There's no doubting the fact that America loves the Mazda MX-5. This small two-door sports car has been cruising the roads and hitting the tracks of the US for over three decades, and in that time has grown a massively loyal following. Mazda has recognized the Miata's success with a large number of special edition cars over the years, and the latest generation, the ND, has also been enjoying some special attention. Back in June we reported that Mazda would be releasing a 100th Anniversary Edition, but other special editions such as the Eunos Edition have also made an appearance, but are reserved for Japan only. Now the MX-5 will get yet another special edition, but this time for the Australian market only: introducing the 2021 Mazda MX-5 RS.

Luckily for Australian fans, the "RS" name is not just a marketing ploy; it actually brings with it a number of impressive upgrades that should result in a car that is even more responsive and fun to drive. The MX-5 RS gets a set of specially-tuned Bilstein dampers in the front and back, as well as a high-performance Brembo brake kit. The braking system features 280-mm front disks with red-painted four-pot calipers. This setup reduces the unsprung weight by a handy two kilograms. With all the improved gear on board, Mazda promises excellent track-day handling, and "smoothing off the sharpest road edges"

To make the RS stand out from the regular Miata, Mazda has thrown a set of 17-inch forged alloy wheels from BBS wrapped in 205/45 Bridgestone Potenza S001 tires. Other additions include a strut brace in the engine bay and black side mirrors. The RS is powered by a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and sends its power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. The RS special edition will go on sale in January at a price of $47,020 AUD ($35,197) for the Roadster, and $51,100 AUD ($38,251) for the hardtop. We wish Mazda North America would show us the same sort of love.