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Mazda MX-5
Overview
Manufacturer	Mazda
Also called	Mazda Roadster (Japan) Eunos Roadster (Japan) Mazda MX-5 Miata (North America) Mazda Miata (United States)
Production	1989–present
Assembly	Japan: Hiroshima (Hiroshima Plant)
Body and chassis
Class	Roadster, sports car (S)
Layout	Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Platform	Mazda N platform

The Mazda MX-5 is a lightweight two-person sports car manufactured and marketed by Mazda with a front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. The convertible is marketed as the Mazda Roadster (マツダ・ロードスター, Matsuda Rōdosutā) or Eunos Roadster (ユーノス・ロードスター, Yūnosu Rōdosutā) in Japan, and as the Mazda Miata (/miˈɑːtə/) in the United States, and formerly in Canada, where it is now marketed as the MX-5 but is still commonly referred to as Miata.

Manufactured at Mazda's Hiroshima plant, the MX-5 debuted in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show and was created under the design credo Jinba ittai (人馬一体), meaning "oneness of horse and rider". Noted for its small, light, balanced and minimalist design, the MX-5 has been called a successor to 1950s and '60s Italian and British roadster sports cars. The Lotus Elan was used as a design benchmark.

Each generation is designated by a two-letter code beginning with the first generation NA. The second generation (NB) launched in 1998 for MY 1999, followed by the third generation (NC) in 2005 for MY 2006, and the fourth generation (ND) in 2015 for MY 2016.

More than 1 million MX-5s have been sold, making it the best-selling two-seat convertible sports car in history. The name miata derives from Old High German for "reward".

Overview

The original MX-5 was launched at a time when small roadsters had almost disappeared from the market, with the Alfa Romeo Spider as one of the few comparable models still in production, though at a significantly higher price. That left the Mazda as the spiritual successor to the MG B, Triumph TR7, Triumph Spitfire, and Fiat Spider.

The MX-5 was introduced in February 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show. The first generation MX-5 sold 228,961 units between 1989 and 1997.

The lightweight, unibody MX-5 has responsive handling and a curb weight under 1,100 kg (2,500 lb). Its longitudinal truss, marketed as the Powerplant Frame (PPF), provides a rigid connection between the engine and differential to minimize flex and improve balance. Some MX-5 models feature a limited-slip differential, traction control, and an anti-lock braking system.

With an approximate 50:50 front/rear weight balance, the car has nearly neutral handling. Inducing oversteer is easy and controllable, making the MX-5 a popular choice for amateur and stock racing, autocross, and club racing.

Conception

In 1976, Bob Hall, a journalist at Motor Trend magazine who was an expert in Japanese cars and fluent in the language, met Kenichi Yamamoto and Gai Arai, head of Research and Development at Mazda. Yamamoto and Gai Arai asked Hall what kind of car Mazda should make in the future:

I babbled how the simple, bugs-in-the-teeth, wind-in-the-hair, classically-British sports car doesn't exist any more. I told Mr. Yamamoto that somebody should build one inexpensive roadster.

In 1981, Hall moved to a product planning position with Mazda USA and again met Yamamoto, now chairman of Mazda Motors, who remembered their conversation about a roadster and in 1982 gave Hall the go-ahead to research the idea further. At this time Hall hired designer Mark Jordan to join the newly formed Mazda design studio in Southern California. There, Hall and Jordan collaborated on the parameters of the initial image, proportion and visualization of the "light-weight sports" concept. In 1983, the idea turned concept was approved under the "Offline 55" program, an internal Mazda initiative that sought to change the way new models were developed. Thus, under head of project Masakatsu, the concept development was turned into a competition between the Mazda design teams in Tokyo and California.

The California team proposed a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, codenamed Duo 101, in line with the British roadster ancestry, but their Japanese counterparts favored the more common front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout or the rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.

The first round of judging the competing designs was held in April 1984, with designs presented on paper only. The mid-engined car appeared to offer favorable qualities, although it was known at the time that such a layout would struggle to meet the noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) requirements of the project. It was only at the second round of the competition in August 1984, when full-scale clay models were presented, that the Duo 101 won the competition and was selected as the basis for what would become the MX-5.

