Mazda MX5
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The Mazda MX-5 is a lightweight two-passenger roadster
sports car A sports car is a car designed with an emphasis on dynamic performance, such as handling, acceleration, top speed, the thrill of driving and racing capability. Sports cars originated in Europe in the early 1900s and are currently produced by ...
manufactured and marketed by
Mazda , commonly referred to as simply Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Fuchū, Hiroshima, Japan. In 2015, Mazda produced 1.5 million vehicles for global sales, the majority of which (nearly one m ...
with a
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. The convertible is marketed as the or in Japan, and as the Mazda Miata () 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
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and was conceived and executed under a tightly focused design credo, , meaning "oneness of horse and rider". Widely noted for its small, light, technologically modern, dynamically balanced and minimally complex design, the MX-5 has frequently been called a spiritual successor to 1950s and '60s Italian and British roadster sports cars. The
Lotus Elan Lotus Elan is the name of two separate ranges of automobiles produced by Lotus Cars. The first series of cars was produced between 1962 and 1975 as a rear-wheel drive vehicle. The second series was produced between 1989 and 1995 as a front-wheel ...
was used as a design benchmark. Generations were internally designated with a two-letter code, beginning with the first generation, the 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. As the best-selling two-seat convertible sports car in history, the MX-5 has been marketed globally, with production exceeding one million, as of early 2016. The name derives from
Old High German Old High German (OHG; german: Althochdeutsch (Ahd.)) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally covering the period from around 750 to 1050. There is no standardised or supra-regional form of German at this period, and Old High ...
for "reward".


Generations and overview

The original MX-5 was launched at a time when small roadsters had almost disappeared from the market, with the
Alfa Romeo Spider The Alfa Romeo Spider (105/115 series) is a two-seater, front engine, rear drive roadster manufactured and marketed by Alfa Romeo from 1966 to 1994 in four distinct generations, or ''Series'', each with modifications ranging from modest to exte ...
being one of the only comparable models still in production at the time. However, even the Spider was not a direct competitor of the MX-5 due to its significantly higher price tag. That left the Mazda as the spiritual successor to a host of discontinued sports cars such as the MG B,
Triumph TR7 The Triumph TR7 is a sports car manufactured in the United Kingdom from September 1974 to October 1981 by British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC), which changed its name to British Leyland (BL) in 1975. The car was launched in the United Stat ...
,
Triumph Spitfire The Triumph Spitfire is a British sports car and manufactured over five production iterations between 1962-1980. Styled for Standard-Triumph in 1957 by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti, the Spitfire was introduced at the London Motor Show in ...
, and
Fiat Spider The Fiat 124 Sport Spider is a convertible sports car marketed by Fiat for model years 1966–1985. Designed by and manufactured at the Italian ''carrozzeria'' Pininfarina factory, the monocoque, front-engine, rear drive ''Sport Spider'' deb ...
. The MX-5 was officially introduced in February 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show, and the public immediately resonated with the new sports car. The first generation MX-5 would go on to be the most popular of the four MX-5 generations by a wide margin, with over 228,961 units sold in the United States between 1989 and 1997. The lightweight, unibody MX-5 boasts sharp, responsive handling and a curb weight of under 2,500 pounds. Notably, the MX-5 incorporates a longitudinal truss, marketed as the Powerplant Frame (PPF), that provides a rigid connection between the engine and differential to minimize flex and improve balance. Some MX-5 models feature
limited slip differential A limited-slip differential (LSD) is a type of differential that allows its two output shafts to rotate at different speeds but limits the maximum difference between the two shafts. Limited-slip differentials are often known by the generic tr ...
s, 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 Understeer and oversteer are vehicle dynamics terms used to describe the sensitivity of a vehicle to steering. Oversteer is what occurs when a car turns (steers) by more than the amount commanded by the driver. Conversely, understeer is what occ ...
is easy and very controllable, thus making the MX-5 a popular choice for amateur and stock racing, autocross, and club racing. The MX-5 has won numerous awards, including ''
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''’s
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for 1989, 2005 and 2016; ''
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''’s "best sports car of the 1990s" and "ten best sports cars of all time"; 2005–2006
Car of the Year Japan The annual Car of the Year Japan Award (日本カー・オブ・ザ・イヤー, nihon kā obu za iyā), also known as Japan Car of the Year (or JCOTY), is an annual Car of the Year award given for newly released or redesigned vehicles released in ...
; and 2005
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n Car of the Year. The MX-5 has also made ''
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'' magazine's annual 10 Best list 17 times. In their December 2009 issue, ''
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'' 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
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wrote:


