MX-5 Magazine 2015 English

4 GE NE RATIONS
MAGAZI N E
PRESS KIT
INCLUDED
ROAD TRIP
THE ALL-NEW MX-5 ACROSS EUROPE
HISTORY
THE WORLDS BEST-SELLING ROADSTER
GOODWOOD
MAZDA SPECIAL GUEST AT THE
FESTIVAL OF SPEED
1 STORY |4 GENERATIONS
EDITORIAL
71%
Proportion of body-in-white
by weight made from lightweight high-tensile steels
and aluminium.
The ND vs. NC reduction in (a)

low-frequency road noise and
(b) the weight of the engines
intake system.
975kg
The weight of the ND MX-5
base model, around 100kg
lighter than its predecessor
and the lightest MX-5 since
the original NA.
more than
10,000
MX-5 owners club members

across Europe.
SECONDS
12
When introduced in 2006,

the NCs retractable hardtop
was the worlds fastest.
MAZDA MX-5 | 4 GENERATIONS MAGAZINE
100km
hat makes a classic? In literature or film, a classic is a work that

reflects the human condition in a way that continues to resonate
over the years. A classic expresses artistic and technical quality,
enriching the mind. It conveys life, truth and beauty. It influences
and is influenced by other great works. It ages well, and it has an appeal that is
widespread, making connections that people appreciate.
Combined cycle petrol consumption for the ND equipped with the SKYACTIV-G
1.5, the most fuel-efficient
MX-5 to date.
30%
6.0l/
This is an important point. As one commentator said: Classics are classics

because they are foolproof.* It is perhaps the strongest reason why the Mazda
MX-5 is a classic. I remember the first time I saw one. It was 1990 when I was a
graduate student at the University of Michigan. The top was down as the Mariner
Blue Miata rounded a corner by the State Theatre in Ann Arbor. It was snowing.
I got it immediately, as countless others have over the past 25-plus years.
3,915
mm
MX-5 IN FIGURES
MAGA Z I N E
THE MX-5 IS
DEFINED BY
MANY NUMBERS.
TOGETHER, THEY
MAKE UP THE
FORMULA FOR
THE WORLDS
MOST POPULAR
SPORTS CAR.
The fourth-generation
MX-5 is the shortest ever,
as Mazda cut 105mm relative to its immediate predecessor. The seating position
is also 20mm lower.
When I lived in Hiroshima a decade later, driving a British Racing Green MX-5 on
a daily basis with tan leather and a wooden steering wheel and shift knob, I fell in
love with it again like most others who have ever driven one.
To this day, the MX-5s purpose remains clear in an instant. The new-generation
ND MX-5 ticks all the boxes on the classic checklist. Its no big surprise we didnt
change the recipe. In fact, weve gone further than ever back to MX-5s roots,
cutting around 100kg and 80mm from the outgoing model. That makes the ND the
shortest MX-5 ever and almost as light as the original despite the new models
cutting-edge safety and infotainment technology.
900,000
Maintaining the traits of a classic in a new car is no simple task; technology advances quickly and with it peoples expectations. The new MX-5 was a balancing
act between modernity and tradition. We knew we had to preserve its trademark
addictive yet affordable driving fun and exceptional reliability while making it even
more attractive.
The 900,000th MX-5 was

produced in February 2011,
breaking its own Guinness
World Record. The figure,
which surpassed 953,000
units in March 2015, is expected to reach 1 million in 2016.
SKYACTIV Technology, which is the basis for all new-generation Mazdas, was
the ideal solution since much of it was inspired by the MX-5 in the first place. For
example, the short, crisp 40mm shift stroke, lightweight construction and Jinba
Ittai rider-and-horse-as-one responsiveness. The design, too, was aiming for an
emotional and passionate response, as its predecessors have done for a quarter
century, making the MX-5 the most popular roadster in history.
50:50
These are the traits that instil such loyalty in MX-5 fans. They also make it synonymous with what the Mazda brand stands for: the unfiltered connection between
car and driver experienced on a road less travelled. The MX-5 is at the core of
Mazdas soul and a shining symbol of the companys challenger spirit. It was the
first sports car for so many, and I personally believe it will endure.
The perfect weight distribution between the front and

rear axles carried on in the
ND MX-5, now also with the
lowest centre of gravity ever.
3,000
more than
4 G E NERATIONS
The number of MX-5s being

raced around the world,
making it the single mostraced model on the planet.
225
Jeffrey H. Guyton
President & CEO
Managing Executive Officer
Mazda Motor Europe
Awards to date worldwide.

* Jonathan Jones in The Guardian, 3 Sept. 2009
GENERATION FOUR
Road trip in Europe
INTERVIEWS
N. Yamamoto &
M. Nakayama
| 16
INTRODUCTION
Four generations
of roadster
GENERATION FOUR
A classic is reborn
GENERATION TWO
A class by itself
GENERATION ONE
The original MX-5
FA
CT
S
X5
TH
E
VI
EW
FR
OM
07
X5
M
TH
E
06
LI
VI
NG
OU
T
05
TH
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IC
ON
DE
SI
GN
IN
G
TH
TH E R
E EB
RO IR
A D TH
ST OF
ER
ON
E
| 6
GENERATION THREE
Bigger, wider, faster
PRESS KIT
INCLUDED
04
03
AN
02
IL FO
LU UR
ST G
RI EN
OU E
S RAT
HI IO
ST N
OR S,
Y
X5
M
AZ
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M
TH
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AL
L-N
EW
01
| 20
A STAR IS BORN
Getting the first generation
MX-5 to market
| 62
| 22
INTERVIEW
Takao Kijima
| 32
| 70
INTERVIEW
Ikuo Maeda
| 72
INTERVIEW
Shunji Tanaka
| 73
| 65
REINVENTING
THE ROADSTER
with the British
originals
| 66
THE GENESIS
The architect &
the visionary
| 69
| 42
| 52
DESIGN HISTORY
Got the look
CONCEPT CAR
HISTORY
Exploring the potential | 74
LIMITED EDITIONS
The best of
ROAD TRIP
Back to roadster
country
MEDIA QUOTES
An encouraging
perspective
GOODWOOD 2015
The perfect setting | 90
RELIABILITY
It just keeps going
| 98
COUNTRY STORIES
Getting with the scene | 94
AWARDS
And the winner is...
| 100
MOTOR SPORTS
Sports car through
& through
| 96
MX-5 ON THE SCREEN

Films & video games | 106
| 82
| 88
MX-5 FILES
Evolution of a legend
| 107
| 78
IMPRINT
Publisher:
Mazda Motor Europe GmbH - Public Relations, Hitdorferstr. 73, D-51371 Leverkusen, Germany,
www.mazda-press.com
Chief editor: Nicolas Valeano, Copy editor: Brett Reinhart,
Photographer (4 generations and road trips): Denis Meunier
Special thanks to:
Masashi Nakayama, Nobuhiro Yamamoto, Ikuo Maeda, Takao Kijima, Shunji Tanaka,
Hideki Imai, Masato Miura (MZ Racing), Miho Minato and the Mazda PR community in Japan,
the USA and Europe, the city of Nice, Alain Petit (Club MX5France) and Mazda Automobiles
France (3 generations), Autolink and Mazda Motors UK (road trip), Nrburgring.
01 THE ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5
ROAD TRIP
5 DAYS
FROM CTE DAZUR

TO GOODWOOD
SINCE DAY ONE, THE MX-5 HAS BEEN ABOUT DRIVING AND
ENJOYING AD INFINITUM. THE PERFECT CHANCE TO PROVE
THE FOURTH-GENERATION ND MX-5 IS NO EXCEPTION
PRESENTED ITSELF IN JUNE: A FIVE-DAY, 2,000KM WINDOW
OF OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN THE NEW MODELS EUROPEAN
PRESS LAUNCH ON THE CTE DAZUR AND THE 2015
GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND.
6

DAY 1
MILANO
LIGURIAN
COAST
NICE
ay one begins in Nice, with the top down taking

in the sun, sites and scents of the Mediterranean
seaside. Heading east past Monaco, we meet fellow
convertible drivers in classic Mercedes-Benz SLs,
MGBs and NA MX-5s. Then onto Italy where we call it a day
in Milan, the gateway to the Alps.
After a Sunday morning visit to the Milan Cathedral, Italys
largest, its back on the road past Monza and onwards to
Lake Como, where the highways curve between the water
below and peaks above. Across the border into Switzerland,
the fun ratchets up another notch in the valley of Bregaglia,
with its immaculate roads, track-like curves and breathtaking landscape.
DRIVING SOME OF EUROPES

BEST ROADS DURING THE
LONGEST DAYS OF THE YEAR?
THERE ARE CERTAINLY WORSE
WAYS TO KILL TIME. PARTICULARLY
IN AN MX-5, A CAR IN WHICH THE
JOURNEY IS THE REWARD. AND
THE MORE CURVES, THE BETTER.
9

BLACK FOREST
The MX-5s soft top goes up under the
overcast skies at St. Moritz, but within
an hour its back down as we breathe
in the 4C air at more than 2,750m
above sea level at the Stelvio Pass.
Originally built in the 1820s, it is part
of the route Top Gear chose in a 2007
episode as the worlds best driving
road. With its 75 hairpin turns, the
Stelvio Pass is a magnet for motoring
fans. It was a pure delight in the ND.
LAKE CONSTANCE
AUSTRIAN ALPS
SWISS PASSES
DAY 2
Among the many MX-5s seen on the journey
was a third generation model belonging to a
member of Club MX5France. We met Michel in
his blue NC early one frosty morning, and all-new
ND immediately gained yet another admirer.
10
11
The following day begins cold, but as we head downhill temperatures climb and the grasses on the steeply
banked pastures get greener. Three words best describe
this stretch of our journey north to Austria: curves,
curves and curves. The views too are stunning as we
approach Lake Constance. Having left the Alps, we
fortunately do not have to drive far to find a new setting
suited to the NDs cornering prowess: the Black Forest.
DAY 3
MOSEL VALLEY
Across the Alps: No other

part of our journey was as
exhilarating as our jaunt
through spectacular vistas
along winding roads. We never
wanted it to end, savouring
every twist in the road and
snow-capped peak.
CURVES AND MORE

CURVES: THE MX-5 IS
MADE FOR THEM, AND
THE ALPS SEEM TO BE
MADE FOR THE MX-5.
BLACK FOREST
LAKE CONSTANCE
AUSTRIAN ALPS
12
13
The rain is our steady companion on the fourth leg of the odyssey, modifying
scenery, road conditions and average speeds. It was a demanding 500km day via
Frances Vosges Mountains and back into Germany through the Moselle valley.
It ends, however, at one of the trips highlights: a few laps on the Nrburgrings
Nordschleife (North Loop), the cult track and former Grand Prix circuit also
known as the Green Hell.
VIDEO
The final day is an uneventful open-top jaunt through sunny Belgium then down
to the North Sea coast and into the Channel tunnel. On the other side of the
Channel and the road were back in the cradle of the roadster, driving into the
sun as it makes its slow descent over Englands charming south coast.
Within the last few miles before Goodwood, the West Sussex traffic thickens:
sports cars, classic automobiles and many, many MX-5s. All are drawn to the
Festival of Speed, where Mazda is the subject of the events central feature a
spectacular 40m tall sculpture in front of Goodwood House and a monument to
the companys racing heritage (see page 90). The fourth-generation MX-5, too, is a
festival magnet. Its a destination definitely worth and worthy of the trip.
DAY 5
GOODWOOD
On the bucket list of any
true sports car fan, the
Nurburgrings Nordschleife puts the worlds
best high performance
cars to the test. And the
MX-5 passed with flying
colours, happily hugging
each tight curve while
roaring down straighta
ways on a rainy day with
the course virtually to
itself.
SUSSEX
DAY 4
FLANDERS
NRBURGRING
MOSEL VALLEY
14
15
INTERVIEW
Nobuhiro Yamamoto
programme manager
4th generation MX-5
What kind of balance were you aiming

to achieve on the ND MX-5?
We had to increase tangible values on the MX-5
like cornering performance while also having
outstanding straight-ahead stability. But I think
what we focused on above all was Jinba Ittai: To
make the car act as an extension of the body,
doing exactly what the driver wants it to when
moving the steering wheel. We tuned it as such
and we hope we have been able to advance the
performance and handling accordingly.
What were you aiming for during
this phase?
What was important for us was the feeling of
fun. And how do we get that feeling? By creating
a sensation we call Kan in Japanese. And in
order to make this Kan sensation more tangible
and understandable, we got the engineers to
drive many different cars at a test event. The
objective was to learn what each driver felt
about the cars. Things like when the handling
and steering were good, and under what road
conditions. We then evaluated their experiences,
wrote them all down and shared them with
the other engineers. That allowed our team to
establish what defines good Kan.
Why did you change from a hydraulic to an
electric power assisted steering (EPAS)
system on the ND?
It is a company policy that we must adopt an
EPAS system in combination with the SKYACTIV-G
engine. The holistic approach uses all SKYACTIV
Technology together to gain benefits in fuel
economy and environmental compatibility,
so we simply couldnt use a hydraulic system.
Knowing this, we spent a rather long time trying
16
to select which EPAS system to use. The easy

choice would have been the column-type EPAS
already available to us. But we didnt want to
use it, since it doesnt give the driver very good
feedback. A rack and pinion system was an
alternative, and with this in mind we identified
three viable options. The first was the RX-8
system, where you have the power assist motor
on the rack. The second was a single pinion
assist motor, and the third type was a dual
pinion system with one pinon on the rack and
one on the steering side. In terms of packaging
and performance, we knew the latter was the
most appropriate for the MX-5. But it was also
the priciest option. Of course, the finance guys
said no, its too expensive, but we didnt back
down there. After stating our case to senior
management, we agreed to provide two options
the dual pinion and an alternative and we got
them to drive each one. It was as our engineers
expected: The dual pinion system was better and
ended up getting approved.
Is this your favourite MX-5?
Yes, absolutely [laughing]. After 25 years, its
one of those captivating moments when youve
really grown into the car. We want our customers to feel that this MX-5 is a partner for their
lifestyles and something theyre going to like for
a long, long time to come.
Why would you say this is the best MX-5 yet?
What we tried to do with the new model is to
understand the true essence of the MX-5. What
do people really like about this car? We dug
deep, and then we used our new technology
to realise the values we were aiming for. In
doing so, we stuck to our innovate in order to
preserve concept. Its a very simple back-tobasics principle. The car calls out to drivers
about beauty and about fun, things that you
dont need to be taught. You just feel them. This
hasnt changed in more than 25 years; its why
people continue to love this car. And I very feel
grateful for the adoration our fans have shown
for all those years.
Masashi Nakayama
chief designer
4th generation MX-5
What do the NA and ND have in

common?
Both were developed by looking at their early
predecessors, like the Lotus Elan and MGB.
For the ND, like the NA, we didnt look at its
competitors.
The NA looks retro to many people
and the ND is very modern.
The NA is not as retro as you think. It actually
had a very modern design at the time. Its only
after enough time has passed that you think
of a design as retro. So while the ND has a very
modern design, it was much the same with the
NA in its day. I think you could call it a timeless
design, but not necessarily retro. From a design
perspective, there are a lot of very modern
treatments. I would even venture to say more
modern than either the NB or NC.
Looking ahead 10 or 20 years,
will this design still be modern?
Its not about something you see from the
outside. I made sure to create something that
has substance inside and brings out emotions.
If you create something that truly touches
peoples hearts, they will respond. If people
instinctively know that something is beautiful,
then it becomes timeless.
Sometimes you see something like fashion,
for example, and you like it immediately,
but it doesnt last. Other times you always
love it the same as the first day. What makes
the difference?
Fashion is a good example. When you purchase
clothes, you go to the store and the salesperson
says that an article looks good. Thats how you
choose your clothes. Your decision is based on
other peoples opinions. Designers get together
and decide what the trendy colours are for
this year, and next year it gets old. But imagine
something that is very beautiful for you personally. It wont get old, because your choice is not
influenced by other peoples opinions.
What was perhaps your single most

important development goal for the ND?
One issue that was very important to me
was the cars proportions. I explained to the
engineers that I wanted proportions you fall in
love with regardless of the environment. They
instantly understood what I wanted and supported me, because people will automatically start
comparing a given model to others. If youre
looking for a big vehicle, then youre satisfied as
long as its bigger than competing models. But if
theres nothing else around to compare the new
MX-5 to, you still have its proportions.
Do you think the MX-5 has become more
masculine in the fourth generation?
Maybe its both masculine and feminine at the
same time. I would say the model is growing
up. In Japanese, I always tell my team members
that this child has entered a new phase. You
start to see a gender difference: Sometimes
it looks like a boy and sometimes like a girl. It
depends. Whats more important for the MX-5 is
to preserve that age and feeling when you find
your first love.
Whats behind the fusion of the exterior
and interior?
I have wished to do this for a long time. The
practice of having different designers for the
interior and exterior has been common for
decades so long that its become the standard.
Nobody finds this strange anymore. But when
you start designing a car, there is no distinction
between the interior and exterior. Look at a
Caterham Super 7, for example. The windshield
doesnt divide the interior and exterior. With a
car like that, you have to make sure the interior
and exterior design are unified. What such
harmonious interplay does is to help express the
tautness of a sports car.
What makes the new MX-5 a classic?
The charm of this car is its beauty. Its not
difficult to understand this vehicle. There is no
stress involved. Its like delicious food. You dont
have to learn why its delicious, you just know
it. Thats what makes it timeless, and why it
will always resonate with people. To gaze upon
something beautiful like the MX-5 creates an
attachment in your heart. Although its a brandnew model, you still feel like youve known it for
a long time. Thats the beauty of this car.
17
ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5
PRESS KIT
Available on 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels4:

f eaturing a sporty eight-spoke design with
a four-nut centre hub
m
ade from durable lightweight cold-cast
aluminium
1. AT A GLANCE
THE ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5 TAKES UP THE
TORCH FOR THE BEST-SELLING ROADSTER
IN HISTORY. MAZDA GAVE THE FOURTH
GENERATION OF ITS BRAND ICON A MORE
AGGRESSIVE LOOK AND THE TECHNOLOGY
PEOPLE TODAY EXPECT, BUT STAYED TRUE
TO ITS PROVEN FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE
LIGHTWEIGHT SPORTS CAR SIMPLICITY.
AND PURE DRIVING FUN.
A special KODO design with a deeper expression of motion and agility whose perfect
proportions look fantastic, top up or down
Lightest MX-5 since the first generation,
cutting 100kg1 relative to the outgoing
model despite cutting-edge safety and
infotainment systems
SKYACTIV Technology for the first time in an

MX-5, the most fuel-efficient to date, underpinning Mazdas fundamental lightweight
sports car principles:
s pecially tuned engines and transmission adapted for the front-mid engine,
rear-wheel drive layout
ideal 50:50 front-rear weight distribution
with shorter overhangs
a low yaw inertia moment and the
lowest centre of gravity yet
r edesigned chassis improves the
MX-5s already legendary agility
Human-oriented interior puts the driver
in perfect symmetry with the pedals,
steering wheel, gearshift, rotary commander and other important controls
Special wind and noise control, new
headrest speakers and a remarkably
easy to operate soft top amplify the joy
of top-down driving
Reduces accident potential thanks to
the latest i-ACTIVSENSE active safety
technology, also offering outstanding
passive protection for passengers as
well as pedestrians
Scheduled to go on sale in Europe in
August2
1) Depending on market and vehicle specification