The Duo 101, so named as either a soft top or hardtop could be used, incorporated many key stylistic cues inspired by the Lotus Elan, a 1960s roadster, including the door handles, tail lamps and grille opening as well as engine appearance and center console layout. International Automotive Design (IAD) in Worthing, England, was commissioned to develop a running prototype, codenamed V705. It was built with a fiberglass body, a 1.4 L (85 cu in) engine from a Mazda Familia and components from a variety of early Mazda models. The V705 was completed in August 1985 and taken to the US where it rolled on the roads around Santa Barbara, California and got positive reactions.

The project received final approval on 18 January 1986. The model's codename was changed to P729 as it moved into the production phase, under head of program Toshihiko Hirai. The task of constructing five engineering mules (more developed prototypes) was again allocated to IAD, which also conducted the first front and rear crash tests on the P729. While Tom Matano, Mark Jordan, Wu-huang Chin (秦無荒, also on the RX-7 team), Norman Garrett, and Koichi Hayashi (林 浩一) worked on the final design, the project was moved to Japan for engineering and production details.

By 1989, with a definitive model name now chosen, the MX-5 was ready to be introduced to the world as a true lightweight sports car, weighing just 940 kg (2,070 lb).

Although Mazda's concept was for the MX-5 to be an inexpensive sports car, at introduction the design met strong demand, with many dealers placing customers on pre-order lists and several dealers across North America increasing the vehicle markup.

Generations

First generation – NA (1989–1997)

The first generation MX-5 was introduced in 1989 and was in production until 1997. Upon its release, the car won numerous accolades such as Automobile Magazine's 1990 Automobile of the Year and Car and Driver's 10Best list from 1990 to 1992. It initially featured a 1.6 L (98 cu in) straight-four engine making 116 horsepower; in late 1993, a larger 1.8-liter engine was made standard in most markets.

The MX-5 was designed with inspiration from the Lotus Elan, and features such as pop-up headlights, unique to the NA model, and slim chrome door handles pay homage to the famous British roadster. To keep the weight and price down, base models were not equipped with power steering, air conditioning, a sound system, and had steel wheels. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, with the option of a four-speed automatic also available.

Second generation – NB (1998–2005)

The second generation MX-5 was unveiled in 1997 and put on sale in 1998 for the 1999 model year. While it kept the same proportions of its predecessor, its most noticeable change was the removal of the retractable headlamps, which were eliminated in the face of more stringent pedestrian safety tests. The NB model of the MX-5 featured a slight increase in engine power, a refined interior design and the option of a six-speed manual transmission. In 2001, the model underwent revisions, the second generation boasted a slight increase in engine power, a more refined interior with an updated design, and a newly available six-speed manual transmission. In 2001, further revisions included slightly updated front and rear styling as well as variable-valve timing engine technology for the 1.8-liter engine, which now made 106 kW (142 hp). Updated models have since been known as NB2, while the earlier versions are referred to as NB1. While various special editions continued to be introduced throughout the entire NB production run, the Mazdaspeed MX-5 is distinctive for being the only MX-5 to be turbocharged at the factory. The Mazdaspeed variant, built for the model years 2004 and 2005, made 133 kW (178 hp) from a turbocharged version of the normal 1.8-liter engine, enabling a quarter-mile time of 15.2 seconds and a 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) time of 6.7 seconds. Other Mazdaspeed specs include stiffer and shorter springs, Bilstein shocks, and larger 17-inch wheels.

Third generation – NC (2005–2015)

Taking design cues from the 2003 Mazda Ibuki concept car, the third-generation Mazda MX-5 was introduced in 2005 and was in production until 2015. This generation introduced Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT), a variant featuring a folding hard top mechanism that does not encroach on trunk space. During its release, the third generation MX-5 received several accolades such as the 2005–2006 Car of the Year Japan Award and Car and Driver's 10Best list from 2006 to 2013.

Fourth generation – ND (2015–present)

The fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 was unveiled in 2014 and has been in production since 2015. An updated model was introduced in 2019 and is visually identical to the pre-update model; the engine was upgraded to 135 kW (181 hp) and a dual-mass flywheel introduced to the powertrain in the manual transmission. The 2024 version received some minor tweaks.

The ND generation introduced a Retractable Fastback (RF) variant that features a rigid roof and buttresses that give the silhouette a more coupé-like appearance than the soft top convertible. The fourth generation MX-5 has received several accolades such as the 2015-2016 Car of the Year Japan Award, the 2016 World Car of the Year Award, Car and Driver's 10Best list from 2016 to 2019, and the Red Dot Best of the Best Award in Product Design 2017. In addition, the car is the basis for the Fiat 124 Spider and Abarth 124 Spider.