Design genesis

In 1976, Bob Hall, a journalist at ''
Motor Trend ''MotorTrend'' is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year, also in 1949. Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles published ''MotorTrend'' until 1998, when it was sold to ...
'' 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:''You and Your MX5/Miata'', Liz Turner 2002, Haynes Publishing, . 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 Californian 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 In automotive design, a front-engine, front-wheel-drive (FWD) layout, or FF layout, places both the internal combustion engine and driven roadwheels at the front of the vehicle. Usage implications Historically, this designation was used reg ...
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 A hardtop is a rigid form of automobile roof, which for modern cars is typically constructed from metal. A hardtop roof can be either fixed (i.e. not removable), Convertible#Detachable hardtop, detachable for separate storing or retractable ha ...
could be used, incorporated many key stylistic cues inspired by the
Lotus Elan Lotus Elan is the name of two separate ranges of automobiles produced by Lotus Cars. The first series of cars was produced between 1962 and 1975 as a rear-wheel drive vehicle. The second series was produced between 1989 and 1995 as a front-wheel ...
, a 1960s roadster, including the door handles, tail lamps and grille opening as well as engine appearance and center console layout. It is known that Mazda design studio acquired a vintage Lotus Elan as a source of inspiration for the designers. International Automotive Design (IAD) in
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, England was commissioned to develop a running prototype, codenamed V705. It was built with a fiberglass body, a engine from a
Mazda Familia The , also marketed prominently as the Mazda 323, Mazda Protegé and Mazda Allegro, is a small family car that was manufactured by Mazda between 1963 and 2003. The Familia line was replaced by the Mazda3/Axela for 2004. It was marketed as the '' ...
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
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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
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s on the P729. While
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, Mark Jordan, Wu-huang Chin (, also on the
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team), Norman Garrett, and 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 . 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.


''Jinba ittai''

Mazda used a design credo across the four generations of the MX-5's development: the phrase , which translates into English as "rider and horse (''jinba'') as one body (''ittai'')". With the first generation of the MX-5, the phrase was developed into five specific core design requirements: * That the car be as compact and as light as possible while meeting global safety requirements; * that the cockpit comfortably accommodate two full-stature occupants with no wasted space; * that the basic layout continue with the original's front-midship rear-drive configuration with the engine positioned ahead of the driver but behind the front axle for 50:50 weight distribution; * that all four wheels be attached by wishbone or multi-link suspension systems to maximize tire performance, road grip, and dynamic stability; * and that a power-plant frame again provide a solid connection between the engine and rear-mounted differential to sharpen throttle response.


First generation (NA)

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 ''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was fou ...
''s 10Best list from 1990 to 1992. It initially featured a
inline-four engine A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft. The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...
making 116 horsepower; in late 1993, a larger 1.8-liter engine was made standard in most markets. The design of the MX-5 took inspiration from the Lotus Elan, and details such as the pop-up headlights—a feature unique to the NA—and the slim chrome door handles all recalled the famed British roadster. In an effort to keep the weight down, base model cars went without power steering and power brakes. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, though a four-speed automatic was available. The NA MX-5 is also noteworthy for its special editions, including the 1991 BRG model with its British Racing Green exterior paint and tan leather upholstery. Other special or notable models include the enthusiast-minded R Package variants, the M Edition models and the VR limited of which 700 Artvin Red Mica and 800 Excellent Green Mica were built.


Second generation (NB)

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 deletion of the
retractable headlamps Hidden headlamps, also commonly known as pop-up headlamps, pop-up headlights, flip-eye headlamps, or hideaway headlights, are a form of automotive lighting and an automotive styling feature that conceals an automobile's headlamps when they are not ...
, which were eliminated in the face of more stringent pedestrian safety tests. The NB 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 . 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 from a turbocharged version of the normal 1.8-liter engine, enabling a quarter-mile time of 15.2 seconds and a time of 6.7 seconds. Other Mazdaspeed specs include stiffer and shorter springs, Bilstein shocks, and larger 17-inch wheels.


Third generation (NC)

Taking design cues from the 2003
Mazda Ibuki The was a concept car by Mazda revealed at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show and the 2004 Chicago Auto Show. Although not its inspiration, the Ibuki previewed the third generation MX-5 ahead of its 2005 launch. The Ibuki, which is Japanese for "breathi ...
concept car, the third-generation Mazda MX-5 was introduced in 2005 and was in production until 2015. This generation introduced a Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT) variant that features a folding hard top mechanism that does not interfere with trunk space. During its release, the third generation MX-5 received several accolades such as the 2005-2006
Car of the Year Japan The annual Car of the Year Japan Award (日本カー・オブ・ザ・イヤー, nihon kā obu za iyā), also known as Japan Car of the Year (or JCOTY), is an annual Car of the Year award given for newly released or redesigned vehicles released in ...
Award and ''Car and Driver''s 10Best list from 2006 to 2013.