2) Depending on market
Offered in seven body colours: Soul Red Metallic, Ceramic Metallic, Arctic White, Crystal
White Pearl Mica, Blue Reflex Mica, Meteor
Grey Mica and Jet Black Mica
Classic compact three-spoke steering wheel

harkens back to the MX-5s roadster heritage
while facilitating nimble operation
Rotary commander5 on centre console enables blind operation of functions viewed

via the 7-inch display
Sport seats designed for enhanced comfort

along with performance-oriented hold
Key controls like the pedals, steering wheel,

gearshift and rotary commander are ideally
positioned, enhancing the feeling that the
all-new MX-5 is an extension of the driver
Three interior packages available5:

s porty black leather with red stitching
b lack fabric with red or black stitching
t an leather with beige stitching in classic
British roadster style (UK only)
or black Recaro seats featuring a combination of Alcantara and nappa leather with
red piping (LHD markets)
EXTERIOR
Boot shape optimised to accommodate two
standard carry-on bags
THE ALL-NEW MX-5S EXTERIOR FULLY EMBODIES WHAT A ROADSTER SHOULD BE:
LIGHT, AGILE AND GORGEOUS. IN KEEPING
WITH THE KODO DESIGN THEME, THE CAR
BEAUTIFULLY CONVEYS MOTION EVEN AT
A STANDSTILL. BUT IT STILL LOOKS BEST
WHEN IN MOTION.
An inspired KODO design strikes the perfect
balance between tradition and progress, with
its sweeping, powerful lines, short overhangs
and wider stance
Sleek, powerful and more aggressive nose
features:
u ltra-compact four lamp LED headlamp units
L ED daytime running lamps3 highlighting the
MX-5s broad stance
s harp strength-invoking character lines
stretching from the top of the grille
towards the headlamps
Low, wide trapezoidal outline when viewed
from the front and back highlights the taut
musculature
Rear combination lamps reminiscent of previous generations, but with a new-generation
signature
Cabin moved rearward for stunningly balanced proportions with the top down or up
Soft top stows neatly into a compact space
for a streamlined silhouette
A-pillars, windscreen header, door mirror trim
and seatback bars match the soft top, emphasising the cockpit-style cabin
3) Availability depends on trim level and market

INTERIOR
Brings safe on-the-road internet access into

the roadster with the MZD Connect5 smartphone connectivity system:
o perated using the rotary commander or
voice command
c onnect via Bluetooth for hands-free phone
operation, text message send/receive and
email readout & reply
c omes with applications like AhaTM and
StitcherTM for internet radio, social
networking services and other content
tailored for in-vehicle consumption
includes on-board navigation system5
enabling web searches; NAVTEQ map data
includes three years of updates
and support for 19 audio and 26 text
languages
a lso includes Mazda apps like Eco-display,
which tracks fuel consumption
SKYACTIV-G direct-injection petrol engines

Naturally aspirated lightweight powerplants
delivering linear pull from a standstill to redline along with outstanding real-world fuel
economy
Feature high 13.0:1 compression, countering the
drawbacks with a range of innovations such as
dual sequential valve timing, multi-hole inject
ors and special piston cavities
Lighter and more compact intake and exhaust
systems adapted to heighten MX-5 fun by
squeezing the most from these engines
intake system improves efficiency and weighs
30% less than the outgoing models
e xtra compact 4-2-1 exhaust optimised for the
MX-5s layout as well as to enhance torque
and the engine sound
Two engines available in Europe: the
SKYACTIV-G 1.5 and SKYACTIV-G 2.0
Nine-speaker BOSE premium sound system5

specially designed for an open-top roadster,
featuring e.g. UltraNearfield speakers in the
driver and passenger headrests
THE MX-5S COCKPIT-LIKE INTERIOR BRINGS

THE DRIVER CLOSER TO THE CAR FOR
THAT UNMISTAKEABLE JINBA ITTAI FEEL.
DESIGNERS OF THE DRIVER-ORIENTED
CABIN ALSO MADE GREAT STRIDES
ENHANCING COMFORT AND ERGONOMICS.
Rear parking sensor6

CONNECTIVITY, FUNCTIONALITY & EQUIPMENT
Exterior ridgeline extending from the front

fender into upper door trim (which is the
same colour4 as the body) unites the
inside and outside of the all-new MX-5
Cosy cabin like previous generations, only
more ergonomic and comfortable, preventing fatigue and reducing distraction
Single axis centred on driver with:
t he steering wheel, instrument cluster and
pedals in perfect symmetry
a ll major controls ideally balanced and
space used as efficiently as possible
lower seating position with added knee
room and head clearance
Improved soft top features an assist spring,
making it even easier to operate while remaining seated
4) Depending on trim level and market
MAZDAS NEW-GENERATION HUMAN-MACHINE

INTERFACE GIVES DRIVERS SAFE AND EASY
ACCESS TO THE ALL-NEW MX-5S ADVANCED
LINE-UP OF INFOTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY,
INCLUDING MZD CONNECT SMARTPHONE
CONNECTIVITY.
SKYACTIV-G 1.5
Redline raised to 7,500rpm by changing cam
timing and rotating parts (e.g. adding a custom
steel crankshaft)
Maximum power also hiked relative to existing
versions available with the Mazda2 and Mazda3
Applies the heads-up cockpit concept used in

other Mazdas to help the driver get the most
from the vehicles technology yet still concentrate on the road
Offers higher output than the outgoing MX-5s

MZR 1.8 together with far better mileage
POWERTRAINS
Stylish analogue gauges with a tachometer

in the middle, speedometer to the right and
other indicators on the left
Independent 7-inch display5 located on the
dash for easy viewing of infotainment and
communication-related information
A COMBINATION MADE IN HEAVEN: THE MX-5

MEETS SKYACTIV IN ITS FIRST APPEARANCE
IN A FRONT ENGINE, REAR DRIVE LAYOUT. THE
HIGHLY EFFICIENT SKYACTIV PETROL ENGINES
AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION ARE A PERFECT
MATCH FOR THE ICONIC ROADSTER.
6) Availability depends on trim level and market
Output:
96kW/131PS @ 7,000rpm
150Nm @ 4,800rpm
Fuel consumption & CO2 emissions7:
6.0l/100km & 139g/km
Emissions class: Euro 6
7) Combined cycle; for more detailed fuel consumption
and CO2 emissions data, please see the Technical Specifications section at the end of this press kit.
Passive safety a truly modern roadster
Enhanced the boosters to deliver better and

more refined braking
The SKYACTIV-Body structure, modified for

the MX-5s open-top architecture, uses a
continuous framework and straight beams
wherever possible to disperse impact forces
through a multi-load path structure
Improved control over load shifts smoothens

the transition when braking and releasing the
pedal for more comfort as well as a better
cornering experience
Increased stiffness with strong yet lightweight materials such as:

1 ,500MPa hot-stamped and 1,180MPa
high-tensile steels around the cabin
h igh-strength 7000 series aluminium for
the front and rear bumper beams
Suspension system weighs 12kg less than the

outgoing models yet is stiffer thanks among
other things to enhanced structures and the
use of lighter materials
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
Specially tuned for wider low- and mid-range
torque output
8kg lighter than the outgoing MX-5s MZR 2.0,
delivering more torque, quicker acceleration
and superior fuel economy
Available with Mazdas i-stop idle-stop
system (for engine restarts in only 0.5
seconds) and a lightweight version of
Mazdas i-ELOOP brake energy regeneration
system1
Output:
118kW/160PS @ 6,000rpm
200Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel consumption & CO2 emissions2:
6.9l/100km & 161g/km
6.6l/100km & 154g/km
(with i-stop & i-ELOOP1)
Emissions class: Euro 6
CHASSIS & BODY

MAZDA HAS MANAGED TO IMPROVE UPON THE
MX-5S JINBA ITTAI HANDLING AND AGILITY,
UNPARALLELED FOR AN AFFORDABLE LIGHTWEIGHT SPORTS CAR. THE ALL-NEW GENERATION IS NOT ONLY LIGHTER AND SHORTER
WITH A LOWER CENTRE OF GRAVITY, ITS ALSO
STIFFER AND SAFER.
SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission

Direct-drive sixth gear, lower final ratio and

simplified shift link structure reduce resistance, improving real-word mileage while
smoothening shifting
Around 7% lighter than the outgoing sixspeed manual thanks to e.g. die-cast alumin
ium housing and better oil flow control
Uses a straight, continuous framework

wherever possible, e.g. a straighter
high-mount backbone frame with a larger
cross-section, while also bolstering
connections between frame sections
SKYACTIV-Chassis
Built to feel even more like an extension
of the driver than any MX-5 yet
Delivers the MX-5s legendary crisp shifting

and short throws
SKYACTIV-Body
Stronger yet lighter with a considerably
higher ratio of high-tensile steels and
aluminium, which now make up 71% of
the body-in-white, up from 58%
a luminium used for numerous components,
including the front fenders, bumper reinforcements, bulkhead and soft-top header
panels, and seatback bars, raising the total
proportion from 0.1% to 9%
Adapted various components of the front

double wishbone and rear multi-link
suspension to cut weight while heightening
cornering stability, for example:
r aising the front caster angle to improve
traction and reduce understeer
a dding a rear cross-member truss
structure to stiffen the suspension
r epositioning the rear links for more
control in corners
B ilstein sports suspension for top-of-theline model with SKYACTIV-G 2.0
Adopted a space-saving dual pinion electric

power assist steering while also:
p ositioning the system closer to front
wheels for more direct feedback
c hanging the steering gear ratio to make
the car respond more faithfully and enhance
driving enjoyment
New ring structure improves the rigidity

of the bodys suspension supports
Reinforced rear suspension towers stifle
body deformation from road input
Local stiffness enhanced by mounting
the seats directly to the B-frame
Smaller, lighter differential unit cuts another

7-10kg (depending on the engine) relative to
the outgoing MX-5s, also lowering the energy
transfer loss by one-quarter
1) LHD markets only
2) C
ombined cycle; for more detailed fuel consumption and CO2 emissions data,
please see the Technical Specifications section at the end of this press kit.
A range of measures to improve NVH makes

the all-new MX-5 smoother and quieter
despite being so light, such as:
r edesigning the A-pillars, windscreen header
and back hood edge to optimise air flow and
cut unpleasant wind noise, especially with
the top down
a utomatically raising the side windows
to improve the seal with the soft top
when up
r eworking the soft top to absorb more
noise and inhibit fluttering
h igh-frequency cabin wind noise cut
by around 40%3
SAFETY
MAZDA PROACTIVE SAFETY, NOW FOR THE ALLNEW MX-5: MAZDAS i-ACTIVSENSE LINE-UP OF
ACTIVE SAFETY TECHNOLOGY HELPS DRIVERS
AVOID ACCIDENTS IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND
BECAUSE THEY STILL MAY HAPPEN, THE ROADSTERS INNOVATIVE NEW SKYACTIV-BODY IS
DESIGNED TO LIMIT THE HARM TO OCCUPANTS
AS WELL AS PEDESTRIANS.
i-ACTIVSENSE cutting-edge active safety4
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) uses 24GHz
radar to keep an eye on the road to the sides
and rear of the MX-5, warning of vehicles
approaching in adjacent lanes with a flashing indicator in the side mirror and a buzzer
sound should the driver signal a lane change
Enhanced framework improves side impact

protection with e.g. an additional seatback
cross-member as well as reinforced A-pillars
and side sills
New double-hat cross-section structure with
high-tensile steel improves rear impact resistance, while deformation control beads,
the rear suspension and large section kick-up
structure form a multi-load path protecting
the cabin and fuel tank
Seats and door trim designed to provide
more support and to prevent injury
Standard front and side airbags provide additional protection, even with the top down
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system

extends BSM functionality, using its sensors
and signals to alert the driver of other
vehicles when reversing
Seatbelts equipped with pretensioners and

load limiters
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)

examines the lane markings and warns
the driver of unintentional lane changes
Evolved active bonnet uses sensor technol

ogy to limit pedestrian head injury, while the
front bumper beams energy-absorbing foam
and lower bumper stiffener help protect the
legs
High Beam Control (HBC) uses a camera to

monitor oncoming headlights and the taillights of preceding vehicles, switching automatically between high and low beams to
avoid impairing the vision of other motorists
Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS)
predicts bends in the road ahead and points
the low beams in the intended direction of
the vehicle.
Hill Launch Assist (HLA) controls brake
pressure to prevent vehicle from rolling
during hill starts
3) According to in-house measurements
Easily replaceable bolt-on parts absorb en

ergy while limiting engine damage and repair
costs following a minor frontal impact
4) System availability depends on trim level and market
Passenger seat accommodates ISOFIX child

seats
2. INTRODUCTION
MAKING MORE FUN A REALITY
MAZDA HAS SPENT MORE THAN 25 YEARS
BEING OBSESSED WITH EVERYTHING A
LIGHTWEIGHT SPORTS CAR CAN BE. ALL
THE JINBA ITTAI INSPIRATION GAINED OVER
THREE MODEL GENERATIONS HAS GONE
INTO THE ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5.
Its aggressive looks are, in a word, moving.
Even at a standstill, the MX-5s flowing
KODO-inspired lines seem to be in motion. But
it still looks best as do those inside it in its
main element: Namely driving down the open
road with the top down.
Jinba Ittai, the rider-and-horse-as-one-body
doctrine that has defined the relationship
between drivers and their MX-5 from the
beginning, applies in more ways than one.
For example, in the way the interior design and
remarkably clever packaging of the fourthgeneration model melt away the boundaries
between the cabin and the exterior.
More traditional Jinba Ittai trademarks were
also edged that much closer to perfection.
Like weight distribution, which is now nearer
than ever to the centre of gravity of a car that
is lower to the ground with shorter overhangs.
Starting at under 1,000kg5, the all-new MX-5
weighs some 10% less than the outgoing
model and is the lightest since the first generation. And that in spite of the advanced active
and passive safety, smartphone connectivity
technology, and evolved ergonomics with a
human-machine interface that enables the
driver to make the most of it all.
5) Depending on powertrain
The MX-5 was a source of inspiration for Mazda

innovations like SKYACTIV Technology, since
implemented across the model line-up. Now
SKYACTIV comes home to the latest MX-5 with
two specially modified high-compression
SKYACTIV-G petrol engines, a SKYACTIV-MT manual gearbox that takes the roadsters smooth,
crisp shifting up another notch, a lightweight
yet exceptionally strong SKYACTIV-Body, and a
SKYACTIV-Chassis adapted to further enhance
the already outstanding agility of Mazdas icon.
One with its inspirations
Its also safer, featuring i-ACTIVSENSE active
safety systems and passive protection built into
the SKYACTIV-Body and SKYACTIV-Chassis that is
simply outstanding for an affordable roadster.
Because peace of mind is also part of the fun.
And ultimately, pure driving fun is what the
worlds all-time best selling roadster is about.
The fourth-generation MX-5 is without doubt
the most memorable edition yet.
3. DESIGN
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
THE ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5 IS A HEAD
TURNER A DESIGN MASTERPIECE INSIDE
AND OUT. IT REPRESENTS THE PINNACLE OF
MAZDAS EFFORTS TO CREATE A PERFECTLY PROPORTIONED LIGHTWEIGHT SPORTS
CAR FOR A TRULY ELECTRIFYING DRIVING
EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TOP
DOWN.
The design starts with the people. After all, a

roadster is meant to be driven with the top down,
and driver and passenger are meant to be seen.
That has been a key part of the MX-5s allure for
more than 25 years. Another is the patented
Jinba Ittai driver-and-car-as-one feeling. Mazdas
KODO Soul of Motion design for the fourthgeneration MX-5 unites both concepts in a
powerful visual expression of its essential
character: quick, agile and above all fun to drive.
Exterior: Beautifully balanced
A hallmark of the all-new MX-5, perhaps more
than any of its predecessors, is its ideal proportions. Occupants are seated literally at the vehicles midpoint, closer to the ground than in past
MX-5s, reflecting the new models lower centre
of gravity. The shortest MX-5 ever is also sleeker.
Every single line and curve is intended to do one
thing: set the onlookers heart racing.
At the front, the low-slung nose and short overhang hint at the cars adept road-hugging proficiency. Sharp character lines running from the
upper edge of the grille towards each headlamp
emphasise the glinting nature of the wildcat eyes,
which conceal ultra-compact four-lamp LED headlamp units. Situated at the lower corners of the
front bumper, the LED daytime running lamps1
underscore the MX-5s broad stance.
Designers looked to the Japanese tradition of
calligraphy when crafting the exterior, achieving a
strikingly efficient flow down the sides of the car.
Moving the cabin slightly rearward perfectly
balances the roadsters proportions with the
top down or up. Matching the soft top, the black
A-pillars, windscreen header, door mirror trim
and seatback bars highlight the cockpit style of
the cabin and robust top-down look. As for the
soft top itself, besides stowing away neatly into
a remarkably compact space and streamlining
the MX-5s silhouette, it also enhances the cars
overall appearance when up, not to mention its
aerodynamics.
Teeming with uniquely beautiful forms, the sides
of the body appear to be tucked in at the corners, also narrowing above the tires. Front or
back, it all spotlights the MX-5s design efficiency,
with a low and wide trapezoidal outline front and
back that further highlights its wiry musculature.
The rear end, too, leaves a lingering impression.
This is where all the lines converge through the
flared fenders, which visually magnify the cars
volume. The rear combination lamps, meanwhile,
1) Availability may vary depending on trim level and market
2) Availability depends on trim level and engine specifications
give a nod to previous generations while at the

same time reflecting Mazdas unique newgeneration lighting signatures.
Underpinning the new roadster are sporty
16- or 17-inch eight-spoke alloy wheels2 with fournut centre hub finished in either gunmetal or
silver (16-inch) and gunmetal or bright silver
(17-inch). Whatever the choice, they should resonate with driving enthusiasts: Made from coldcast aluminium, theyre both lightweight and
durable.
And the details are many, from the compact steering wheel (see box) and ergonomic gearshift knob
to the improved design of the soft top. It now features an assist spring reducing the force neces
sary for operation. The soft top is thus quickly
opened or closed while remaining seated in an
intuitive one-step manoeuvre practical when
the skies suddenly open up into a downpour.
The all-new MX-5 features high-quality sports

car seats in leather or fabric that blend sophisticated beauty with maximal functionality (see
box). Snug in longstanding MX-5 tradition, the
cushions and seatbacks have a new net structure that enhances comfort, fitting occupants
perfectly but still firm enough to hold them securely in place in tight corners.
The enhanced driving position offers occupants

more knee room as well as head clearance. In
fact, despite sitting lower to the ground, the drivers field of view is greater on the all-new MX-5
than on the outgoing model in every direction:
up, down and horizontally.
Another clever enhancement, the luggage

compartment of the all-new MX-5 is 35mm longer and 36mm deeper than its predecessors
and can thus accommodate a pair of 550mm
x 400mm x 220mm carry-on bags, despite the
smaller overall boot volume of 130l4.
Steering wheel: Classic, compact, chic