Production numbers and details

In 2000, the Guinness Book of World Records declared the MX-5 the best-selling two-seat sports car in history, with a then total production of 531,890 units. The 250,000th MX-5 rolled out of the factory on November 9, 1992; the 500,000th, on February 8, 1999; the 750,000th, in March 2004; the 800,000th in January 2007, and the 900,000th in February 2011.

On April 22, 2016, Mazda produced its one millionth MX-5. It was displayed in several cities, where the first 240 people present could sign it before it went to the next destination.

Legacy and recognition

The MX-5 has won numerous awards, including Wheels Magazine's Car of the Year for 1989, 2005 and 2016; Sports Car International's "best sports car of the 1990s" and "ten best sports cars of all time"; 2005–2006 Car of the Year Japan; and 2005 Australian Car of the Year. The MX-5 has also made Car and Driver magazine's annual 10 Best list 17 times. In their December 2009 issue, Grassroots Motorsports magazine named the MX-5 as the most important sports car built during the previous 25 years. As production continues and generations are added, the core idea, dimensions and basic technology remain, with technological advancements added with each revised version, while adhering to the original goals that led to its creation.

In 2009, English automotive critic Jeremy Clarkson wrote:

The fact is that if you want a sports car, the MX-5 is perfect. Nothing on the road will give you better value. Nothing will give you so much fun. The only reason I'm giving it five stars is because I can't give it fourteen.

Awards

• Automobile Magazine 1990 "Automobile of the Year" and "All-Stars" list in 2016.
• Car and Driver's 10Best list from 1990-1992, 1998-1999, 2001, 2006-2013, 2016-2019.
• Car of the Year Japan Award 2005-2006 and 2015-2016.
• 2006 World Car of the Year Awards: "World Car of the Year" Finalist.
• 2012 Autocar Indonesia Reader's Choice Award, Favorite Convertible.
• What Car? Magazine 2014 Used Car of the Year - Best Fun Car.
• Yahoo! Autos 2016 Fresh Ride of the Year.
• Roadshow by CNET Editors Choice Best Convertibles 2016.
• World Car of the Year at the 2016 World Car Awards (UK).
• 2016 World Car of the Year Awards: "World Car of the Year" and "World Car Design of the Year".
• 2016 UK Car of the Year.
• The Daily Telegraph 2016 Car of the Year.
• Auto Express 2017 Roadster of the Year.
• Red Dot Best of the Best Award: Product Design 2017.
• New York Daily News DNA Award 2018.
• What Car? Magazine 2018 Best Convertible Less Than £25,000.
• MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards Best Convertible 2018.
• 2018 RJC Car of the Year Special Award: Classic Car Restoration Service.
• Edmunds.com 2019 Editor's Choice Awards: Best Sports Car.
• Car and Driver 2024 Editor's Choice: Affordable Sports Car.
• iSeeCars named the Mazda MX-5 Miata as the top sports car that US owners keep the longest.

Motorsport

Lightly modified MX-5s are a popular choice for amateur circuit racing. They are the basis of many spec racing series around the world, including:

• Spec Miata, a class of racing cars in the US
• Global MX-5 Cup, a Spec Miata series in the US sanctioned by IMSA
• MaX5 Racing Championship, a class of racing cars in the United Kingdom

See also

• Simpson Design, US-based custom coachbuilder producing bodies and interior for the Miata MX-5

References

1. The word is the etymon of the modern German Miete ("rent "). It is also a cognate of the rare English word meed ("reward, wage").

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Bibliography

• Long, B. MX-5 Miata – The full story of the world's favourite sports car, Veloce Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-903706-21-1.
• Carey, J. (March, 2005). "New Mazda MX-5". Wheels (Australia), p. 48.

External links

• Official website (US)
• Official website (The Story of the MX-5)

• Mazda MX-5
• Mazda vehicles
• Cars introduced in 1989
• 1990s cars
• 2000s cars
• 2010s cars
• 2020s cars
• Sports cars
• Roadsters
• Hardtop convertibles
• Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles
• Cars powered by longitudinal 4-cylinder engines
• Euro NCAP roadster sports cars
• Sport compact cars