Kraken MX5 Carbon Fiber Hardtop for the NA/NB Miata: Full Breakdown
What makes the Kraken hardtop different
Most aftermarket “carbon fiber” hardtops are fiberglass shells with a carbon-weave skin laminated on the outside. Looks great in photos. Structurally, still mostly fiberglass. Kraken’s hardtop skips the fiberglass entirely: six layers of carbon in a double-skin layup, bonded with aerospace structural epoxy throughout. That distinction matters more than it sounds.
The OEM Mazda steel hardtop runs 40–50 lbs depending on trim level. A fully loaded NB unit with headliner and rear defroster comes in close to 50 lbs. The Kraken top weighs around 9.5 kg (about 21 lbs), a meaningful reduction for both handling balance and the routine of seasonal storage swaps.
Fitment uses the same mounting points and seal profile as the factory hardtop. No shimming, no fabrication work. Direct drop-in.
How it fits into the NA/NB hardtop market
There are a few established players in this space. Here is where Kraken sits relative to the others:
- CarbonMiata: The most documented option. Available in four material tiers from FRP (fiberglass, about 24 lbs) up to full carbon (about 13 lbs). Japanese 3K twill carbon, vacuum-bagged. The FRP version starts around $850 USD. Plenty of owner photos and long-term feedback available online.
- DG Motorsports Racer: Track-focused, around $1,895 USD, molded polycarbonate rear window instead of glass. Light and purpose-built, but not a great fit if you want a defroster or proper daily-driver weather sealing.
- CCP Fabrication: Fiberglass only, US-made, around 14 lbs. No carbon option, but among the lightest and most affordable routes if cosmetics are secondary to weight savings.
- Kraken MX5: Starts from €2,000, structural carbon throughout. Ships from Europe. Limited market presence outside of their Facebook page.
At current exchange rates, €2,000 puts Kraken roughly in line with CarbonMiata’s full-carbon tier. The practical question is whether Kraken’s construction method and finish quality justify choosing it over a product with more owner history behind it. That answer is not yet available.
Shipping to North America
Kraken is a European manufacturer. For North American buyers, the stated arrangement is that transatlantic freight to a New York-area warehouse, plus customs and tariffs, is included in the purchase price. Onward delivery to your door is quoted separately once the unit is ready. Plan on several weeks for the full transit chain.
Worth confirming the current logistics before paying a deposit. Freight arrangements for large composite panels can change, and small shops do not always update their websites to reflect it.
The honest caveat
Kraken markets almost exclusively through a Facebook page. Not inherently a red flag. Small-batch fabricators in the Miata world often operate that way. But it does mean there are very few independent owner reports, no multi-season durability data, and no thread full of buyers comparing deliveries side by side.
Before ordering, the questions worth raising: what is the rear window specification (glass or polycarbonate?), does the UV clearcoat carry a warranty, and what is the actual lead time from order to ship. Small production runs tend to have longer queues than product pages suggest.
The product looks credible based on what Kraken has shared about the manufacturing process. It is just early. The first NA buyers who receive one will be doing the community a favor by posting a real-world report.