The colours of unadulterated fun
The all-new MX-5 is available in seven body colours
chosen to reflect pure roadster pleasure. They
include Soul Red Metallic, the launch colour, and
Ceramic Metallic, which changes hue depending
on the lighting. The fourth-generation MX-5 can
also be had in Arctic White, Crystal White Pearl
Mica, Blue Reflex Mica, Meteor Grey Mica and
Jet Black Mica.
In true lightweight sports car tradition, the

unpretentious steering wheel says hop in and
drive. With a compact 366mm diameter, it
features a black leather cover with red stitching and three satin chrome spokes matching
the climate control dials and shift boot ring*.
It works like it looks, too: On winding roads, the
grip and rim facilitate quick, precise operation
and hand-over-hand action, also letting the
hands slide smoothly along the surface. The
switches, meanwhile, are mounted inside the
left and right spokes for easy access, recessed
just enough not to interfere with operation.
* Depending on trim level
Soul Red Metallic
Ceramic Metallic
Arctic White
Crystal White Pearl Mica
Blue Reflex Mica
Meteor Grey Mica
The all-new MX-5 seems to erase the boundaries between the car, driver, road and scenery.
For example, the ridgeline extending to the
front fender from the upper door trim is the
same colour3 as the exterior, uniting inside and
outside. The effect also underscores the traditional Jinba Ittai connection: Its cosy as always
in the MX-5, only now even more comfortable
and ergonomic.
Completely redesigned, the elegantly detailed

three-gauge analogue instrument cluster with
satin chrome rings is centred around a large
tachometer with the speedometer to the right
and an information display on the left. The latter
includes fuel and mileage indicators as well as a
performance-oriented water temperature gauge
featuring a wider range than previous models.
The symmetry continues along the sleek winglike dash, which stretches out horizontally to
create a sense of roominess on the passenger
side while further diminishing the boundaries
between the MX-5 and its surroundings. The effect endures with the seamless flow of the panels into and along the trim of the doors. Their
shapes express a dynamic pattern flowing from
front to back. Highlighting the sculpted look, the
soft material with decorative stitching on the
armrests and central door trim sections contrasts pleasingly with the exterior coloured3
upper-door sections.
Upholstery: Refined, sporty class

The all-new MX-5 comes with a choice* of sporty
black leather upholstery with red stitching or
black fabric with either red or black stitching.
Tan leather with beige stitching is also offered
in right-hand drive models (UK only) for the
authentic feel of a classic British roadster, while
left-hand drive MX-5s are available with black
Recaro seats in a combination of nappa leather
and Alcantara with red piping accentuating the
seat edge. In all cases, the door trim and lower
dash is finished in the same look.
The leather seats feature a pleat in the centre
section with the diamond-shaped stitching used
for the KODO Chair exhibited at Milan Design
Week in 2013. The detailing and precision of the
sleek three-dimensional appearance are an
other prime example of the craftsmanship
that went into the roadsters new interior.
The grid-like woven pattern of the fabric seats,
meanwhile, not only gives them a light, functional appearance, but also enhances body grip,
fostering the Jinba Ittai feel.
Interior: A second skin

A single axis in the cabin centres the driver
on the steering wheel and instrument cluster
in perfect symmetry with the climate control
louvers to the sides and indeed all major controls, including the pedals and gearshift. Again
here, the emphasis in the all-new MX-5s cabin
space is clearly on driving. These details boost
comfort while preventing fatigue and reducing
distraction potential.
Jet Black Mica
* Availability depends on trim level and market

4) DIN volume; capacity tested using soft sided carry-on bags
BOSE SOUND SYSTEM

FOR MazDa MX-5
9 HIGH-PERFORMANCE SPEAKERS
1 Two 2.5-cm neodymium tweeters
in the a-pillars.
2 Two 16.5-cm wide-range speakers
in the doors.
3 Four 5-cm UltraNeareld speakers
in the seat headrests.
tem now available for the first time on an

MX-5. Drivers can use the rotary commander
on the floor console (or voice command for
many functions) to effortlessly control the MX-5s
infotainment offerings shown via the display.
The driver need simply to lower one hand from
the steering wheel to the centre console-based
control in one quick, easy motion without taking
his or her eyes off the road. Many infotainment
functions are also accessible using voice command, including the audio systems play, stop
and skip functions or to zoom in and out of the
navigation systems map displays. All audio
systems, meanwhile, support DAB (Digital Audio
Broadcasting) as well as RDS.
4. CONNECTIVITY,
FUNCTIONALITY
& EQUIPMENT
An independent 7-inch display1 is mounted on

top of the dashboard of MX-5s with MZD Connect1 (see box), Mazdas smartphone-based sys1) Availability depends on trim level and market
1
1.
The system can be personalised with

location-based services, enabling users
for example to:
search the navigation systems map data
by voice command to show potential
destinations
Includes Mazdas own apps such as
Eco-display, which tracks fuel consumption, as well as maintenance reminders
and warning guidance
LIKE OTHER NEW-GENERATION MAZDAS, THE

ALL-NEW MX-5 SAFELY AND EFFORTLESSLY
CONNECTS DRIVER AND PASSENGER WITH
THE WORLD AROUND THEM. AND WITHOUT
DISTRACTING FROM WHAT MATTERS MOST:
THE JOY OF THE ICONIC ROADSTER.
Based on the heads-up cockpit concept, the layout of the controls allows drivers to leverage a
wealth of useful information from an impressive
slate of advanced technology and still safely focus on the road. By emphasising greater usability via simplicity, developers enhance driving
satisfaction.
3
3.
3
3.
1.1
High-performance speakers
SYSTEM ELECTRONICS
neodymium tweeters
1. Two 2.5cm
5 Digital amplier below the convertible-top
storage space with Bose Digital Signal
in the A-pillars
Processing:
wide-range
speakers
l 7 channels
of customised
equalisation
2. Two 16.5cm
with automatic sound optimisation for

in the doorstop-up and top-down situations
l audioPilot 2 Noise Compensation Technology
3. Four 5cml UltraNearfield
TrueSpace signal processing circuitry
speakers
in the seat
headrests2 in the interior.
l Microphone
for audioPilot
4. One 13cm woofer in a 6-litre

custom-engineered bass enclosure

under the footwell on the right side
2
2.
System electronics
5. Digital amplifier below the
soft top storage space with
BOSE digital signal processing
4
4.
produces an individual sonic zone at each seat.

TrueSpace creates a perceived sound stage
Each part
of
the
Bose
sound
system
has
been
carefully
engineered
to
work
with
the
others
for
better
factory-the actual distance
MAZDA AND BOSE HAVE TEAMED UP TO
thatperformance.
is muchReplacing
widerthethan
installed headunit (i. e. radio-CD/navigation system) or any other sound system component can significantly reduce system performance.
DEVELOP A PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM*
between each speaker for sound that seems to
TAILORED TO THE ALL-NEW MX-5 FOR AN
extend beyond the confines of the cabin, top up
OUTSTANDING LISTENING EXPERIENCE EVEN
or down.
WITH THE TOP DOWN.
The system features nine high-performance
Featuring UltraNearfield speakers in the
speakers, including BOSE UltraNearfieldTM
driver and passenger headrests combined
speakers in each headrest and a 13-cm woofer in
with TrueSpace signal processing circuitry, it
a custom bass enclosure under the footwell on
BOSE PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM
TUNE IN, TURN ON AND DRIVE
Mazdas new-generation human-machine

interface and smartphone connectivity play
a central role in cabin functionality of the allnew MX-5. Important controls the pedals,
gearshift, steering wheel and rotary commander have been thoughtfully designed and positioned to create that Mazda Jinba Ittai signature
feel: As if the MX-5 were an extension of the
drivers body.
The display itself is ergonomically positioned at

the ideal height and distance from the driver. The
screen thus minimises visual distraction, allowing
for safe enjoyment of media, communications and
online content.
Visually aligned
The instrument cluster, too, received a complete
redesign with a large analogue tachometer between the speedometer on the right and another
display to the left with the fuel gauge, fuel consumption, water temperature and other vehicle information. Logically, urgent safety system
warnings appear in the tachometer. In line with
the perfect driver-oriented symmetry of the MX-5
cabin, the centre of the instrument cluster is on
the same axis as the middle of the steering wheel.
4 One 13-cm woofer in a 6-litre customengineered bass enclosure under the

foot well on the right side.
5.
5
the right side of the cabin. The digital amplifier

located below the soft-top storage space features BOSE digital signal processing with:
7 channels of customised equalisation
with automatic sound optimisation for both
top-up and top-down operation
AudioPilot 2 Noise Compensation Technology
TrueSpace signal processing circuitry
Can be operated using the rotary

commander or voice command
MZD CONNECT: ALWAYS ON
Keep up with social media or send and receive
emails, voice or text messages: MZD Connect*
seamlessly synchs with the smartphone via
Bluetooth or USB, safely connecting occupants
to the internet while on the road in the all-new
Mazda MX-5. MZD Connect offers an enriched
multimedia experience, including:
Access to AhaTM, a cloud-based platform providing access to tens of thousands of radio
stations, podcasts, audio books and more
StitcherTM internet radio app also
included
Twitter and Facebook audio feeds with the
latest tweets and updates, allowing users to
reply with like entries or post audio messages using the Shout function
MX-5s equipped with MZD Connect also include an on-board navigation system with
map software viewed on the 7-inch centre
display. The system:
Can tether to a smartphone for web
searches to find specific destinations, like
nearby filling stations and even the price
of petrol, while providing ongoing traffic
congestion data and other information on
road conditions
Uses SD cards with NAVTEQ map data for
Europe** including three years of free biannual updates and support for 19 audio
and 26 text languages
Can set destinations using voice command
searches for points of interest, weather,
restaurants, etc.
** Service availability and tariffs may vary according
to country
They share much with the naturally aspirated

powerplants found in other new-generation
Mazdas, like piston cavities, high tumble ports,
multi-hole injectors, dual sequential valve timing and other efficiency enhancing features (see
box). But many in fact most components of
the smaller SKYACTIV-G 1.5 were modified for the
MX-5s layout, size and in the name of more output along with further weight reduction. And for a
pleasingly light and immediate response to accelerator pedal input matching precisely the drivers
intentions.
5. POWERTRAINS
PUNCHING ABOVE ITS
PRICE TAG
THE MAZDA MX-5 HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT
BREAKNECK SPEED, BUT RATHER THE RIGHT
BALANCE BETWEEN POWER, WEIGHT, RESPONSIVENESS AND AGILITY. THESE ARE THE
INGREDIENTS FOR MAXIMUM FUN, AND THE
ALL-NEW MX-5 WITH ITS SKYACTIV POWER
TRAINS TAKE THE LEGENDARY ROADSTER
THAT MUCH CLOSER TO PERFECTION.
Under the bonnet of the all-new MX-5 is one of
two proven direct-injection petrol engines the
SKYACTIV-G 1.5 or SKYACTIV-G 2.0 specially tuned

for the Mazdas newest icon. Both are mated to an
especially crisp SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual
adapted for the MX-5s classic front mid-engine,
rear-wheel drive (FMR) layout.
For example, Mazda changed the cam timing and

rotating parts to raise the SKYACTIV-G 1.5s redline
to 7,500rpm, adding a custom steel crankshaft to
support the engines free-revving nature. It also
hiked maximum output relative to the versions
found on front-wheel drive Mazdas to 96kW/131PS
at 7,000rpm to go with 150Nm of peak torque at
4,800rpm. Thats more power than the MZR 1.8

offered on the outgoing MX-5, and with significantly better fuel economy, too. The SKYACTIV-G
2.0, meanwhile, has been tuned for more low
and mid-range torque, improving acceleration
as well as mileage relative to the current MZR
2.0-powered model. The 118kW/160PS of maximum power arrives at 6,000rpm, with peak
torque of 200Nm at 4,600rpm.
Adaptations here include simplified shift link

mechanisms to reduce sliding resistance in the
gearbox linkage, but without undermining the
crisp shifting. The result: smooth, light gear
changes that seem to draw the gearshift into
the right position, but with the same short 40mm
shift stroke common to all MX-5s since day one.
Perfecting the tradition
The direct-drive sixth gear, meanwhile, lowers the
final gear ratio, raising real-world fuel economy
by decreasing resistance. It also allows the use
of a lighter ultra-compact limited-slip differential
unit, which itself reduces energy transfer loss by
about one-quarter relative to the third-generation
MX-5. And because Mazda wholeheartedly believes there is always room for improvement, its
engineers even tweaked the clutch pedal stroke
length and pressure for more graceful gearshifting and minimal driver burden.
To amplify the fun factor, both engines feature

new lighter and more compact intake and exhaust systems built to tap the full engine potential. The intake system, which weighs some 30%
less than that in the outgoing MX-5, significantly
reduces airflow resistance while cleverly removing exhaust heat to better sustain intake efficiency. The 4-2-1 exhaust manifold an antiknocking and pro-efficiency SKYACTIV-G mainstay feature was also redesigned for the RWD
layout as well as for an ideal torque curve and
a pleasing engine sound. Not even the radiator
was spared: Smaller and lighter, it now features
air ducts and flaps to regulate air pressure from
the fan, further enhancing cooling efficiency.
The radiator was also repositioned closer to
cars centre of gravity just one of several
measures to optimise weight distribution in the
engine compartment. This enhances the MX-5s
already superb agility, not to mention durability
and NVH.
SKYACTIV-G: PURE DRIVING FUN

IN THE REAL WORLD
Quick, smooth and responsive acceleration

from a standstill to redline
n atural aspiration for outstanding
low-end response rather than turbo lag
exceptional real-world fuel economy with
no compromising on performance or fun
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
Fuel consumption3
CO2 emissions3
n ew air guide duct uses air from electric fan

to remove excess exhaust heat
4-2-1 exhaust system redesigned and simplified for the MX-5s FMR layout and the given
space, also retuned for the desired torque
output and sound
w
ider exhaust and straighter manifold
reduce resistance
t wo catalytic converters used rather
than three thanks to advance emissions
technology
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
(with i-stop &
i-ELOOP)1
SKYACTIV-MT (six-speed manual)

8.3
7.3
7.3
km/h
204
214
214
l/100km
6.0
6.9
6.6
g/km
139
161
154
1) LHD markets only

2) Under Mazda test conditions
3) Combined cycle; for more detailed fuel consumption and CO2 emissions data,
please see the Technical Specifications section at the end of this press kit.
Special modifications for the all-new MX-5:

Both engines feature lighter and more compact intake and exhaust systems adapted to
tap the full engine potential and maximise
the cars fun factor
Intake system reduces air-flow resistance to
maintain efficiency in these higher output,
free-revving SKYACTIV engines
w
eighs 30% less than the intake system on
the outgoing model
f eatures enhanced air cleaner and hose
capacity
Uses combustion energy for restarts, requiring the starter only to provide momentum
during the initial restart phase

Engine weight reductions:

SKYACTIV-G 2.0 engine block is 8kg lighter and
SKYACTIV-G 1.5 block 14kg lighter than on the
outgoing MZR 2.0 by optimising engine block
material thickness and rib shapes
Smaller, thinner radiator and lighter intake

and exhaust systems
i-ELOOP4:
Converts deceleration energy into electricity
that is used to run the cars electrical equipment (headlamps, climate control, etc.)
Saves fuel by conserving engine output normally needed to drive the alternator
Mazdas first i-ELOOP version to use aluminium wiring, cutting weight by 500g
SKYACTIV-MT: SMALLER, LIGHTER, CRISPER

Originally inspired by the MX-5, the SKYACTIV-MT
six-speed manual has now been adapted for the
first time on the all-new MX-5 for a front engine,
rear drive layout.
Maintains the precise quick shifting praised
on all MX-5s going back to the first generation
s ame sporty 40mm shift stroke as previous
models
Direct-drive sixth gear lowers the final gear
ratio to improve real-world fuel economy by
reducing resistance in top gear
a lso enables an ultra-compact lightweight
differential unit to be used, trimming energy
transfer loss by around 25%
Shift link structure simplified to reduce
sliding resistance for smooth and light yet
still crisp shifting that seems to draw the
gearshift into the right position
4) LHD markets only
Lightweight design some 7kg lighter

overall than the outgoing six-speed manual
transmission with low internal friction
helps save fuel
n ew die-cast aluminium transmission housing with varying thickness for the best possible balance of weight and strength
better oil flow control optimises the amount
of transmission oil in the casing
p lastic used on clutch pedal and cylinder
Both engines use a dedicated lightweight flywheel and a lighter crankshaft and pistons
The SKYACTIV-G 2.0 is also available with the

i-ELOOP brake energy regeneration system and
i-stop, one of the worlds fastest idle-stop
systems4
Clutch pedal stroke (length and pressure)

tweaked to minimise driver burden when
changing gears
Allows continued use of electrically powered

systems when the vehicle is shut off
Restarts the MX-5 in only half a second
Attractive and thin (1.7mm) die-cast alumin

ium engine-head cover (reminiscent of early
MX-5s) weighs about the same as a plastic
cover
Newly developed transmission oil maintains

consistent viscosity and with it light, easy
shifting even in cold weather
i-stop4:
Cleverly switches off the engine in the
ignition/expansion stroke, the ideal
position for restarting
21mm shorter and 2mm thinner radiator

placed in a more upright position closer to
centre of gravity for better overall weight distribution with a shorter front overhang
fl aps added that open and close in response
to air pressure from the cooling fan
High 13.0:1 compression
Transmission
Top speed
Dual sequential valve timing (S-VT) on the intake and exhaust valves minimises pumping
losses to enhance fuel economy, especially
at low load, also suppressing knocking under
heavy load operation
Piston cavities in the crown of the pistons to

help reduce cooling losses
SKYACTIV-G 1.5
secs.
Both engines feature:

A special 4-2-1 exhaust manifold, which lowers
the temperature by reducing the quantity of
residual gases in the combustion chamber to:
prevent knocking
e nhance combustion (improves scavenging)
p roduce more torque (especially low-end)
Multi-hole injectors for an ideal air-fuel

mixture
PERFORMANCE & FUEL ECONOMY
0-100km/h2
The SKYACTIV-G 2.0 (118kW/160PS @ 6,000rpm

& 200Nm @ 4,600rpm), enhanced for more responsiveness throughout the engines range
A high tumble port, which enhances ignition

and flame distribution, also increasing torque
production
The unique SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual was

originally developed to bring the MX-5s celebrated short, direct shift stroke to the rest of
the Mazda model line-up. Now it comes full circle
with a lively SKYACTIV-MT designed exclusively
for the roadsters FMR layout, amplifying the
Jinba Ittai driver-and-car-as-one experience.
Engine
T wo lightweight petrol engines offered with

the all-new Mazda MX-5:
The SKYACTIV-G 1.5 (96kW/131PS @ 7,000rpm &
150Nm @ 4,800rpm), built for maximum
agility and fuel economy
Rear differential unit also lighter and smaller

thanks to:
e nhanced gear rings for the direct-drive
sixth gear
a luminium casing
7 -10kg lighter (depending on engine) than
the outgoing MX-5s differential
r evised shape and structure of powerplant
frame (connecting the transmission to the
differential) cuts more weight without affecting rigidity
6. CHASSIS & BODY

