
Third Generation (NC)
2006
* Brilliant Black, Copper Red Mica, Galaxy Gray Mica (aka Galaxy Grey Mica), Marble White, Nordic Green Mica (not in Japan), Sunlight Silver Metallic, True Red, Winning Blue Mica
* Velocity Red Mica 3rd-Generation Limited (3,500 worldwide of which 750 in USA, 150 in Canada, 300 in UK, 500 in Japan)
* Brilliant Black or Copper Red Mica Japan Car of the Year Award Commemorative Edition (Japan)
2007
* Brilliant Black, Copper Red Mica, Galaxy Gray Mica, Highland Green Mica, Marble White (not for Power Retractable Hard-Top), Stormy Blue Mica (aka Stormy Blue Metallic), Sunlight Silver Metallic, True Red
* Radiant Ebony Mica ZSport (400 in UK)
* Radiant Ebony Mica and Highland Green Blaze (Japan)
* Roadster Mazdaspeed M'z Tune (Japan)
* Copper Red Mica, Marble White or Stormy Blue Mica Icon (UK)
2008
* Brilliant Black, Copper Red Mica, Galaxy Gray Mica, Highland Green Mica, Marble White (not for Power Retractable Hard-Top), Stormy Blue Mica, Sunlight Silver Metallic, True Red
* Icy Blue Metallic Special Edition (750 in US with soft-top; 105 in Canada with PRHT)
* Sunlight Silver or Icy Blue Metallic Niseko (800 in UK)
* Any standard color except Marble White Prestige Edition (Japan)
2009
* Aluminium Metallic (aka Liquid Silver Metallic), Brilliant Black, Competition Yellow (aka Sunflower Yellow and Sunset Yellow, not in Europe), Copper Red Mica, Marble White (not for Power Retractable Hard-Top), Metropolitan Gray Mica (not in USA), Stormy Blue Mica, True Red
* Crystal White Pearl Mica (aka Crystal White Pearl) 20th Anniversary Edition (Japan)
* True Red Auto Express Edition (1 in UK - raffle prize)
2010
* Aluminum Metallic, Brilliant Black, Competition Yellow, Copper Red Mica, Crystal White Pearl (not in USA), Metropolitan Gray Mica (Canada only), Stormy Blue Mica, True Red
2011
* Aluminum Metallic, Brilliant Black (US only), Copper Red Mica, Crystal White Pearl (not in USA), Metropolitan Gray Mica (Canada only), Sparkling Black Mica (Canada only), Stormy Blue Mica, True Red
Color Curiosities
Up until model year 2009, the MX-5 left the factory in 54 different exterior paint colors - grouped by hues: blue (15), green and grey/silver (9 each), red (8), white (5), black and yellow (3 each), and orange (2).
Of those 54 colors, 19 were used exclusively in standard models, 20 were used exclusively in special editions, and 15 were used in standard models and special editions. One of the most popular colors, black, was introduced in 1992 only. From 1993 to 1998 (six years), only two new standard colors were introduced, both in 1994.
In late 1990, six experimental colors were applied at the factory for market test purposes in the USA. They were (unofficial names): Raspberry Metallic, Electric Blue Metallic, Pale Yellow Metallic, Teal Green Metallic, Ice Green Metallic, and Orange. (These colors have not been included in the count above.) One car of each was produced, although some report two Orange. The cars were subsequently sold to insiders of Mazda North America.
In 1991, a 24-Hour Le Mans special edition was made available in the UK, with a chequered green/orange paintwork identical to the rotary engine powered Mazda 787B that had won the 24 Hour race that year, the only Japanese car to ever do so. (This color scheme has not been included in the count above, as it was not applied at the factory.) Only 24 cars were made available, making this the rarest special edition. Due to the unusual paint scheme, at least 3 cars were repainted, one even before leaving the dealer.
At one time in the mid-90's, an individual in the USA was collecting one of each color or special edition, and had already spent over 500,000 dollars in the process with 20+ cars.
 
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