The last 1500 Rx7's ever built were a special run of sports versions and inherited the name "Spirit R". From the Spirit of the Japanese ZERO fighter plane. These cars received the same colour Titanium Gray Metallic skin inherited by battle planes. However other other colors such as yellow, white, blue, black and Red also have been spotted. They are among the ultimate showroom versions produced with a multitude of changes that would hardly warrant the development costs. Most of the changes are similar to the 2000 Rz which was a formidable machine indeed. Type-A versions are close to this spec, with the red Recaros returning and the yellow Bilstein shocks. Brakes are further enhanced with special calipers and this version gets drilled rotors with stainless lines as well which are hidden behind newly designed BBS 17" alloys.
The Spirit-R, unlike the Rz, gets newly re-design turbo's with faster spooing turbine wheels and a few other minor tweaks that really can't be seen, but can definately be felt. A Japanese review altered the on-paper power figure from 280ps to a staggering real-life 330ps.Interior gets white dials and grey leather accents stitched in red. A soft grey covering is placed on the plastic dash pieces for a more modern look. The performance oriented Type A is supplemented by the lesser spec Type B which has 10kg heavier, red, authentic leather bucket seats and an automatic version in the Type C.
However, we are glad they went ahead with the Spirit R, because it simply raises the Fd to become one of the ultimate road machines of all time. So the FD-3S came to an end of production in August 2002.
April 2002
Spirit R Type A GF-FD3S 1308cc 3 5MT FR 2Seat 7.2km/l 3,998,000Yen
Spirit R Type B GF-FD3S 1308cc 3 5MT FR 4Seat 7.2km/l 3,998,000Yen
Spirit R Type C GF-FD3S 1308cc 3 4AT FR 4Seat 7.7km/l 3,398,000Yen
By the way, the Bathurst R was also sold during this time, so it's not uncommon to find a 2002 model that isn't a Spirit R.
December 2001
Type R Bathurst GF-FD3S 1308cc 3 5MT FR 8.1km/l 3,398,000Yen
Mazda Press Release
Mazda Motor Corporation today announces the launch of three models in the RX-7 "Spirit R," a limited-production series of the RX-7 rotary engine sports car. As the final limited-production series of the RX-7, the Sprit R series goes on sale on April 22 at Mazda Efini and selected Mazda dealerships throughout Japan.
The third-generation RX-7, first launched in 1991, has a particularly distinctive exterior design. Its lightweight, compact and high-output rotary engine enables the driver to feel superb driving pleasure. Epitomizing Mazda's spirit of sports car, the RX-7 has won popularity among the customers since its 1978 launch. Mazda envisions the production of the current RX-7 model (FD-3S) to come to an end in August 2002.
The Spirit R series is available in three models: the Type A, a two-seater with a five-speed manual transmission; the Type-B, a four-seater with a five-speed manual transmission; and the Type-C, a four-seater with a four-speed automatic transmission. All three models are equipped with common interior and exterior features, such as BBS-manufactured 17-inch wheels, red brake calipers, and interior panels with a special soft coating, while each model shows off its own equipment to make a difference from the other.
The Type-A Spirit R is a two-seater model fitted with the Recaro-made exclusive red full bucket seats. These lightweight seats reduce the overall chassis weight of the vehicle by approximately 10 kg. Braking performance is enhanced through the use of large drilled type ventilated disk brakes for all four wheels and high rigid stainless mesh brake hoses. The Type-A Spirit R model is the ultimate RX-7, boasting the most outstanding driving performance in its history.
Applicable to any model of the Spirit R, five outer panel colors including Titanium Gray Metallic are available.
1,500 units of the RX-7 'Spirit R' series are sold only in Japan.
The RX-7 line-up is available with the Spirit R series and the special edition model "Type R Bathurst" that was launched last December.
Product Outline of Limited-Production Model 'Spirit R'
Features common to all three series models
- Interior panels with soft coating (meter panel, center panel, center console, power window switch panels)
- Steering wheel and knob with red stitching (Nardi-made leather steering wheel, leather shift knob, leather parking brake lever, and shift boot for manual transmission model)
- Red brake calipers and front strut tower bars
- 17-inch aluminum wheels manufactured by BBS
(gun metallic color for Type-A, and silver for Type-B and Type-C)
- Spirit R exclusive ornament
- Spirit R exclusive meters
Exclusive features
- Large drilled type bench rated disk brakes for all four wheels (Type-A and Type-B)
- High rigid stainless mesh brake hoses (Type-A and Type-B)
- Exclusive dampers manufactured by Bilstein (Type-A and Type-B)
- Recaro lightweight full bucket seats (Type-A)
- Authentic leather red bucket seats (Type-B and Type-C)
Body Colors
Titanium Gray Metallic (exclusive color for Spirit R series), Innocent Blue Mica, Pure White, Brilliant Black, and Vintage Red
Engine Model/Seat/Transmission/Maximum Output/
13B - REW Spirit R Type-A / 2 / 5MT/206kW (280PS) /
Type-B / 4 / 5MT 206kW (280PS) /
Type-C / 4 / 4AT 188kW (255PS) /