JINBA ITTAI: FOR THE
LOVE OF DRIVING
THE REDESIGNED CHASSIS AND BODY MAKE
THE ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5 THE MOST USERFOCUSED AND CONFIDENCE INSPIRING GENERATION YET. ITS A TRULY AN ASTONISHING
ACHIEVEMENT CONSIDERING THE MX-5 ALREADY OWNS THE HANDLING AND AGILITY
BENCHMARK FOR AFFORDABLE LIGHTWEIGHT
SPORTS CARS.
The all-new model is the lightest since the first
generation MX-5 at only 975kg5, which is perfectly
balanced between the front and rear of the car.
In fact, this car feels more than ever like an extension of the driver. Its that special relationship
Mazda calls Jinba Ittai, a Japanese term referring
to the connection between the rider and horse in
a traditional form of Japanese archery.
5) Kerb weight with SKYACTIV-G 1.5 and no driver
the MX-5 delivers a linear response at low gforces and solid power at higher loads for more
refined stopping capacity overall from the front
ventilated and rear solid disc brakes. By heightening control over load shifts, these measures boost
stability, smoothening the transition between
longitudinal and lateral g-forces upon releasing
the brake. And that enhances control as well as
comfort. Taken together, it makes for a cornering
experience that actually improves upon the widely established prowess of previous MX-5s.
Improving on a good thing and making the fourthgeneration model even more fun presented a
challenge one that Mazdas engineers confronted with their vast experience developing the
SKYACTIV-Chassis to convey the MX-5s forgivingly
enjoyable handling onto other new-generation
Mazdas. Their goal here: Further enhance the
iconic roadsters confidence-building nature by
transferring the SKYACTIV principles to the fertile
ground of its front mid-engine, rear drive (FMR)
layout.
They retained the front double wishbone and rear
multi-link suspension set-up, reworking various
components in the name of lightweight strength
and superior stability, particularly in corners.
To enhance traction and reduce understeer, for
example, they raised the front caster angle. A
new truss structure for the rear cross-member,
meanwhile, improves suspension rigidity, while a
repositioning of the rear links increases cornering
controllability.
Direct, precise feedback
As for the steering, the all-new model is the first
MX-5 with a space-saving dual-pinion electric
power assist steering system, which replaces the
outgoing MX-5s hydraulic power assist system. It
delivers even more direct feedback, since Mazda
situated the steering system closer to the front
wheels and therefore the road surface. Enhancing the systems stiffness below the steering
column improves linearity, especially in the high
g-force range, while changing the steering gear
ratio from 15.1 to 15.5 makes the new model more
fun to control. The result is lighter steering overall that responds even more faithfully, transmitting road input directly and precisely - just like a
fun lightweight roadster should.
The all-new models SKYACTIV-Body, too, fed on

the sum total of Mazdas experience building rigid
yet impact-resistant structures that weigh not a
gram more than necessary. Like other Mazdas,
the roadsters body uses a straight, continuous
framework whenever possible. The high-mount
backbone frame a critical component of the
open-top design is straighter with a larger
cross-section than on the outgoing model. The
connections to the front and rear sections of the
frame were also bolstered.
Stronger, lighter, quieter

To cut weight at no cost to safety or stiffness
and by extension agility Mazda significantly
increased the use of high-strength steels as well
as aluminium. A new ring structure joins the front
shock absorber mounts and suspension mounts
to fortify the bodys suspension supports. In the
back, reinforcing material on the rear suspension
towers suppresses deformation from road input
via the suspension. Even the seats are mounted
directly to the B-frame, heightening local rigidity.
The all-new MX-5 is not only stronger and lighter.
Its smoother and quieter too, thanks to a range
of measures to curb vibrations and noise. The
engineers focused on key areas like the engine
mounts, the interaction between suspension components and the traits of the body panels. Shapes
played a big role here. For example, the A-pillars,
windscreen header and rear edge of hood are designed for optimum air flow, considerably reducing high-frequency wind noise particularly with
the top down. And to ensure a calm interior with
the top up, the side windows automatically

raise 6mm after the door is closed to secure an
effective seal with the top. The soft top itself
absorbs more sound than the outgoing models,
also featuring a new header cover and aluminium
panel to prevent fluttering when on the move. All
in all, Mazda managed to cut high-frequency road
and wind noise by some 40%1 for a comfortable
cabin in which occupants can converse while enjoying the sporty sound of the engine.
SKYACTIV: Shedding the weight
but not the muscle
Highlights:
The SKYACTIV-Bodys multi-load path structure,
which distributes impact energy around and
away from the cabin, optimises
the suspension cross-members to cut weight
by around 20kg while retaining structural
strength
Diagonal rigidity increased while lowering

weight by using a portion of the body frame as
the rear suspension cross-member and joining
it in a truss shape
Always on guard, i-ACTIVSENSE is Mazdas lineup of active safety technology now available
for the first time on the MX-5 in the form of several systems2.
Holes were added to reinforcements where

they did not affect strength and end sections
removed wherever they did not impact the
welds
The first, Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), employs

24GHz quasi-millimetre wave radar to detect approaching vehicles in blind spots to the side and
rear of the car. Operating from speeds as low
as 15km/h, BSM flashes a visual warning in the
respective door mirror and sounds a buzzer if
the driver signals to change lanes into the path
of an approaching vehicle. It also incorporates
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which uses
BSMs sensors and warning signals to alert the
driver of other vehicles when reversing.
The front knuckle is now made from alumin

ium, as are the front upper and lower arms,
powerplant frame, rear hub supports and
undercover material
780MPa high-tensile steel employed for
the front cross-member
The Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)

monitors the lane markings on the road, notifying the driver should its camera detect the
vehicle straying unintentionally from its lane.
Models with the BOSE audio system channel
a rumble-strip sound through the speaker on
the appropriate side of the car to elicit a quick
driver response. LDWS is calibrated to avoid
false alarms.
Adopting cross-shaped cross sections for the

front frame members and crush cans along
with a double-hat cross section for the rear
side frames enabled a reduction in the thickness of frame members
Utilising more lightweight high-tensile steels
and aluminium on the body-in-white (71% by
weight vs. 58% on the outgoing MX-5), including 9% aluminium (vs. 0.1%)
t he front and rear bumper reinforcements
use 7000-series aluminium, cutting 3.6kg
compared to the hot-stamped steel found on
the outgoing model
a luminium front and rear bumper reinforcements, front fenders, seatback bars, underbody cross-member, tunnel brace bar, bulkhead panel, and soft-top header panel and
links trimmed another 16kg
a round 20% of the total weight reduction is
owing to aluminium parts
The SKYACTIV-Chassiss suspension system
weighs 12kg less than the previous models
7. SAFETY
UNCOMPROMISING PEACE
OF MIND
High Beam Control (HBC) uses a camera to

detect the headlights and taillights of other
vehicles, automatically switching between the
high and low beams to improve night-time visibility while reliably preventing the impairment
of other motorists vision. HBS also switches
off the high beams in the city and at speeds of
30km/h or less.
Mazdas Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS)
makes driving at night even safer by predicting
bends in the road ahead and pointing the low
beams in the intended direction.
THE MAZDA MX-5 IS THE EPITOME OF

LIGHTWEIGHT SPORTS CAR FUN. IN THE
FOURTH-GENERATION MODEL, THE FUN
FACTOR EMBRACES THE PEACE OF MIND
OF MAZDA PROACTIVE SAFETY, MEANING A
REMARKABLE LEVEL OF ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
SAFETY FOR AN AFFORDABLE TWO-SEATER.
The Mazda Proactive Safety philosophy uses
state-of-the art technology to reduce considerably the potential for accidents and thus take
pressure off the driver. And should an accident
occur, the goal is to protect passengers and pedestrians to the greatest degree possible.
Thanks to revised brake booster characteristics,

1) Based on in-house measurements
When a crash is unavoidable, the all-new MX-5 is

designed to protect the cabin and its occupants
from harm. At the forefront here is Mazdas
SKYACTIV-Body. It employs a unique structure
with lightweight high-strength materials featuring a continuous framework and straight beams
wherever possible to deliver exceptional collision protection, particularly for an open-top
sports car. And that in spite of the shorter front
and rear overhangs relative to previous MX-5s.
The trick is how it absorbs and disperses impact
energy to prevent the cabin from deforming.
Frontal impact forces are channelled around and
underneath the cabin along a multi-load path
structure via the side sills, B-frame and tunnel
section. For more effective protection without adding weight, 1,500MPa hot-stamped and
1,180MPa high-tensile steels were used in the
frame around the centre of the cabin along with
high-strength 7000 series aluminium for the
front bumper beam. During a mild frontal collision, easily replaceable bolt-on parts absorb the
energy, limiting damage to the engine compartment and with it the associated repair costs.
As a soft top, the MX-5 lacks the uninterrupted
ring structure that on other Mazdas joins the
roof and B-pillars to the underbody to bolster
side impact protection. Instead, the all-new
roadster adds a seatback cross-member connecting the right and left sides of the body at
the rear edge of the side sills above the number
3 cross-member. Together with other enhancements, like reinforced side sills, A-pillars and
seatback brackets, the all-new MX-5 effectively
disperses side impact energy throughout the
body.
Advanced protection
At the back, a new double-hat section structure
on the rear side frames, which are reinforced
with high-tensile steel, improves resistance
during a rear impact. Deformation control beads
have been positioned on the back edge of the
rear side frame members, while the rear suspension and a large section kick-up structure on
the rear side frames form a multi-load path to
protect the cabin and fuel tank. Also featuring
7000-series aluminium, the rear bumper beam
is much lighter than the steel on the outgoing
model.
Inside, front and side airbags are standard
equipment, whereby the side airbags use a
special bracket on the outside shoulder of the
2) System availability varies according to trim level and

market
seat to protect occupants heads, even with the

top down. The seats provide better head and
upper body support during a rear impact and
were - like the door panel trim - also redesigned
to enhance side impact protection. The seatbelts
come with a double (drivers side) or single (passenger) pretensioner to tighten the belts during
a collision as well as load limiters to protect
occupants chests. The crushable steering shaft,
meanwhile, absorbs impact energy and secures
space for the driver, while the passenger seat
comes with anchors and a top tether for ISOFIX
child seats.
As for pedestrians, the evolved active bonnet
automatically raises during an impact to protect
a persons head by expanding the space between the bonnet and engine components. Here
new sensor technology more than compensates
for the all-new MX-5s lower bonnet by raising it
higher during a collision. The new inner structure of the bonnet itself along with impactabsorbing beads above the engine also soften
the blow. At the front, energy absorbing foam
in the bumper beam protects the knees, while a
lower bumper stiffener prevents the legs from
sliding under the car.
8. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINES: SKYACTIV-G
1,225 /
1,2301
Engine type
1,495
2,310
3,915
SKYACTIV-G 1.5
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
SUSPENSION AND STEERING
I4 DOHC 16 valves
I4 DOHC 16 valves
Suspension
cm
1,496
1,998
Front suspension
Double wishbone
Bore x stroke
mm
74.5 x 85.8
83.5 x 91.2
Rear suspension
Multi-link
Timing chain
Timing chain
Shock absorbers
(front & rear)
Monotube
Direct injection
Direct injection
13.0:1
13.0:1
Steering type
Fuel injection
system
Compression ratio
Exhaust type
Emission control
system
1,505
Max. power
DIMENSIONS
Body type
Convertible roadster
Doors
Seating capacity
Max. torque
kW(PS)/
rpm
Nm/
rpm
Fuel type
Exterior
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
Displacement
Camshaft drive
1,735
SKYACTIV-G 1.5
Steering
Rack and pinion
4-2-1
4-2-1
Power assist type
Double pinion electric power assist
Three-way
catalyst
Three-way
catalyst
Steering gear ratio
15.5
96(131)/7,000
118(160)/6,000
150/4,800
200/4,600
95 RON
95 RON
Fuel tank capacity
45
45
4.1
4.1
46B24L-S / N-55(S)3
Steering wheel turns

(lock to lock)
Turning circle radius
(kerb to kerb)
Turning circle diameter (wall to wall)
2.7
m
4.7
10.4
Overall length (without number plate holder)
mm
3,915
Engine oil
capacity
Overall width
mm
1,735
Battery
46B24L-S
Overall width (mirror to mirror)
mm
1,918
Overall height
mm
1,225 / 1,2301
Wheelbase
mm
2,310
Overhang front (without number plate holder)
mm
760
Overhang rear
mm
845
Track front
mm
1,495
Track rear
mm
1,505
Ground clearance between axles (unladen)
mm
141
Headroom
mm
950
TRANSMISSION: SKYACTIV-MT
SKYACTIV-G 1.5
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
Shoulder room
mm
1,325
Transmission
6MT
6MT
Wheels & tires
Hip room
mm
1,320
Powertrain
RWD
RWD
Wheel size
Legroom
mm
1,096
Gear ratios
Hip point (distance from floor)
mm
145
1st
5.087
5.087
Brakes
2nd
2.991
2.991
Type (front)
Ventilated discs
3rd
2.035
2.035
Type (rear)
Solid discs
th
1.594
1.594
Diameter (front)
mm
258
280
640
th
1.286
1.286
Diameter (rear)
mm
255
280
1.000
1.000
inches
Reverse
4.696
4.696
Final drive ratio
2.866
2.866
Vaccum booster
diameter
Scheduled
maintenance
Interior
Boot
Volume2
130
Boot floor, distance from ground
mm
430 / 4371
Depth to boot floor
mm
455
Load floor length
mm
th
Width at floor
mm
1,100
Boot opening threshold, distance from ground
mm
821 / 828
Boot opening width
mm
808
1) With 16 / 17-inch wheels

2) DIN value
3) LHD models with i-stop & i-ELOOP

4) May vary according to country or region
WHEELS AND BRAKES
Tire size
SKYACTIV-G 1.5
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
16 x 6.5J
17 x 7J
195/50 R16
205/45 R17
Every 20,000km / 12 months4
SKYACTIV-G 1.5
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
(with i-stop & i-ELOOP1)
Powertrain
RWD
RWD
RWD
Transmission
6MT
6MT
6MT
PERFORMANCE AND WEIGHTS
Performance
Top speed (with limiter)
km/h
204
214
214
Acceleration 0-100km/h2
secs.
8.3
7.3
7.3
Urban
l/100km
7.9
9.3
8.7
Extra urban
l/100km
4.9
5.5
5.4
Combined
l/100km
6.0
6.9
6.6
g/km
139
161
154
Euro 6
Euro 6
Euro 6
Fuel consumption
CO2 emissions (combined)

Emissions rating
Weight and payload
Min. kerb weight
kg
975
1,000
1,015
Min. kerb weight (with 75kg driver)
kg
1,050
1,075
1,090
Max. permissible weight
kg
1,215
1,260
1,260
Permissible front axle weight
kg
610
645
645
Permissible rear axle weight
kg
605
615
615
Engine performance curves

SKYACTIV-G 1.5
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
150 Nm at 4,800 rpm
160
96 kW at 7,000 rpm
110
240
100
220
90
200
140
180
80
60
80
50
40
60
30
40
20
20
0
1,000
10
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
Engine speed (rpm)
6,000
7,000
0
8,000
Torque (Nm)
70
100
140
120
160
Power (kW)
Torque (Nm)
120
118 kW at 6,000 rpm

200 Nm at 4,600 rpm
100
140
120
80
100
80
60
60
40
Power (kW)
180
40
20
20
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
Engine speed (rpm)
6,000
7,000
0
1) LHD markets only

2) Under Mazda test conditions
For further information on official fuel consumption and official specific CO2 emissions for new passenger cars, please refer to the Guide about fuel consumption,
CO2 emission and electric energy consumption of new passenger cars (Leitfaden ber den Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2-Emissionen und den Stromverbrauch neuer
Personenkraftwagen), which is available free of charge at all Mazda showrooms and at Mazda Motors (Deutschland) GmbH, Hitdorfer Str. 73, 51371 Leverkusen.
02 FOUR GENERATIONS, ONE ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY
st
GENERATION
MKI
NA
CODENAMED
nd
GENERATION
MKII
NB
CODENAMED
rd
GENERATION
MKIII
NC
CODENAMED
th
GENERATION
MKIV
ND
CODENAMED
MORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY ON THE ROAD

89
19
20
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
19
0
20
0
20
02
20
03
20
0
20
0
20
0
20
07
20
0
20
0
20
1
20
1
20
1
20
1
20
1
20
THE 1980s
THE 1990s
THE 2000s
THE 2010s
Excess, greed...big hair: There was nothing subtle about

the 1980s. Automakers, too, were producing brashly
designed cars with sharp, hard edges and plenty of
size. Yet as the decade came to a close, a new spirit
emerged. The Berlin Wall fell, the Cold War ended and
a new threat emerged: global warming. Automakers
began building smaller, fuel-sipping models, and
front-wheel drive had become dominant.
As the 20th century came to an end, the world was in the

midst of a dramatic transformation. Much of Europe was
overcoming the growing pains that followed the fall of the
Iron Curtain. But rapidly advancing technology caused
economies to prosper as the World Wide Web began its
one-way rise to omnipresence. The period marked a new
golden age for automobiles, too. Harnessing the growing
power of computers, carmakers were building vehicles that
boasted superior fuel economy as well as enhanced safety.
A globalised world where offshoring and outsourcing be

came household words, the 2000s were turbulent times.
The market stability of the 1990s gave way to volatility in
the decade that brought you euro notes, the war on terror,
skyrocketing fuel prices and the rise of renewable energy.
The internet went mobile, and one disruptive technology
after another changed the order of things as the generation of digital natives who never knew a disconnected
world started growing up. Some thought the world was
going to end. It didnt.
From the ashes of the Great Recession, a renewed sense

of optimism has emerged in the second decade of the new
millennium. The Internet of Things is now a reality, creating
an increasingly interconnected world where computing
power grows exponentially. Smartphones are now as
powerful as desktops. And there really is an app for
everything, even your car. Rapidly evolving technological
advances are pushing us closer to a world of self-driving
cars, perhaps marking the end for driving as we know it.
Wellnot in the MX-5.
1
20
21
AGAINST THE ODDS,

MAZDAS LATEST
ROADSTER DOESNT
JUST EXCEED
EXPECTATIONS,
IT BLOWS
THEM AWAY
A CLASSIC IS REBORN
For over a quarter century, the Mazda MX-5
has won over drivers everywhere with a
simple yet ambitious premise: a reasonably priced, lightweight two-seater sports
car that drives as beautifully as it
looks. So when it came to developing
the fourth generation ND, its safe
to say the bar was set exceedingly
high: How do you re-imagine and
ultimately improve upon a beloved icon without detracting
from the essence that has
made it so popular?
23
t was not enough for Mazdas Hiroshima-based development team to come up with a roadster worthy of
its fans undying love. Drivers needed to fall head
over heels all over again the first time they laid eyes
on it.
And then, once behind the wheel on the open
road, they had to quickly realise a deep sense
of fulfilment: a sports car that does more than
merely react exactly as intended, gripping the
road confidently from one turn to the next.
Without question, the ND had to be the best
MX-5 theyve ever driven.
A better-suited group for the job could
not have been assembled. Their rever
ence for the MX-5 is unparalleled; they
are arguably the most hard-core
fans in the MX-5 tribe. As with other
generations, Programme Manager
Nobuhiro Yamamoto says they
realised that the MX-5s success
has always been its minimalist
aesthetic. He likens the thrill of
driving the two-seater to his
childhood memories straddling the fuel tank of a motorbike as it raced down an
open stretch of road in the
Japanese countryside a
truly exhilarating sense
of freedom.
Despite featuring
for the first time
many of the latest
advances offered
across the Mazda
line-up, such as
SKYACTIV
Technology, the ND
remains
faithful to the original NA, above

all as a lightweight, fun-to-drive
throwback to the British roadsters
of the 1960s.
Indeed, the newest MX-5 is the light
est since the first-generation, weigh
ing some 100kg less than its direct
predecessor. And it retains the format
that made prior generations so enjoyable:
a rear-wheel drive two-seater with a front
mid-ship engine (located behind the front
axle) for optimum handling in true Jinba Ittai
rider-and-horse-as-one spirit. Only now with
the engine moved a bit farther back and the
car closer to the ground for a lower centre of
gravity and even more ideal weight distribution.
TIMELESS, CAPTIVATING BEAUTY

Even before you get behind the wheel, the NDs flowing
KODO Soul of Motion design, a trademark of Mazdas
new model generation, telegraphs its prowess. The
redesigned exterior makes a bold statement: Here stands
an instant classic worthy of the MX-5s rich history. Masashi
Nakayama, the chief designer, says the ND is a car that can
be driven for 20 years, remaining as delightfully pleasing as
the day you bought it.
Notably sleeker with a low, wide stance emphasising strength and
agility, it has a more aggressive face and lines than past generations. The roadsters sweeping form instils a sense of motion even
at a standstill, a quality that could not have been achieved with
sketches and computer modelling alone.
24
25
THE HUMAN TOUCH