Fourth generation (ND)

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 and a dual-mass flywheel introduced to the powertrain in the manual transition. 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 The World Car Awards (formerly World Car of the Year, WCOTY) is a group of automobile ''Car of the Year'' awards selected by a jury of 82 international automotive journalists from 24 countries. Cars considered must be sold in at least five countr ...
Award, ''Car and Driver''s 10Best list from 2016 to 2019, and the
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Best of the Best Award in Product Design 2017. In addition, the car is the basis for the
Fiat 124 Spider The Fiat 124 Sport Spider is a convertible sports car marketed by Fiat for model years 1966–1985. Designed by and manufactured at the Italian '' carrozzeria'' Pininfarina factory, the monocoque, front-engine, rear drive ''Sport Spider'' deb ...
and
Abarth 124 Spider The Abarth 124 Spider is a performance version of the Fiat 124 Spider (2016) manufactured by Mazda for FCA under the Abarth marque. It was introduced at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, along with the racing car Abarth 124 Spider Rally. Final asse ...
.


Production numbers and details

In 2000, the ''
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'' declared the MX-5 the best-selling two-seat sports car in history, with a 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 broke its ''Guinness World Record'' by producing its one millionth MX-5. The one millionth car rolled off the production line and was shown in select cities, where the first 240 fans of the vehicle present could physically sign it before it went to the next destination.


Awards and recognition

* ''Automobile'' Magazine 1990 "Automobile of the Year" and "All-Stars" list in 2016. *''
Car and Driver ''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was fou ...
''s 10Best list from 1990-1992, 1998-1999, 2001, 2006-2013, 2016-2019. *
Car of the Year Japan The annual Car of the Year Japan Award (日本カー・オブ・ザ・イヤー, nihon kā obu za iyā), also known as Japan Car of the Year (or JCOTY), is an annual Car of the Year award given for newly released or redesigned vehicles released in ...
Award 2005-2006 and 2015-2016. *2006
World Car of the Year The World Car Awards (formerly World Car of the Year, WCOTY) is a group of automobile ''Car of the Year'' awards selected by a jury of 82 international automotive journalists from 24 countries. Cars considered must be sold in at least five countr ...
Awards: "World Car of the Year" Finalist. *2012 ''Autocar'' Indonesia Reader's Choice Award, Favorite Convertible. *''
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'' Magazine 2014 Used Car of the Year - Best Fun Car. *
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Autos 2016 Fresh Ride of the Year. * Roadshow by
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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. *''
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'' 2016 Car of the Year. *''
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'' 2017 Roadster of the Year. *
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Best of the Best Award: Product Design 2017. *''
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'' DNA Award 2018. *''What Car?'' Magazine 2018 Best Convertible Less Than £25,000. *
MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards The MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Awards are one of the many yearly ''Car of the Year'' awards. This one is given by MotorWeek, an American television automotive magazine series. Since 1983, MotorWeek has presented its Drivers’ Choice Awards which ...
Best Convertible 2018. *2018
RJC Car of the Year The Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference of Japan, also known as (RJC), is a non-profit organization established in 1990, consisting of Japan-based automotive critics and journalists. The RJC holds a yearly conference, where they be ...
Special Award: Classic Car Restoration Service. *
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2019 Editor's Choice Awards: Best Sports Car. *iSeeCars named the Mazda MX-5 Miata as the top sports car that US owners keep the longest.


See also

*
Spec Miata Spec Miata is a class of racing car used in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), National Auto Sport Association (NASA), and Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs (MCSCC) road racing events. The Spec Miata (SM) class is intended to provide th ...
, a class of racing cars in the US :*
Global MX-5 Cup The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BF Goodrich is a single-make motor racing championship sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) in the United States. Mazda MX-5 Cup is the professional Spec Miata series of Mazda Mo ...
, a Spec Miata series sanctioned by
IMSA The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) is a North American sports car racing sanctioning body based in Daytona Beach, Florida under the jurisdiction of the ACCUS arm of the FIA. It was started by John Bishop, a former executive direc ...
. * MaX5 Racing, a class of racing cars in the United Kingdom * Simpson Design, US-based custom coachbuilder producing bodies and interior for the Miata MX-5


References


Bibliography

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


External links

* (US) * (The Story of the MX-5) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mazda Mx-5 MX-5 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