210 HP Mazda MX-5 1.5 With BBR Turbo Kit Gets The Power Its Chassis Deserves

If you want a more powerful MX-5/Miata than what the factory offers, there are plenty of power kits available on the market.

That probably goes double if you happen to live in the United Kingdom, where BBR GTi offers several power upgrades for both the entry-level 1.5-liter and the range-topping 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engines.

One of their most interesting propositions is the turbo kit that pushes the rev-happy 1.5-liter SkyActiv-G to 210 hp (213 PS) and 197 lb-ft (267 Nm) of torque — 81 hp (82 PS) and 86 lb-ft (116 Nm) more than what the stock engine delivers. The twin-scroll TSX28-67R turbocharger also modifies the torque curve, allowing the engine to unleash over 150 lb-ft (203 Nm) from 3,000 rpm to just under 7,000 rpm.

Drivability and performance are said to gain a lot from the upgrade, and that’s what Autocar wanted to check by reviewing an MX-5 featuring the BBR Stage 1 turbo kit. They found out that there’s much more response at lower revs than before and a broader power delivery. Having more oomph than a standard MX-5 2.0-liter was expected – the surprise, given that it’s using forced induction, is that it’s also smoother and happier to rev.

The Stage 1 turbo kit costs a very reasonable £4,395 (about $5,650) and gives the entry level Miata the power to go with that wonderfully sorted out chassis. The car tested, on the other hand, is more expensive, as it also features uprated springs and dampers, beefier brakes and 17-inch alloys shod with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup rubber.