Yukiharu Asano, one of the people
behind the all-new MX-5s stunning
exterior, believed his craft clay modelling had already had its day. Industrial
streamlining and computer-generated
design have largely displaced what once
had a pre-eminent role in automotive
design. In fact, he had entirely given up
modelling cars. Yet when it came time
to envision the exterior of the fourthgeneration of Mazdas iconic two-seater,
the development team turned to Asano.
Only the hands of a master could sculpt
a legend: Try closing your eyes and
running your hands along a computer
model... Basing his work on the sketches
of a promising young designer, Asano
breathed life into the ND, giving form to
its soul. Thats why latest MX-5 speaks
to your heart.
26
MAZDA MX-5 | 25 TH ANNIVERSARY
27
Instead Mazda looked to the traditional design technique

of clay modelling, enlisting its master modeller Yukiharu
Asano. He painstakingly crafted an exterior emphasising
the interplay of light and shadow (see box). The outcome is
sweepingly graceful lines that turn heads as the car glides
down the street. Its a natural beauty that makes the MX-5
look great anywhere. And this sense of effortless fluidity
continues inside.
The fourth-generation roadsters interior balances the
two-seaters traditionally reassuring snugness with tangible
roominess. The interior design starts, of course, with the
driver: A single axis in the cabin marries intent with action:
All controls, including Mazdas new MZD Connect infotainment system, are accessed in simple motions so the drivers
eyes remain focused on the road.
So much for ergonomics. But the designers also wanted the
interior to meld with the exterior, helping blur the boundary
between the automobile and its surroundings. This further
leverages the pure joy of driving with the top down.
28
More than anything, the MX-5 is a seamless extension of

the drivers body, according to Tetsuo Fujitomi, in charge
of powertrain development. While its electrifying exterior
and second-skin-like interior reflect this concept, its the
NDs performance that fulfils its designs promise.
The powertrains are the product of Mazdas SKYACTIV
Technology, customised exclusively for the MX-5. Here the
development team engaged in a delicate balancing act.
Power versus fuel efficiency: two goals that normally come
at the expense of one-another. Not with the ND, however,
whose two high compression direct-injection petrol engines
options the SKYACTIV-G 1.5 and SKYACTIV-G 2.0 provide
enough oomph to entertain while using less petrol and
emitting fewer CO2 emissions than any other MX-5s to
date: A fact owing to a combination of internal combustion
innovation and the cars weight. Also specially tuned for
the all-new MX-5 is a crisp SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual
adapted for its front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout.
Here the engineers raised the bar in terms of smooth,
responsive shifting, with the legendary short stroke anyone
who has ever driven an MX-5 knows

and most probably loves.
Of course unifying all the advancements in combination with
Mazdas demanding weightcutting ambitions did present
an immense challenge.
Yet, according to Shinichi
Yasui, staff manager at
production and planning,
integrating everyones
aspirations while
demandingly complex
was paramount to
building a classic
for the ages (see
box).
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 2015

SKYACTIV-G 1.5
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
cm
1,496
1,998
Max. power
kW(PS)/rpm
96(131)/7,000
118(160)/6,000
Max. torque
Nm/rpm
150/4,800
200/4,600
Top speed
km/h
204
214
0-100km/h*
secs.
8.3
7.3
kg
975
1,000/1,015**
Displacement
Transmission
Min. kerb weight

Length/width/height
Suspension (front / rear)
6-speed manual
mm
3,915/1,735/1,225 or 1,230***
Double wishbone / Multi-link
* Under Mazda test conditions

** With i-stop & i-ELOOP
*** With 16 or 17-inch wheels
29
LESS IS MORE
Underpinning the entire project is the belief that less
is more. Every aspect of new MX-5 was subject to scru
tiny: How can it be improved? How can it be even lighter?
Besides details like shaving down the width of the exhaust
catalyst, advances resulting from its new, custom designed
SKYACTIV Body helped make the development teams task a
little easier. Incorporating more high-strength steel and aluminium than ever makes it lighter yet stronger than its predecessors. A clever multi-load path structure to channel crash energy,
meanwhile, means a safer MX-5 too, bolstered by its i-ACTIVSENSE
active safety technology.
The end result is a sports car that lives up to its iconic lineage. As
Yamamoto puts it, the ND connects on a gut level. Its a one-of-a-kind
car that stirs the senses and awakens the universal joy dormant within
each and every one of us. Sound a bit too romantic? Then take a test
drive. Indeed a classic, the MX-5 is destined to be a target of adoration for
the next 25 years.
MANY MINDS, ONE VISION

There is no single mastermind behind the ND. Rather it is the product of a collective
effort many innovations coming together to build an ideal roadster. Each engineer and
designer focused on a specific task while pushing the limits of what they thought possible difficult tasks in themselves. An ever-bigger challenge, however, was harmoniously
incorporating them into the new MX-5. It was a responsibility that fell on the
shoulders of Shinichi Yasui, staff manager for production and planning.
Yasui is all too familiar with curbing the enthusiasm of engineers and developers, often
directing them back to the drawing board because what theyve conceived is not compatible
with the realities of mass automobile production. This time he took a different tact, asking each
member what their ideal vision of the MX-5 was. And then he told them he would do everything
possible to steer their aspirations into the production model. A daring strategy, it might have been
unwise too if it were anything other than the MX-5. Yet Yasui accommodated almost every vision.
To him, there was no other way break new ground and build a new generation of the icon worthy of
its following.
30
31
Now a teenager,
the MX-5 grew up,
adding size and
technology
and later a solid roof
rd
GENERATION
BIGGER
WIDER
FASTER
The third generation NC was the
roomiest MX-5 yet, which isnt really
saying all that much. Make no mistake: It was still a cosy two-seater, but
slightly bigger and heavier in the name
of more power and features than those
that came before it. Like the fourth
generation, it featured even more
dramatic lines than its ancestors.
However, its heart remained true to
the MX-5s essence: Built for the thrill
of the road, the windier, the better.
33
The deeper grille and

new bumper design
from the 2012 facelift
expressed a lower,
wider stance and a
more assertive face,
while the new fog
lamp bezels and chin
spoiler also improved
aerodynamics.
hereas the automotive industry had fully

embraced the technological revolution of the
early 2000s navigation systems became
ubiquitous and active safety technology began
performing wonders the MX-5 NC was still decisively old
school in this regard. It remained a sports car built to be
driven. Yet Mazda knew continued success meant keeping
with the times.
Like previous generations the NC MX-5 was

powered by an inline
four-cylinder DOHC engine, available in 1.8- and
2.0-litre versions. Both
came with a five-speed
manual; the latter was
also available with manual
or automatic six-speeds.
Safety was upgraded with the addition of side airbags,

dynamic stability control and larger brakes. And a more
upscale feel too. It was roomier with more storage and
a larger 150-litre boot. It had keyless entry and start, a
seven-speaker Bose premium audio system suitable for
open-top listening, and a clever mechanism requiring just
one hand to open and shut the soft top.
The NC retained its classic roadster look, only more aggressive a foreshadowing of things to come. Its predator
visage was complemented by 20mm of additional length,
a 65mm longer wheelbase, a wider track and bigger, wider
17-inch wheels surrounded by boldly flared fenders. Yasushi Nakamuta, its designer, described the new model as a
synthesis of modernity and tradition. And it was more
powerful, as the 93kW/126PS 1.8-litre was joined by a new
118kW/160PS MZR 2.0, available with the standard fivespeed or a new precision shifting six-speed manual.
The 1.6, meanwhile, was dropped for good.
34
0
20
A timeline
of innovation
0
20
2005
Video-sharing website
YouTube goes online,
irreversibly changing
the world of broad
casting. Instant fame
is only an upload away
(maybe).
2006
Nintendos Wii console
with motion sensing
technology brings
together exercise and
video gaming for the
first time.
07
0
2
0
20
2007
Apple launches the
first-generation
iPhone, the start
of the touchscreen
revolution.
2008
Seeking to unlock the
secrets of the universe,
the Large Hadron Collider goes into operation
near Geneva. Its the
highest-energy particle
accelerator ever built.
0
20
1
20
2009
Beam me up, Scotty:
The University of
Marylands Joint Quantum Institute teleports
the quantum state of
one atom to another
located a metre away.
2010
First it was spray-on
cheese, then hair in a
tin. Britains Fabrican
takes spray-cans to
new heights with aerosol applied fabrics.
1
20
1
20
2011
No animals harmed:
Researchers at the
University of Maastricht grow beef in
a lab.
1
20
2013
Motorola develops the
password pill. Just
swallow it and forget
having to remember
the password to your
bank account.
2012
Formlabs Form 1
personal 3D printers
bring the power of
plastic production to
the people.
35
Faithful to its roots, the MX-5 remained

a genuinely lightweight sports car:
All the extras added up to a minimal
weight gain vis--vis its predecessor,
another demonstration of Mazdas
gram strategy to painstakingly
reduce every possible bit of weight.
In tune with
the times:
Mazdas got
it covered
As retractable hardtops became popular in

Europe in the mid-2000s, Mazda too wanted
to offer one for the MX-5. But without compro
mising any aspect of its little legend.
What the carmaker came up with was an ultralightweight hardtop that, made from a synthetic
composite material, added only 37kg when compared to a soft top MX-5. And not to be outdone
by the competition, the three-panel top was at
the time the fastest on the market, opening or
closing in only 12 seconds.
The MX-5 Roadster Coupe, as it is known in
Europe, blends convertible flexibility with the
practicality and comfort of a coupe. But what
about the pure MX-5 fun factor? Happily, there
is minimal difference. Despite the slight weight
gain, Mazda preserved the cars ideal 50:50 bal
ance, maintaining the same handling with minor
suspension alterations like larger front stabilisers
and retuned spring and damper units. In fact,
the car even has a slightly more comfortable
ride than the soft top, with less interior noise, of
course, especially at higher speeds. And what the
heavier Roadster Coupe loses on the 0-100km/h
sprint, it gains in top speed* thanks to better
aerodynamics.
As for the looks, designers kept the changes to
a minimum to preserve the MX-5s lightweight
sports car aura. And they really are virtually
imperceptible, with more prominent rear wheel
arches, a 40mm higher rear deck and the boot lid
raised by 20mm to smoothen the drop-off from
the roof. The car is also 10mm higher overall, not
that one would notice. While modern, the look
remained true to the classic sports coupe.
* Sprint times and top speeds with the 2.0-litre and sixspeed manual: 7.9secs and 218km/h for the Roadster
Coupe vs. 7.6secs and 213km/h for the soft top
38
All the
right moves
Yet the MX-5 NC remained a genuinely lightweight
sports car: The extras added up to a minor weight
gain vis--vis its predecessor. It was another
demonstration of Mazdas gram strategy
the painstaking reduction every possible bit of
weight during the model development phase.
For example, using aluminium for the double wishbone front suspension as well as the bonnet and
boot lids. And a bigger proportion of high and ultrahigh tensile steels in, among other places, the body
frame and A-pillars. Indeed, Mazda would extend
such weight-saving measures to all next-generation
Mazdas in a process that continues today.
And the driver still drove, which was a very good
thing because the third-generation model further
enhanced the classic FR layout for even better
handling. Weight distribution was edged that much
closer to perfection by pushing the engine a handwidth (135mm) towards the rear and relocating the
battery and fuel tank nearer to the vehicles centre
of gravity. A sports suspension featuring Bilstein
shocks all around was now available for Sport 2.0
models. At the same time, the new monocoque
body shell delivered an even lower centre of gravity
along with increases to torsional and flexural stiffness of 47 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively.
The reception? Immediate and overwhelming.

Continuing in the tradition of its ancestors,
awards rolled in for the uncompromising new
two-seater, including Car of the Year Japan
2005-2006 and Top Gears 2005 Roadster of
the Year among the first of almost 100 for
the third-generation MX-5.
Responding to market demand in 2006, Mazda
introduced the Roadster Coupe featuring a
retractable power hardtop. And not just any top,
either. Opening or closing in only 12 seconds,
it is still among the fastest retractable hardtops
around, folding neatly away behind the seats
without affecting boot space.
The third-generation MX-5 received two facelifts.
The first, in 2009, saw Mazda take Jinba Ittai
one step further, starting with the powertrains.
The 2.0-litres redline was increased to 7,500rpm
with enhanced sound and its six-speed manual
upgraded for even smoother shifting. A six-speed
automatic was also added for the 2.0. Together
with improved aerodynamics brought about by
modifying body shapes like the front bumper
and side sills, these MX-5s offered fuel efficiency
gains of 4-7 per cent.
39

Its all about
balance, and
the essence
of perfect
interaction
The same
MX-5, just
better
Jinba Ittai or rider and horse as one body: The

expression can be traced back to the Yabusame
ritual, where a mounted archer shoots an arrow at
a target while riding a horse, controlling the animal
with his knees. Rider and horse need to perform
in harmony if there is to be any chance of hitting
bulls eye.
The suspension was updated as well to improve

roll performance and provide a more natural lin
ear response to steering input, particularly when
cornering, as well as better overall ride quality.
As for the looks, the most prominent changes included a sportier front end, whose new headlamp
design and five-point grille expressed the next
stop on Mazdas design roadmap.
At Mazda, it is a philosophy that emphasises the

communication and thus the connection between
the driver and the car. Jinba Ittai served as guiding
principle behind the driving behaviour of the MX-5.
Hence the tight fit of the cockpit, particularly on
the original model (this was deliberate), the direct
responsiveness and feel (thanks to the unique
powerplant frame and exceptionally stiff body), the
short and snappy gearshift stroke, and extremely
effective braking. Even the MX-5s look and sound
oozes a sense of agility and dexterity. Instead of
focusing on power and speed, developers worked
to achieve the ideal of a balanced driving machine
that delivers pure fun.
Then, in 2012, the NC was given an even more

aggressive face as well as a reworked interior.
Pedestrian protection was enhanced, this time
with a new active bonnet system that automatically raises the hood during an impact to expand
the crumple zone. The lower section of the front
bumper was also reinforced to better protect
peoples legs. Fine-tuned acceleration control delivered a more linear response to throttle input,
especially at lower speeds. An enhanced vacuum
brake booster, meanwhile, improved brake return
control. All told, even better handling and even
more fun.
Maintaining this balance through three generations (and now into its fourth) was a real battle at
times: against bigger, heavier engines, against the
horsepower faction and the culture particularly
in the U.S. of no replacement for displacement.
But Mazda has stuck with its approach, and with
any luck always will.
Still making
smiles after
all these years
Photo : Alfie Goodrich
As a young engineer, Nobuhiro

Yamamato recalls the infectious
enthusiasm at Mazda for the lightweight sports car project. I was
sure the MX-5 would be a success,
because I knew the passionate, tal
ented engineers who were working
on it, he says.
Now, more than a quarter century
later, the continued success of this
iconic sports car is his mission and
his passion. I joined the project to
work on the second-generation with
Takao Kijima [programme manager
of the second and third-generation]
and, when he retired in 2007, the
torch was handed to me.
I feel an immense gratitude to all

those who have bought an MX-5 and
a duty to them to continue develop
ing the car. There are five principles
we will always retain for the MX-5. It
must be light and compact, have a
front-midship engine and rear-wheel
drive, 50:50 weight distribution, a
low yaw moment of inertia [agile],
and be affordable. These ensure the
MX-5 is fun to drive and accessible.
We are not just making a vehicle,
but an experience for our customers
that puts a smile on their faces.
MZR 1.8
Displacement
cm3
Transmission
MZR 2.0
1,798
MZR 2.0
1,999
5-speed manual
6-speed
manual
Max. power
kW(PS)/rpm
93(126)/6,500
Max. torque
Nm/rpm
167/4,500
Top speed (soft top /

Roadster Coupe)
km/h
194/198
212/217
213/218
192/194
0-100km/h (soft top /

Roadster Coupe)
secs.
9.9/9.9
7.6/7.9
7.6/7.9
8.5/8.9
1,095/1,090
1,100
Min. kerb weight*

(2005 / 2009)
Length/width/height
Suspension (front / rear)
kg
mm
118(160)/6,700 (7,000 from 2009)
6-speed
automatic
118(160)/6,700
Technical
specifications
2005-2015
188/5,000
1,080/1,075
3,995/1,720/1,245 or 1,255 (hard top)

Independent double wishbone / Multi-link
* add 37kg for Roadster Coupe version
41
RENEWING THE IMMENSELY

POPULAR ROADSTER FOR
A NEW GENERATION, MAZDA
AVOIDED THE PITFALLS
THAT HAD SUNK MANY
CAR MODELS BEFORE IT.
A CLASS BY ITSELF
GENERATION
42
43

FIXED OVAL HEADLAMPS
WERE ONE OF SEVERAL
MODIFICATIONS TO THE
MX-5S TRADEMARK
FLOWING LINES AND
ROUNDED EDGES.
We didnt just rekindle

an old flame. We threw
gasoline on it, says a
1998 U.S. advertisement
for the new Miata, as the
MX-5 was known there.
eep the momentum going that was gambit for the

second generation MX-5, the NB. And it certainly
carried the torch admirably, evolving its sporty
ground-hugging looks by adding fixed headlamps
and a little muscle. Yet no dramatic departures: Why mess
with a winning formula?
But even though the original MX-5 had set a high standard,
the NB was indeed new and improved. Perfection was in the
details: numerous tweaks made to advance and enhance a
good thing. The success was founded in the groundwork, as
the carmaker began preparing for the second chapter of the
MX-5 epic midway through the 1990s.
It was no small feat: The original had single-handedly resuscitated the market for affordable sports cars. With sales
rapidly approaching the half-million mark by the time the
second generation was launched in 1998, the original had
more than surpassed its creators wildest expectations.
The little roadster had started a revolution with hundreds
of thousands of proud owners. Competitors were trying to
Evolution Orange
was the launch
colour for the secondgeneration MX-5.
emulate its success. And Mazda, of course, was determined to maintain its commanding lead in the segment.
Mazdas design and engineering team faced the tremendous challenge of improving upon the original. For Takao Kijima, the project
manager, there was no margin for error. As always, incorporating
new electronics and lightweight materials was crucial to raising the
bar. One thing was certain: The Jinba Ittai driver-and-car-as-one
spirit would remain the central theme.
ONWARD TO THE ROOTS

Premiering at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1997, the NB was not a
dramatic departure from the original, dimension-wise. Aside from
minor tweaks and adding a few millimetres here and there, it stuck
with the notion that a whole lot of driving exhilaration could be
intelligently designed into a diminutive frame.
The NB shared much in common with the original that a devoted
fan base had come to know and love. While the overall weight in
creased a little, improvements on numerous fronts more than
45
offset the modest tipping of the scales. Among the

first thing buyers noticed was the absence of the first
generations round pop-up headlights.
Its new fixed oval headlamps were just one of several modifications to the MX-5s trademark flowing lines and rounded
edges. Overall, the NB had a more toned and muscular appearance, as if that cute little two-seater had filled out into
a handsomer and more mature version of itself.
THE NEW MX-5 HAD A MORE

TONED AND MUSCULAR APPEAR
ANCE, AS IF THAT CUTE LITTLE
TWO-SEATER HAD FILLED OUT
INTO A HANDSOMER AND MORE
MATURE VERSION OF ITSELF.
DESIGN:
THE NEW MX-5:
A NATURAL
EVOLUTION
No conceptual revision whatsoever,
said Koichi Hayashi, chief designer
of the second-generation MX-5, when
asked by an automotive writer to
describe the new design concept.
Its eyes and mouth remained inviting as ever, only with

more purpose and function. Painted polypropylene plastic
bumpers front and rear emphasised a more natural flow
to the body while at the same time enhancing safety and
saving almost 2kg. In fact, the engineers and designers
turned every aspect of the project into an exercise in
trimming excess kilograms. Thanks to computing advances,
Mazda was able to analyse every millimetre of the new
model to ensure each component was as light as possible.
Our team cherished the original

MX-5s inborn soul, which is perpetual,
not a mere concept. And rather than
exterior and interior, we believe the
new car has physique, which is the
structure, strength and form of the
whole car.
For example, the redesigned soft top was not only foolproof,
but also weighed 1.3kg less despite having a defrosting
glass rear window in place of the plastic original. The inner
seat structure, meanwhile, cut 2.4kg. And getting rid of the
pop-up headlights eliminated another 5.6kg along with the
safety hazard they represented for pedestrians.
Also a core member of the original

models design squad, Hayashi started
by defining the most emotional ingredients of the roadster, such as its
simple, smooth surfaces and sensuous
styling.
Although the MX-5s rear-end design remained relatively

unchanged, maintaining the distinctive oblong tail-lamp
clusters, the European model now featured integrated
fog lamps. In the front, a larger air intake improved
cooling of the engines, which (alongside the entry-level
1.6) now included a more powerful 1.8-litre delivering
103kW/140PS at 6,500rpm and 162Nm of torque at
4,500rpm. While the aluminium powerplant frame
remained the same as the first-generation, each engine
component was subject to painstaking scrutiny and
upgraded with new technology and materials whenever
sensible.
These alterations included a new precision aluminium
cylinder head to house the twin overhead camshafts.
The intake port was placed in more of an upright
position, contributing to better airflow and improving
combustion stability. But while many of the changes
were small Mazda had essentially got it right the first
time they all added up to more output and better fuel
economy. And the aggregates remained straightforward,
with no turbo or supercharger.
A TIMELINE OF
INNOVATION
97
19
98
19
9
19
0
20
0
20
02
0
2
03
0
2
The course was set. Similar to the first

MX-5, Mazdas four design centres (two
in Japan and one each in Germany and
the U.S.) created their own proposal
based on the same FMR configuration
and lightweight sports car principle.
All four expressed the soul of the MX-5,
differing only in the details.
And there was one winner
1997
The start of WiFi
consumer technology
helps cut the tethers
of wires, ushering in a
new era of couchbased web surfing.
1998
Stanford students
Larry Page and Sergey
Brin receive $100,000
in seed funding and
incorporate a search
engine company called
Google.
1999
Blackberry markets
the first wireless email
pager the humble
forerunner of todays
smartphone.
2000
Big things really do
come in small pack
ages after the arrival
of the USB flash drive.
2001
Attack of the pods!
Apple introduces the
first iPod, bringing
portable digital music
to the masses.
2002
Sweeping was yesterday: The big brains at
MIT invent the Roomba,
a robotic vacuum.
2003
The European Space
Agency launches its
first unmanned mission
to Mars, while China
sends its first manned
spacecraft into orbit.
2004
Facebook is founded,
connecting friends
around the globe.
47

INSIDE, THE ORIGINAL MX-5
COCKPIT FEEL LIVED ON IN
THE NEW GENERATION, ENSURING THE DRIVER WOULD
FEEL CLOSE TO THE ROAD.
PRESERVING THE CHARM
Records officially certified the model as the best selling twoseater sports car in history.
The MX-5 NB also demonstrated Mazdas increased commitment to safety. Besides the addition of a passenger airbag,
the frame was upgraded to increase strength, adding rigid
ity that also improved the already exceptional handling.
Inside, the original MX-5s cockpit feel lived on, ensuring
the driver would feel close to the road. Designers sought
to improve form and function, emphasising above all sight,
sound and touch. The T-shape theme of the instrument
panel made controls easier to see and thus operate. Most
models also featured a new retractable wind-blocker behind
the seats to prevent airflow turbulence when driving with
the top down. This, too, made for a more comfortable and
more enjoyable driving experience.
A 2001 model upgrade saw mostly minor design changes,

like a new front fascia with reshaped air intake, and headlights and taillights slightly altered for a leaner look.
Underneath the skin, variable valve timing and higher
compression (10:1) boosted maximum output from the
1.8-litre to 107kW/146PS and 168Nm, and with it performance. Top speed on the new sport model with six-speed
manual, sports suspension with special Bilstein dampers
and high-performance tires on larger 16-inch wheels
was raised to 208km/h. There was even a turbocharged
134kW/182PS MX-5 from the Mazdaspeed performance
division, although this model was not available in Europe.
By 2004, overall global sales had surpassed 700,000 overwhelming confirmation of the second-generations success.
Having successfully avoided the generational dangers,
Mazdas development team and the MX-5s fundamental
principle were in a good position with an eye to future
generations.
Starting at DM35,500 in Germany just like the original

the MX-5 NB continued to be a peoples roadster, helping
propel it to record-breaking heights. By May 2000, almost
532,000 first- and second-generation MX-5s had rolled off
the assembly line at Mazda. At this point, Guinness World
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
1998-2005
1998-2005
Displacement
MZR 1.6 (1998-2001) MZR 1.8 (1998-2001) MZR 1.6 (2001-2005)

cm
1,597
Transmission
1,597
5-speed manual
1,840
5-speed manual
6-speed manual
Max. power
kW(PS)/rpm
81(110)/6,500
103(140)/7,000
81(110)/6,500
107(146)/7,000
Max. torque
Nm/rpm
134/5,000
162/4,500
134/5,000
168/5,000
Top speed
km/h
195
197
191
205
208
0-100km/h
secs
9.7
8.5
9.7
8.5
8.4
kg
1,015
1,025
1,035
1,065
1,100
Min. kerb weight

Length/width/height
mm
Suspension (front & rear)
48
1,840
MZR 1.8 (2001-2005)
3,975/1,680/1,225
Independent double wishbone
Handling, too, was

quicker and more
responsive: lockto-lock took only
2.6 turns of the
steering wheel.
Safety: The NB
MX-5 featured a
highly rigid body
structure, seat
belts with preten
sioners and dual
SRS airbags.
The precise,
short throws of
the improved
M-type five-speed
manual would
prove delightful
to MX-5 owners
everywhere.
Intake and exhaust

system enhancements
hiked power output and
torque: Both the 1.6 and
1.8 were smoother revving and more efficient.
BY MAY 2000, ALMOST 532,000

FIRST- AND SECOND-GENERATION
MX-5s HAD ROLLED OFF THE
ASSEMBLY LINE AT MAZDA.
AT THIS POINT THE MODEL
WAS OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED BY
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS
AS THE BEST SELLING TWOSEATER SPORTS CAR IN HISTORY.
W
F
ith its round corners, pop-up

headlamps, all-around lightness, and a facial expression
that sticks in the mind like a
classic radio hit, the first-generation
model was an instant sensation. Affordable, reliable and a blast to drive, it
broke the mould, laying out a blueprint
for enduring success.
For Mazdas designers and engineers,
1989 capped a decade of development
and innovation, nurturing an idea
sketched on a chalkboard by Bob Hall
a decade earlier. The very first Mazda
MX-5 production model was about to
hit showroom floors. At the time, many
were sceptical that a lightweight twoseater could be commercially viable as
more buyers sought practicality over
style. Indeed, it was an unconventional
car for a conventional world.
Generation one
The birth of
an icon
52
Back when it all began,

with a dream of a new
breed of affordable
sports car built for
driving enthusiasts

-5 so
What the first MX
died was the
brilliantly embo
nal roadster,
io
it
ad
tr
a
of
idea
e. Its design
but for a new ag
minimalist
was beautifully
ing masterful,
and its engineer
mbination of
with a perfect co
fuel efficiency
,
ng
li
nd
ha
r,
we
po
too.
and reliability,
The naysayers couldnt have been more wrong. The MX-5s

daring design and innovative engineering, with a (smallish)
front engine and rear-wheel drive layout, rewrote the book
of what a successful sports car should be.
engined nor square and wedgy, the MX-5 featured rounded aerodynamic lines that would usher in a new age
of automotive design. And it would prove far and away
more popular than any of them before or since.
Fun to drive with irresistibly charming looks, legions of fans

immediately lined up to buy one when it made its debut in
1989, first as the Miata in North America and then as the
Eunos Roadster in Japan before arriving in Europe in 1990.
Originally forecasting modest sales, Mazda had a hit on
its hands from day one, selling not a few hundred units a
month but rather several thousand.
A little less than four metres in length, the MX-5 certainly

wouldnt be described as roomy. But that was by design.
The smaller, the better, thought its architects. No space
wasted. Moreover, it was the incarnation of Jinba Ittai:
rider and horse as one body.
Flowing lines
Unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1989, the
MX-5 diverged from other two-seaters of time rare as they
were like the Toyota MR-2, the soon-to-disappear Fiat X-1/9
and the North America-only Pontiac Fiero. Neither mid-
A TIMELINE
OF INNOVATION
89
19
90
19
1989
British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee
writes a proposal for
what would become
the World Wide Web.
1990
Launch of the Hubble
Space Telescope, which
would provide detailed
images of deep space
and an even deeper
understanding of our
place in the universe.
Mazda got it right off the hop. The NA, as the first
generation is also known, brilliantly embodied the idea of
a traditional roadster, only for a new age. Its design was
beautifully minimalist and its engineering masterful, with
a perfect combination of power, handling, fuel efficiency
and reliability, too something 1960s and 1970s roadster
fans certainly would appreciate.
Tipping the scales at 955kg, Mazdas design team
overcame one of the biggest obstacles in reviving the
lightweight roadster: modern safety regulations.
91
19
92
19
1991
A University of Helsinki
student named Linus
Torvald invents Linux,
the open source computer code that has
become the backbone
of the internet.
1992
Short Message Service
(SMS), also known as
texting, is developed
by British engineer
Neil Papworth.
93
19
94
19
1993
The MP3 digital audio
format is invented,
marking the beginning
of the end for the reign
of the compact disc.
1994
Ericsson develops
Bluetooth wireless
technology, launching
a cordless and (more
importantly) handsfree revolution for data
exchange.
95
19
96
19
1995
DVDs are launched in
Japan, changing how
we watched home videos, while the worlds
first web-based phone
company makes free
long-distance calls a
reality.
1996
Never get lost again:
The worlds first commercial GPS navigation
system is launched.
55
03 THREE GENERATIONS, ONE ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY
DEMAND AND SUPPLY

Canada
16,644
Europe
66,671
U.S.A.
212,561
Costing DM35,500 in Germany and around $14,000

in the U.S. at its launch, the MX-5 was affordable, too.
Under its aluminium hood, the 1.6-litre inline fourcylinder offered plenty of pep. Able to summon 115PS
and 135Nm of torque, the MX-5s oomph-factor owed
much to the B6-ZE engines modern electronic fuel
injection and ignition systems. The 1.6 featured a
specially-built lightweight crankshaft and sump with
cooling fins. A special cylinder head and doubleoverhead camshafts unleashed more power at a wider
engine range, and the powerplant happily revved right
up to its 7,000rpm redline.
The MX-5 was both quick off the line, able to go from
zero to 100km/h in 8.8 seconds, and responsively swift
on the open road. A unique exhaust system, designed to
provide an especially throaty engine roar, also gave it a
bark to match the deliciously fun bite it delivered on a
winding highway.
Exhilarating through and through, the NAs Jinba Ittai
handling and responsiveness was attributable to its low
centre of gravity and a near ideal balance. The latter
was achieved by the front-midship placement of the
56
engine between the driver and front axle, and the four-way
independent double wishbone suspension. Add to that
its five-speed manual with a short, high-mounted lever
and precise gear travel along with direct steering and
lightweight alloy wheels, and the MX-5 was truly a work of
automotive art as confirmed by the growing masses of
adorers.
With a winner on their hands from day one, developers
did not stray far from the original recipe in 1994 when
the MX-5 was given an upgrade. A more powerful 131PS
1.8-litre engine was added featuring updates like a lighter
flywheel, and the cars already exceptional rigidity was
also improved. Safety, too, was enhanced with side impact
bars, ABS and airbags available in some markets. But the
design and suspension remained virtually unchanged.
Throughout its first eight years, the MX-5 remained an exhilarating drive that didnt break the bank account. By the
time Mazda began phasing out the first generation in 1997,
the MX-5 was well on its way to setting a new standard
of success for a sports car. And it blazed the trail for the
myriad of successes to follow.
Japan
118,325
TOTAL
PRODUCTION
431,544*
Australia
4,510
Nobody could anticipate just how popular the MX-5

would be when it was first launched. Mazda initially
forecast total annual sales of 40,000 units, but it
soon became blatantly clear this simply wasnt
enough. In Japan, for example, the expected turnover
of a few hundred per month met with demand in
the thousands. In Europe, meanwhile, independent
importers were snapping up Miata-badged versions
from North America and selling them at drastic
mark-ups. And when the MX-5 did go on sale in
Germany in 1990, the annual allotment of 2,000
vehicles was sold out within days.
* Includes 12 prototypes made in 1988
ll, a blast
he
ts
nu
a
in
s,
The MX-5 wa
a ittai handling
nb
Ji
th
wi
e,
iv
to dr
utable to its
ib
tr
at
ss
ne
ve
si
and respon
l
y and nearly idea
it
av
gr
of
re
nt
low ce
s compact fiveit
at
th
to
d
Ad
balance.
r
high-mounted leve
t,
or
sh
,
al
nu
ma
speed
along with the
el
av
tr
ar
ge
e
and precis
y
the MX-5 was trul
d
an
,
ng
ri
ee
st
direct
tive art.
a work of automo

TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
1989-1998
Displacement
cm3
1.6 (1989-98)
1.8 (1994-98)
1,597
1,840
Transmission
5-speed manual
Max. power
kW(PS)/rpm
85(115)/6,500
96(130)/6,500
Max. torque
Nm/rpm
135/5,500
152/5,000
Top speed
km/h
195
197
0-100km/h
secs
8.8
8.2
kg
955
990
Min. kerb weight

Length/width/height
mm
Suspension (front & rear)
ALTERNATIVE
ENERGIES
UNDER THE
MX-5 BONNET
ally
The MX-5 is norm
peppy
associated with
t back
petrol power, bu
zda
in the 1990s, Ma
nventested some unco
.
tional prototypes
3,975/1,675/1,230
Independent double wishbone
MX-5 HYDROGEN ROTARY
THE ELECTRIC MX-5
Rotary engines are well suited to

burning hydrogen, which is why the
hydrogen-powered MX-5 prototype
used a modified RX-7 engine. The fuel
was stored in aluminium canisters
located in the boot. Performance was
reduced in the name of efficiency, with
a 0-100km/h sprint time of 13 seconds
and 150km/h max. speed.
With 16 nickel cadmium batteries

(stored in the engine bay and the
boot) providing current to an electric
AC motor, this MX-5 had a maximum
range of more than 170km. Adding
450kg, the car now weighed 1,410kg,
which of course affected performance:
0-100km/h in 21.5 seconds and a top
speed of not quite 130km/h.
This year-long test project was conducted with Japans Ministry of International Trade & Industry and Nippon
Steel Corporation.
Three prototypes were built in the

early 1990s in collaboration with the
Chugoku Electric Power Company.
16 nickel cadmium batteries (stored
61
03 THE REBIRTH OF THE ROADSTER
the traditional Japanese Jinba Ittai

concept of rider and horse as one.
This is at the source of the fun-todrive qualities that would make the
little roadster such a success.
Backing a winner
The Mazda MX-5:

Today a household
word among car enthusiasts across the
globe. Back in 1979,
however, what would
become the worlds
favourite sports
car was little more
than an idea.
he seed was planted in 1979

at Mazda headquarters in
Hiroshima by an automotive
journalist named Bob Hall.
Hall-san, what sort of car should we
build next? asked Kenichi Yamamoto,
then head of R&D at Mazda, during a
conversation in conference room 401.
An inexpensive sports car, answered
Hall, an American who had been
brought up around MGs, Lotuses and
Triumphs. He loved them, but was irritated by their poor reliability. A sim
ple, bugs-in-the-teeth, wind-in-the-hair,
classically-British roadster. Hall made
a rudimentary sketch of an open-top
two seater on a chalkboard, and it
struck a chord with the Mazda execu
tive. A process was set in motion.
It would be a long process, however,

before the global premiere of the
first Mazda MX-5 production model at
the 1989 Chicago Auto Show. There
would be a lot of persuading to do.
The number crunchers at Mazda were
opposed: niche models, after all, are
uneconomical.
But the advocates of such a vehicle
knew what they wanted and thought
it could make money. Above all, the
car would have to be lightweight (the
engineers motto for the project was
LWS for lightweight sports car). It
needed sufficient power to be fun.
It needed to sound good. And, of
course, it had to look beautiful. At the
inner core of the little roadster was
The parameters were set, but it would

not be until Yamamotos 1984 promotion to president of Mazda Motor
Corporation that the project got the
support it needed. An internal competition was held to determine what kind
of lightweight sports car it was going
to be. Three formats came into consideration: front engine, front-wheel
drive (FF); mid-engine, rear-wheel
drive (MR); and front engine, rearwheel drive (FR).
By this time, passenger cars around
the world were moving en masse to FF
layouts. Although considered by many
to be the antithesis of a true sports
car, FFs big advantages were the fle
xibility of engine-drivetrain combinations as well as the ease and costeffectiveness of building such a car.
The MR layout, meanwhile, was a
darling of racing and exotic sports
car enthusiasts for its superior driv
ing dynamics. It also allowed an FF
powertrain to be adapted with relative
ease. Then, of course, there was the
classic FR sports car: like many of
Halls British two-seaters, something
for purists.
Styling proposals for all three were
submitted by three Mazda studios, two
in Japan and one in California. In 1984,
the FR concept designed at the latter
was chosen, true to the spirit of the
original roadsters.
An internal competition was held in 1984

to determine the look of Mazdas future
lightweight sports car. The winner was the
front engine, rear-wheel drive design from
the U.S. studio: The open-top two seater
shown here with a detachable hardtop.
62
The two other designs

were two-seater coupes:
one with front engine and
front-wheel drive...
Resources were limited. After all,

the anticipated production volumes
did not justify a major development
outlay. Particularly for an engine. A
rotary was not considered for cost
reasons and also because its output
meant it was earmarked for bigger,
pricier models. Power, like many other
components, would have to come off
the volume parts shelf. The 16-valve
1.6-litre from the front-wheel drive
Mazda 323 seemed promising for
a small, light and affordable car.
Details, details
Until they turned it 90 degrees to install it longitudinally for the FR layout
and realised that the protruding distributor interfered with the firewall. The
problem was solved with some clever
engineering and a little cash, but was
symbolic of the sort of obstacles the
development team would have to
overcome.
In any case, the engineers trans

formed the sedan engine into a
rev-happy sports car powerplant
with a 7,000rpm redline and a smooth
engine power curve all the way up.
Then they taught it how to growl like
a roadster should. And transferred
the 115PS to the real wheels using
the five-speed manual from the
Mazda RX-7, also an FR sports car.
The suspension in the first running
prototype the V705 built in 1985
was patched together from older
Mazdas. However, it was deemed
unacceptable for the kind of handling and refinement developers were
aiming for. With no suitable version in
Mazdas parts bin the RX-7s was too
big one would have to be designed
from scratch.
The shape of the third

prototype, built in 1986,
was already quite close
to the production model.
The famous sketch made in

1979 by Bob Hall during a
conversation at Mazda with
Kenichi Yamamoto, then
Mazdas R&D chief.
and the other with a midengined, rear-wheel drive

layout. They were the work
of two Japanese studios.
63
A double wishbone setup was chosen

for all four wheels for its superior
dynamics. Not the simplest solution,
but the most desirable under the circumstances. The engineers also added
a power plant frame to rigidly connect
the transmission and differential, mak
ing the car adapt to the drivers commands faster and with more precision.
Enhancing the sports car feel, this
would become an essential technical
element of the MX-5.
Overcoming the odds

The body, meanwhile, owes much
to computer analysis technology,
since it allowed the undermanned
development team to come up with
a lightweight yet rigid shell that
would meet the latest safety require
ments. Toshihiko Hirai, a relatively
young Mazda engineer who became
programme manager in early 1986,
happened to be a body engineering
expert. His recognition of the potential
of computer-aided design and engineering something that didnt exist
in the 1970s as lightweight sports cars
were being regulated into extinction
significantly accelerated development
of the MX-5.
Indeed, weight is the single most
important trait of the MX-5. The
engineers stripped off everything that
was unnecessary, restraining their
customary desire for more features

and more output. This minimalist
approach was, in fact, a key element
of the little roadsters fun-to-drive
character, which was founded neither
on big horsepower nor fancy engine
control technology.
By this point, however, there were
still doubts as to whether the MX-5
would ever reach production. Was
there really a market for a lightweight sports car? To test this, a
full-scale plastic body prototype was
built and brought to the U.S., where
it was shown to a selected group of
car enthusiasts in spring 1987.
They were thrilled. The overwhelm
ing response from a group of experts
in the worlds largest automobile
market resonated with Mazda
decision-makers.
By April 1988, there were 12 MX-5
prototypes in the U.S. Enamoured
with the cars short shift stroke and
direct steering, the few journalists
who were lucky enough to test drive
them that summer demanded that
Mazda builds this car.
Mazda did, unveiling the production
version in February 1989 in Chicago.
The global rollout that began soon
thereafter was a smashing success,
and the rest is history. The history of
a legend.
Back in the eighties,

Takao Kijima doing some
benchmark testing in
California.
T. KIJIMA
N. YAMAMOTO
The three programme managers who

perpetuated the soul and spirit of the MX-5.
The near-extinction
of a sports car
After their heyday in the 1960s, a
combination of events would lead to
the decline of the attractive, affordable
roadster.
Regulatory issues played a major
role, especially in the U.S. The double
whammy of stricter safety and emis
sions laws in the 1970s forced sports
car makers to add weight while
reducing engine output. There were
even fears that convertibles would be
banned entirely in this all-important
market. And then there were the muchreported build quality and reliability
problems with these types of cars,
along with a lack of investment into development. All of this was exacerbated
by deep financial troubles facing many
of their manufacturers at a time in
which the global automobile industry
was undergoing major consolidation.
The fate of the open-top sports car
appeared to be sealed. And then along
came Mazda
The fibreglass-bodied
prototype shown during a
customer test clinic held in
California in 1987 was an
overwhelming hit.
64
T. HIRAI
Interview:Takao Kijima
The Engineer
Takao Kijima was in charge of chassis
development for the first-generation
MX-5 and programme manager of the
second- and third-generation models.
What type of cars did you like in the
1980s?
The second-generation RX-7. I developed the suspension for that car, and
I put a great deal of passion into it
because I was determined to surpass
Porsche
Why was the image of Jinba Ittai chosen as the inspiration for the MX-5?
Our aspiration was to create a oneof-a-kind fun sports car that moves
exactly the way you expect it to, just
like your hands and feet. In the product development process we came to
focus on this idea of Jinba Ittai. Its an
expression that comes from a traditional Japanese ritual of horseback
archery and was used to describe a
masterful performance in which the
horse and rider seem to literally become one body and move as a unified
whole. We thought that if we could
create a similar relationship between
the car and its driver, it would surely
be a fun car. We defined this philosophy as Jinba Ittai and personified it in
the MX-5.
Why has a moderately powered

engine always been part of the
MX-5 concept?
We want the car to move exactly as
the driver expects, so the amount of
power must be easy to manage. More
power does not necessarily mean
more fun. The agility of the car comes
for the most part from how light it is.
If you have more power output, you
end up needing bigger brakes and a
stiffer body. As a result, the car gets
heavier and duller.
How can such a car remain so
exceptional for so long?
This model is still unique because we
have never forgotten that the MX-5s
appeal is its Jinba Ittai feel, so we
have consistently kept it lightweight
and agile. Such a car is simply unique.
What is your fondest memory of
driving an MX-5?
The greatest appeal of an opentop car is how it lets you feel at one
with nature. Any time you drive the
MX-5 through the countryside, youre
creating a fantastic memory. For me,
crossing the Alps out of Austria was
very special. I also have many great
memories of driving through very
picturesque locations all around the
world, such as Hawaii, during product

launch events.
How is it possible to remain faithful
to the basic principles of the car with
todays regulatory constraints concerning things like safety and CO2
emissions?
What is the goal for the technology
you are developing? This is the question an engineer faces. In the case of
the MX-5, there are many elements
threatening the Jinba Ittai concept
that is so important to our customers.
Such as safety features, the need to
meet environmental standards, and
so on. Our mission as engineers is
to make the necessary technological
breakthroughs that will enable us to
keep delivering Jinba Ittai despite
these difficulties. At Mazda we are
lucky enough to have engineers with
the skill and vision to achieve this as
well as the necessary support from all
levels of the organisation. That is why
the MX-5 remains such a winner.
65
Photo: Joe Windsor-Williams
TRIUMPH SPITFIRE
Produced: 1962-80
Would prove exceptionally
popular after following
the Austin-Healey Sprite
on to the fledgling market
for small, inexpensive
roadsters.
LOTUS ELAN
(original model)
Produced: 1962-73
The Elan followed the
minimalist philosophy of its
creator, Colin Chapman,
to reduce weight rather
than add power.
MAZDA MX-5 NA
Produced: 1989-98
Brought open top

two-seater fun into the
modern age for a new
generation of motorists.
o appreciate where the

concept of the Mazda MX-5
originated, you have to
travel back in time to the
post-Second World War era, when
roads were empty, fuel was cheap and
for many, freedom was an open-top
British roadster.
In the late 1940s and 1950s, illustrious names like Austin-Healey, Jaguar,
Lotus, MG and Triumph were honing
their sports car-building skills. And
by the 1960s, machines like the
66
Lotus Elan and Triumph Spitfire were

bringing driving thrills to the masses.
They were affordable, light, nimble and
loads of fun. Drivers the world over
yearned to slide down into the cockpit
of a British roadster, drop the roof and
motor away into the sunset.
Move ahead to the 1970s, and destiny
would start taking its toll on the con
vertible culture. There were several
factors, like the oil crisis and crash
safety legislation that regulated some
models literally off the road. The
dependability of these British models,

meanwhile, had become a running
gag.
Nevertheless, people still remem
bered those roadsters fondly. Mazda
even built one called the MX-5,
making it lightweight, fun and at the
same time ultra-reliable. And they did
such a good job that its become the
worlds bestselling two-seater sports
car ever. Returning the favour after
25 years, the MX-5 is now influencing
British sports cars.
Lotus and Triumph sketched the blueprint

for the affordable British roadster. And
Mazdas engineers revived it enduringly.
67
Photo: Joe Windsor-Williams
Photo: Kevin Necessary
The two men who are the

fathers of the original project to
revive the lightweight sports car:
Tom Matano and Bob Hall.
MAZDA MX-5
FRONTLINE MG
LE50
Launched: 2011
It looks like a restored

MGB GT, but is in fact
an all-new model with
a modern MX-5 engine
and gearbox.
MORGAN 3
WHEELER
Launched: 2011
Now in its fourth

generation, the most
successful roadster
ever (third generation
pictured here) still
has a bright road in
front of it.
Just as Mazda reinvented

the roadster, so Morgan
reinvented its 3 Wheeler,
which is based on the
1920 Morgan Super Aero.
Whos inspiring whom?

The MX-5 has come full
circle, helping a couple
of British classics adapt
to the modern age.
68
hese two British sports cars

have more in common with
the Mazda MX-5 than meets
the eye: The MG LE50 and
Morgan 3 Wheeler both use MX-5
components.
The Morgan Motor Company turned to
Mazda for a gearbox because, as the
former said, nothing else came close
to offering the lightweight engineering
and perfect operation of the MX-5
drivetrain. Resurrected in 2011, the
550kg 3 Wheeler carries on Morgans
lightweight tradition. Based on Morgan cyclecars built for nearly half a
century before production ceased in
the 1950s, driving one is like piloting
an early fighter plane. Vintage motor
ing attire such as goggles, gloves and
a scarf are obligatory. The steering
wheel rests in the lap of the driver,
whose elbow hangs outside the cabin,
and the guttural V-twin engine growls

like, well, a 2-litre V-twin. But amid all
these historical sensations is the reassuringly smooth and direct-shifting
five-speed from the MX-5.
The MG LE50 also features an MX-5
manual (a six-speed) connected to a
specially tuned 160kW/218PS version
of the MZR 2.0 engine from the current MX-5. The gearbox was chosen
for being advanced, proven and
reliable, but also because it weighs
only 85kg. All this has been packaged
by Frontline Developments into a new
MGB GT body shell from British Motor
Heritage, seam-welded for more stiffness. But the LE50 retains the charm
of the original MGB GT, a hatchback
coup built from 1965 to 1980. With a
little help from Mazda, it and the Morgan 3 Wheeler are alive and well, and
back on the road in the 21st century.
MATANO
HALL
Left BMW for Mazda,

where he designed the
MX-5, MPV, MX-6 and
third-generation RX-7.
Today he owns an MX-5
(NA) as well as an RX-7.
The former journalists

sketch and conversation
with a senior Mazda
executive got him hired
to help create the worlds
most popular sports car.
Tsutomu Tom Matano

The Architect
Bob Hall
The Visionary
Hired by Bob Hall (right), Tom was the design chief who
helped create the template for what would become the
worlds favourite roadster.
Bob Hall was the product planner for the MX-5 and the
man who first sold the idea of a lightweight sports car to
Mazda.
It was my job to take the concept of a lightweight sports

car and make it reality. When people ask me if I ever
expected the MX-5 to still be around some 25 years later,
I have to reply: If you want me to be truthful, well, yes.
Thats because when I originally set out to design the MX-5
almost 30 years ago, I designed not one, but three generations of the roadster. I felt at the time that it was important
to show how the car would evolve and develop over its
lifetime a lifetime that was meant to be 25 years. Back
then I didnt get the chance to imagine a fourth-generation
MX-5, but make no mistake, I knew even early on that I
was working on something that would one day become a
legend. I have not been disappointed.
I cannot say I was certain the MX-5 would be around for

a quarter of a century, but I was positive the idea had legs
because the concept of a lightweight sports car was then
and still is now both relevant and desirable. Of course,
the cars been part of my life for much longer, ever since
April 1979 with my scribble on a chalkboard at Mazdas
Hiroshima headquarters for Kenichi Yamamoto [then head
of R&D and later Mazda president]. And the reason for its
longevity? Simple, unlike the 62 MGB that stayed in production for 18 years, Mazda had the foresight to keep the
car up to date rather than just working with the old bones.
It proves what you can do when you start with a good idea
and have even better people to implement it.
69
04 DESIGNING AN ICON
NS
ENERATIO
G
R
U
O
F
-5S
HOUT
S, THE MX
R
THROUG
A
E
Y
5
2
ER
E THAN
IOUS DRIV
V
B
AND MOR
O
E
N
AS BEEN O
AMONG
S
IT
.
S
S
DESIGN H
E
CC
E
GOING SU
N
O
S
R BECAM
A
IT
C
F
O
IS
H
T
REASONS
ITS
HE TIP OF
THE MAIN
T
M
O
R
F
ICON.
LAMPS,
IL
A
SUCH AN
T
S
IT
O
UMPER T
TURED IN
FRONT B
A
E
F
N
E
V
RN
ERE E
OF MODE
WHICH W
M
U
E
S
U
YORK M
IN
THE NEW
ATERIALS
M
T
N
A
T
.
5 MU
EXHIBIT
ARTS 199
N
IG
S
E
D
P ORARY
CONTEM
Y
R
O
T
S
I
H
N
G
I
S
E
70
71
03 DESIGNING
04
THE DESIGNAN
OFICON
AN ICON
ing
naka work
Shunji Ta
l MX-5
a
in
g
ri
o
on the
am.
design te
with his
e
h
t
s
i
s
Thi
.
t
n
a
w
car I
naka
Shunji Traof the
igne
Chief des ion MX-5
t
1st genera
as
da is Mazd
Ikuo Mae design. He
f
o
d
a
global he rge of the dea
was in ch that created
s
sign team nd Mazda2,
a
to
the RX-8
ntributed
co
o
ls
a
d
an
X-5.
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l
a
in
g
the ori
The car
embodied
the ideal
shape of a
t
h
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e
w
t
h
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li
.
r
a
c
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Ikuo Mcaeerd&
Offi
Executive anager,
General M ivision
Design D
72
cter lines
the chara mediately
re
a
t
a
h
W
im
e an MX-5
en you
that mak
ction wh
a
re
e
r
?
th
u
f
le
o
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ab
no
sy
recognis
ilhouette
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shaped s ture. There
producti
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v
w
o
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s
e
t
h
T
?
firs
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X-5
guishing
nes.
eration M get one! The car
the distin cular character li
first-gen
to
it
ta
h
w
g
ti
li
t
r
n
a
a
a
f
p
c
o
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o
t
e
n
are
Tha
al shap
ve
is instant:
d the ide
n and ha
embodie ts car. Its appeal
r sport fa akes the
.
to
e
o
n
r
m
o
o
a
n
p
s
w
You are
weight
. What m
ant to o
ny MX-5s
?
ediately w
raced ma cial on the track
you imm
e track,
spe
n
th
o
io
s
n
rs
o
e
-5
r
v
X
a
c
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te
t
ri
s
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o
te
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e fa
and so
our fa
Its not th asy to manoeuvre ys
What is y
e
lwa
?
but its so drive. You can a this
of the NA t 1.6-litre model.
s
to
m
ie
n
o
rl
fu
a
fr
e
h
g
c
e
in
u
h
m
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ut driv
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o
o
b
e
a
v
ll off a
a
re
h
o
p
arn m
ant to u good
le
w
I used to
u
o
y
if
ery
use
MX-5
car, beca
to have v
neration
you need
e first-ge so quickly?
,
th
e
m
id
ti
d
t
y
s
fa
Wh
icon
form
e.
a design
ely honed
techniqu
become
n
fi
a
d
a
h
It
.
it
d
e
n
s
ta
u
Beca
unders
ortant
simple to
ent with
most imp eight
that was
s
r
involvem
a
r
c
u
e
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th
s
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d
a
h
e
g
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express
t?
glance: li
elopmen
s at first
ed planNAs dev
attribute
h advanc for the
.
it
le
w
d
n
d
a
e
h
lv
o
t
to
I was inv sign developmen om
and easy
be
de
ac
d
to
m
n
r
o
a
e
n
fr
g
ig
g
in
s
n
n
as a de
. Starti
e
-5
k
f
X
li
d Mazdas
o
M
e
it
n
l
n
a
o
fi
is
ti
origin
What
evolu
, we de
e
te
th
la
r
s
k
fo
n
regard
le
pletely bla ophy and spirit in
responsib el?
e
th
f
s
o
d
o
il
o
e
h
lu
rs.
basic p
such a m
in the va er the
sports ca
t mainta
v
htweight
g
li
to
You can ply by carrying o
ed
im
n. You ne
original s
f its desig e car. But
o
le
ty
s
r
image o
pirit of th signifiver the s
to carry o time, you have to f that
no
me
at the sa nce the expressio n icon,
a
a
v
f
cantly ad ise it to a level o
ing the
ra
y
d
d
n
o
a
spirit
of emb
le
b
a
p
a
c
is
one that
my duty.
ee this as
s
I
.
d
n
ra
b
hen you
el now w
fe
u
o
y
o
eet?
What d
n the str
car
n story
n MX-5 o
a
ig
to have a
s
e
e
e
e
k
s
d
li
-5
ld
X
u
M
o
w
a
e
u
I
o
g
th
t
y
a
nin
an
ils of
I feel th
ure desig
xample, c el
The deta
When yo t is based on this
ng. For e
e
.
ti
h
f
is
a
o
w
th
in
e
c
ry
e
s
k
o
th
li
fa
p
e
ged
are
est mem
nleash
our conc
you chan
X-5?
the
our fond
vehicle, y e. And then you u alising
ll us why
eration M the
stage in
n
te
d
e
What is y
e
g
c
tn
a
g
rs
v
isu
a
ed
n ad
g the fi
vague im ation. You start v rm
hen I ask
base at a ess?
w
designin
5
8
r.
in
19
e
l
g
g
a
d
a
a
en fo
roc
y lon
roun
otenti
your im
design p
It was a
as initiall
ery, and th erfect fit for
n
hat the p
w
e
w
e
c
t
ts
s
s
n
r
a
m
l
a
o
a
e
lb
p
fu
e
s
te
m
ti
t
g
ts a p
beau
The whe cause the layout
marketin e for a lightweigh The
e
ppear tha ccasionally I ena
th
t
to
e
u
b
p
.
m
ts
s
r
.S
ld
lu
a
sta
.O
This w
sales vo
nd the U ets.
l.
e we cou
oundings
e same
Europe a
only plac of the back whee
rk
these surr MX-5 in exactly th ives
that the
t
car was in zero for both ma in
n
o
n
It g
as in fr
n the
ar
as
counter a d imagined for it.
battery w wanted to shorte overall
answer w for that type of c , and
e Im in
a
h
m
I
ti
y
s
g
e
ll
e
r
a
th
in
a
m
m
n
n
c
a
sett
the s
e the
t
I perso
v
a
The volu 150 units per mo
ro
t
p
u
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b
to
im
d
l,
o
y
e
il
h
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e to
s
le w
el bless
me a ch
fe
d
wheelbas ich is also a good ting
n
Japan wa uyers were peop poke
a
s
blis
wh
al b
p loca
cts s
rves.
absolute
balance,
the typic
ner dese
nt. The fa g a lighte ended u reducing
ig
re
W
s
e
fe
t.
d
if
h
d
a
ig
e
e
n
d
in
tha
lower w
liked to b
trunk an
s produc
ry in the
ainst mas
strongly
the batte se by 32mm.
clearly ag ts car. However, I st
r?
lba
or
mu
classic ca
the whee
weight sp t such a vehicle
define a
e
u
is
th
o
y
rs
in
e
o
a
tt
d
re
a
e
th
How
hat m
mewh
o
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s
.
believed
e
rs
ts
g
n
a
to
e
a
s
n
d
?
it
re
ante
ropo
ism
its c to
Not by
hi Dynam
have its p use I personally w face.
assion of a car contic
p
a
e
m
e
th
ro
r
th
u
e
d
M
y
ca
if
hin
wheth
What is
world. Be nd feel the air in m ostly
e era and ive generasophy be l MX-5, a
m
a
the philo
outlive th
ss
,
a
e
e
e
n
is
in
c
n
p
a
t
c
g
o
c
a
ty
u
ri
e
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s
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to
T
e
ri
d
n a pro
eral
e of
ppeal to
n of th
o
n
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a
e
ig
a
g
s
to
-g
in
e
im
vel.
n
s
d
r
rk
e
le
e
u
d
o
l
u
th
o
e
n
refin
otiona
I was w
ed on
nd the
s
m
a
a
e
,
b
a
e
n
e
s
a
m
a
w
n
ti
e
w
y
o
re
Ib
tions
philosoph chi period, which Japan
in my spa the R&D division
ma
ry.
pending
of
s
ro
to
r
u
s
e
is
a
g
M
h
a
w
e
s
I
n
n
a
t
th
a
m
pa
eans in
era in Ja
told me th
So I
dynamic
the Europ er half
longed to me on my hobby.
h
it
w
g
in
d
tt
ld
ti
beganthtra tury, during the la rovinget and to lly
too much
fp
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a
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im
h
rs
m
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e
d
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k
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. It was
d
uld like to U.S.
o
o
e time
ri
w
th
e
I
p
o
t
a
the
of this
and als
him th
,
in
n
e
a
rs
p
e
a
m
J
u
in
ns
g up to th
cial wars
survey co
an openin rences
g
re
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b
li
n
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a
C
p
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l to
when Ja
ltural dif the
tic mode Cone huge cu
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We shipp it in the Anaheim ted
u
c
t
E
selves as
u
u
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hen we
o
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r.
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c
unique
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n
Japanes lture with its ow
vention C 350 randomly se r and
be too
cu
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ith
a unique
k it would that
a clinic w per cent liked the
in
th
ld
t
u
n
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o
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ay
yw
0
identity. I exaggeration to s culture
people; 6 of those said the re
n
t
e
a
n
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w
pan se
much of
80 per ce ying it. And they
ge
odern Ja romachi
m
ra
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r
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fo
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r
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the ba
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uring the
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formed d
s
a
w
willing to ore than what we
is up at
m
period.
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e
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n
m
t
n
e
m
e
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g
a
project, I
uent man
a subseq reen light for the
g
and got a lute heaven.
so
was in ab
73
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)
ster (USA
M Speed
uch
st how m
strate ju
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e
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t
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ds
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nced the ct driver
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er renou
te
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ro
a
p
ro
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io
rs
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,
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o
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p
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that a pro finally happened
e Roadst
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io
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rs
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v
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apanese,
life in J
w
e
n
ainly
e
th
was cert
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f the MX-5 ration when it
Meaning
o
n
io
it
d
ren
ene
the Ibuki
irit of reg
w. The
ith the sp Tokyo Motor Sho
imbued w
e
xisting
e
th
t
n
a
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re
d
ea
not base
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ig
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d lightwe
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s
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MX-5, its
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t
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h
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ld
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ials foreto the next decade
re Ibuki
PS 1.6-lit
ver
models o the futuristic 180 motor, regen
d
ce,
tric hybri
pretty fa
.
d an elec
p system
re
to
tu
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le
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also
and an id
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ra
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erative
MX-5 GT
(UK)
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e British
tion in th k inspiration
a
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rt
a
s p
er too
the MX-5
ith Lotus
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emorate
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rs
e
n
To comm
ig
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81
05 THE VIEW FROM OUT THERE
FOLLOWING IN THE TRACKS OF

BRITISH ROADSTER CULTURE IN A
FIRST-GENERATION MX-5: MAZDAS
ORIGINAL TWO-SEATER SET OUT
ON AN UNFORGETTABLE 700 MILE
(1,120KM) EXPEDITION THROUGH THE
UK. THE THREE-DAY TRIP TOOK THE
LONG WAY FROM THE SOUTHAMPTON
AREA UP INTO WALES BEFORE
Road
RETURNING BACK THROUGH ENGLAND

TO GOODWOOD, A GRAIL OF THE
MOTORING WORLD.
Trip
Back To roadster country
82
83
ritain certainly offered the ideal conditions for

inventing the roadster. Who else could have come
up with such cars if not a country with plenty of
hills and even more motor sport fans, where each
rare moment of sun is something to be cherished? History
may have doomed most local manufacturers, but the MX-5
is keeping their spirit alive. And what better way to pay
homage to the roots of the roadster than to take a trip
along the splendid country roads of England and Wales?
With no less than Goodwood a Mecca for car legends
as the final destination. The MX-5 should be right at home.
Arriving in a mystic
landscape of the Black
Mountain range between
Brynamman and Llangadog.
The weather? As expected.
2 SEATER
3 DAY TRIP
700 MILES
1996 NA MODEL
1.8 L ENGINE
& 225,000 KM
NA and B-roads
The roads in roadster: winding,

empty and breathtaking.
The B4520 near Upper Chapel
in the Mynydd Eppynt area,
a name that means mountain
horse path in Welsh.
84
An overcast day on the A40/A470

from Llandovery through Brecon
and the wonderful Brecon Beacons
to Builth Wells.
But which MX-5 shall it be? The choice was a Japan import
Eunos Roadster as first-generation MX-5s were called in
the domestic market in top-of-the-line V Special Type II
special edition format. Its a 1.8-litre 1996 NA model
with a Torsen limited-slip differential and a respectable
225,000km on the clock, but still in excellent condition.
The black paintwork and chrome wheels and mirrors were
polished up, and the car didnt miss a beat mechanically,
either. The heater even worked like new no small detail
in winter. This model was borrowed from Autolink, a
company located near Southampton that specialises
in parts for second-hand Japanese cars and specifically
MX-5s. And that was where the journey began.
85
The atmosphere in the cabin? Fittingly retro, with high-end

brown leather upholstery, a beautiful three-spoke metal
and wood Nardi steering wheel, elegant wooden gear shift
knob and hand brake lever, and door panels featuring extra
tweeters and metal protective plates. A Pioneer stereo with
cassette and CD player, a bar behind the seats reinforcing
the bodys stiffness and metal door sill guards rounded out
this models original special equipment.
Unsurprisingly, the car was a pleasure to drive, with perfect
pedals and fast shifting along with the engine response and
handling required for a truly sporty road experience. And a
soft top that was quick and easy to put down. Or up again in
the not-so-seldom case of showers. (It is Britain, after all.)
The roads are amazing around the Brecon Beacons, a
mountain range and national park in south Wales with
From Rhayader on the B4518

along the Elan River valley to
the Caban-coch reservoir...
peaks reaching almost 900m above sea level. It was at times

easy to forget that such breathtaking scenery, reminiscent of
Patagonia or New Zealand, could be within such close reach
of the rest of the UK: Its only 60km north of Cardiff, the
Welsh capital.
Also called the Welsh Lake District, the region features rolling
countryside and windy roads with sparse traffic, but is also
impeccably clean and therefore as loved by walkers, hikers,
photographers and even stargazers as it is by motoring
enthusiasts. A jaunt down to Aberystwyth and the Irish Sea
coast followed before steering the MX-5 back into the hills of
interior Wales. The time behind the wheel went by incredibly
fast and it was soon time to return. But at least there was
another 300km-plus of B-road fun to look forward before
reaching Goodwood.
and the neighbouring Garreg-ddu

reservoir. Construction of the
Elan River dams that created
these reservoirs began in 1893.
The final destination (pictured to the left):
the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex,
home of the annual Festival of Speed.
The estate is run by the Earl of March,
who is also president of the British
Automobile Racing Club and no
stranger to British roadster culture.
Clichs of the magnificent sort:

Lakes, green hills and sheep in the
rugged Towy Forest at Llyn Brianne,
a reservoir on the way from
Aberystwyth to Llandovery.
Heading north on
the A470 from
Builth Wells
to Rhayader.
86
It was at times easy

to forget that such
breathtaking scenery,
reminiscent of Patagonia
or New Zealand,
could be within such
close reach of the
rest of the UK.
87
Switzerland
All you really need.
MX-5
THROUGH THE EYES
OF THE MEDIA
U.S. comedian and TV host Jay Leno,

about his NA MX-5:
Every time I get in this car, I realise this is all
you really need: plenty of power, fun to drive
and good handling. Whats more, the air conditioner works. The radio works. The heater
works. All the problems you used to associate with sports cars dont exist in this car.
Its a truly practical car you can use every
day but its really fun to drive. And it really
is fun to drive. It handles extremely well. The
gearbox is excellent: very quick, very swift.
The clutch is light enough so as not to be a
hindrance. It makes just the right amount of
noise, not too loudof course mines a little
bit louder than stock because thats what I
like. Its a very easy car to personalise, too.
For example, this one has anti-roll bars and
a supercharger that gives you a little extra
power. And you can drive this car very, very
swiftly. You can hang the tail on a little bit,
drop it down a gear, bring it around. Just
going for a bag of groceries can be a lot of
fun. The real trick to owning one of these is
you always take the long way home.
The best handling two-seater Ive

driven in recent memory and my
memory for such things is good.
Why buy it? Just try it

and youll fall in love.
And its also very reliable.
Largus, France
N 10/2011
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Page 8/8
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France
Page 5/8
Du fin fond de ces baies moteur

860 en et 16 cylindres nous contemplent
dont les trois quarts cte orange
"> Quatre mtres deux places et un petit moteur

nerveux la MX 5 cultive la recette du roadster
MAZDA
5984530300524/GJD/MMI/2
MAZDA
5984530300524/GJD/MMI/2
Into the desert

MX-5 fans all over love to
customise their roadsters. After
all, there are so many of them
around. Many strange things
have been tried, but perhaps
the most convoluted (and one
of the best known) modification jobs ever was seen in
the 2010 Top Gear Christmas
Special. The challenge for the
three hosts was to re-enact the
journey of the three wise men
across the desert to Bethlehem, each in a used two-seater
convertible. Modifying their
cars for desert travel, Jeremy
Clarkson gave his NB MX-5 a
car of many colours paint job,
also adding a camel catcher and
the Axle of Evil to make it a
six-wheeled roadster.
88
6/9
9/9
Elments de recherche : Passages significatifs : - MAZDA ou MAZDA AUTOMOBILES FRANCE : constructeur automobile, uniquement en France MAZDA2 : vhicule Mazda - MAZDA3 ou MAZDA3 MPS : vhicule Mazda - MAZDA5 : vhicule Mazda - MAZDA6 ou ...
Elments de recherche : Passages significatifs : - MAZDA ou MAZDA AUTOMOBILES FRANCE : constructeur automobile, uniquement en France MAZDA2 : vhicule Mazda - MAZDA3 ou MAZDA3 MPS : vhicule Mazda - MAZDA5 : vhicule Mazda - MAZDA6 ou ...
THE MIATA IS A PERFECT MACHINE FOR LINKING SUCCESSIVE

CURVES. THERE IS NO CAR AS
FUN AS THE MAZDA MX-5.
Car and Driver, Spain
Diamonds
Are Forever.
Diario Digital, Portugal
Car and Driver, USA
The MX-5 is for all the

other roadsters as Coca-Cola
is for all the other colas.
AutoFoco SportsCars, Portugal
IN THIS FIRST TEST DRIVE OF THE 2015

MAZDA MX-5 ITS CLEAR THAT THE
FOURTH GENERATION OF THE JAPANESE
ROADSTER IS THE MOST AMBITIOUS EVER,
AND THANKS TO A SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT
REDUCTION, IT IS ALSO THE SPORTIEST
MX-5 IVE EVER DRIVEN
Autobild.es, Spain
IM JUST GLAD THE MX-5 EXISTS.

THE WORLD DESERVES A SMALL
ROADSTER AS GOOD AS THIS. IT
BRIGHTENS THINGS UP, AND WE ALL
NEED A BIT OF THAT IN OUR LIVES.
Top Gear, UK
Hopefully there will be a futuristic

MX-5 in 50 years with the same
essence as the current one because
what makes it last are these
everlasting basic virtues.
Autova, Spain
It can be considered
one of the best cars ever.
Wie es sich fr so
einen puristischen
Roadster gehrt,
klappt das kleine Stoffkppi von Hand
Automvil, Spain
Neuer Mazda MX-5
Ein Roadster
nach
Reinheitsgebot
RIGHT NOW NO OTHER AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER OFFERS THIS

EXCEPTIONAL ROADSTER-FEELING:
PRECISION AND TOP DOWN DRIVING
PLEASURE FOR A GOOD PRICE.
Auto Zeitung, Germany
Ladies and gentlemen,

the Mazda MX-5 keeps up
to date and makes something
new every day: it was the
best-selling roadster yesterday, its the bestseller today
and probably will be the
bestseller tomorrow.
iSPEED, Portugal
Mazda belebt ein altes Konzept:

kleiner, leichter, sportlicher. Und
der MX-5 wird jung wie noch nie
76
ERGESSEN SIES. Diese Geschichte wird kein objektiver

Bericht. Denn ich bin hemmungslos parteiisch. Ich halte
den MX-5 fr eines der grten Spagerte auf vier Rdern, seit ich 1990
den ersten besessen habe. Oder der
mich. Als ich jetzt den neuen, vierten
MX-5 gefahren habe, war ich erneut
sprachlos. Mazda hat seine Ikone radikal umgekrempelt und doch wieder
das gleich faszinierende Auto gezaubert einen Roadster reinsten Wassers.
Offen gestanden, das Design des

Neuen verlangt Gewhnung, denn mit
der Historie brechen diese Linien komplett. Da blitzen zusammengekniffene
LED-Augen (Serie), die Kotflgel schwingen steil und bgelfaltig hoch wie in den
60ern. Schmale Rckleuchten und stmmige Proportionen erinnern aus manchem Winkel an den Jaguar F-Type. So
englisch war der MX-5 noch nie.
Die Frontscheibe rckte sieben
Zentimeter nach hinten, die Insassen
hocken mittig zwischen den Kotflgel-
wellen, wo die Frischluft um das winzige Dreiecksfenster vorn am Auenspiegel tobt. Mit Seitenscheiben oben
und Windschott ist der Scheitel hin,
mit Fenstern unten die ganze Frisur.
So solls sein. Schlielich haben
Mazdas Roadster-Weise die reine Lehre
befolgt: Leicht sei das Auto, hautnah
und echt. Sie haben den Roadster um
zehn Zentimeter gekrzt, die Basisversion um 82 auf unter 1000 Kilo abgespeckt, nahe am Traumgewicht des
Urmodells von 1989 (930 Kilo).
Besser htte
Mazda die
Neuauflage
des MX-5
kaum gelingen
knnen! Klein,
leicht, gierig
ein Volltreffer.
Eingerichtet ist der Zweisitzer gewohnt sachlich, erstmals mit lackierter Fensterbrstung als fliee das
Blech ins Innere. Der Drehzahlmesser
steht mittig, der Tacho klein daneben.
Die Sitze platzieren den Fahrer zwei
Zentimeter tiefer, schenken so mehr
Kopffreiheit und tgliche Gymnastik.
Sind die Sitze zu tief, bist du zu alt.
Das aufgesetzte Display in der Mitte
(spiegelt sich nachts in der Frontscheibe)
kann man akzeptieren, aber nicht die
Lage des Controllers. Warum auf der
AUTOBILD.DE 6. FEBRUAR 2015
Mittelkonsole? Dort, wo am liebsten

der rechte Arm lmmelt und auf den
nchsten Schaltvorgang lauert? So
produziert jeder Schalt-Klack ungewollt auch Men-Klicks.
Gestartet wird per Knopf. Aber
hallo! Der neue 1,5-Liter berrascht
mit einem Sound, der das SchulbubenFlten des Vorgngers vergessen lsst.
Der Vierzylinder vibriert, brummelt,
lebt. Wen strt da, dass der Klang wieder ber einen Schallkanal nach innen
verstrkt wird?
Ja, ein bisschen

Jaguar F-Type lsst
sich erkennen.
Na und? Der MX-5
besticht ja
nicht nur optisch ...
Der neue 1.5er muss fleiig drehen

und liefert seine 131 PS weit oben bei
kreischenden 7000 Touren ab. Erst bei
7500 lsst er die Rolllden fallen, muss
also mit den sechs Gngen (jetzt immer Serie) bei Laune gehalten werden.
Mazda verspricht gute 8,5 Sekunden
bis Tempo 100 und 200 km/h Spitze,
warten wir die Homologation ab. Die
Schaltwege sind wieder ultrakurz, nur
zwischen den engen Gassen kann man
sich schon mal verheddern. Der groe
Vorteil des Zweiliter-Motors mit >>
77
AUTOBILD.DE 6. FEBRUAR 2015
The MX-5 reflects its primal

virtues: The weight diet has
never been so valuable and joyful
for any other driving machine. The
MX-5 simply and vividly demonstrates pure driving enjoyment.
WHEN TALKING ABOUT CONVERTIBLES, THE MAZDA MX-5 IS UNDENIA

BLY THE REFERENCE, WITH ITS VAST
LEGION OF FANS. IT EVEN HOLDS THE
GUINNESS WORLD RECORD AS THE
MOST SOLD ROADSTER EVER.
Em Foco / A Bola TV, Portugal
Turkey
> patronyme qui sonne nippon mais serait dapres

des linguistes distingues la traduction du mot
recompense en vieux haut allemand la premire
langue germanique crite a ne s invente pas i
Pour avoir fait revivre un genre automobile
aujourd hui quasi disparu dans son pays d origine
Mazda en mriterait bien une de miata Des
lauriers sur lesquels la Mazda ne s endort pas
puisque aprs trois gnrations et bientt un
million d exemplaires en quelque 22 annes de
production la MX 5 continue d voluer Ainsi son
style a su se mettre au got du jour sa finition a
sans cesse gagne en qualit et elle a eu cette gniale
ide de se prsenter en mme temps en roadster
traditionnel a capote en toile et en version CC De
plus la gamme actuelle comprend cette dclinai
son sportive ici a I essai quipe d amortisseurs
Bilstem et d un diffrentiel a glissement limite
Torsen Pasdequoi mquieterlAventador satrans
mission intgrale permanente et son lectronique
sophistique Mais tout de mme '
La MX 5 n est pas le genre de grenouille qui veut se
faire aussi grosse que le taureau Aventador Mais
toute verte et abordable quelle soit son charme
opre Si j avais de quoi m offrir onze Mazda je n en
achterai qu une le solde de ma fortune rglant
la facture estampille I amborghini
Germany
FROM THE MOMENT IT APPEARED

IN 1989, WEVE BEEN BIG FANS OF
THE LITTLE MIATA.
LAventador ne connat gure de courbes

En ce sens elle renoue avec le style Countach
FOTOS: R. RTZKE (2)
he MX-5 has always been a

favourite with journalists.
The vast majority have been
enthusiastic from the very
beginning, especially after testing the
car. Admittedly, being fun to drive,
reliable and affordable, the MX-5 has
always held some very strong cards.
A brief tour of the medias perspective
on the worlds most famous roadster.
Romania
Road & Track, USA
Photo: Kevin Necessary
THE
Auto Bild, Germany
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 Im giving it five stars
is because I cant give it 14.
Jeremy Clarkson,
The Sunday Times, UK
Brilliant!
Autocar, UK (on the cover)
A simple and truthful

machine meant for play.
Motor Magazine, Poland
Mazdas nouveau roadster

has got it down pat.
Wheels, Australia
89
06 LIVING THE MX-5
A MX-5 FESTIVAL
Global MX-5 Cup, anyone? With the allnew race version of the MX-5 on exhibit
at the Moving Motor Show, motorcycle
champion Valentino Rossi admired the
legendary Mazda 787B, winner of Le
Mans in 1991, while what was probably
the most impressive soundtrack of the
festival played in the background.
GOODWOOD 2015 GOES MAZDA

THE FOURTH
GENERATION MX-5
TAKES CENTRE STAGE
AT THE LEGENDARY
GOODWOOD FESTIVAL
OF SPEED.
90
he all-new MX-5 is hard to miss. Its stunningly sleek

good looks demand attention. Certainly the fourth
generation roadster was impossible to ignore making
its debut at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed
south of London in June. Dominating the spotlight amidst the
many cutting edge and classic race cars is no small feat.
Yet the fourth generation MX-5 was front and centre: on display, on the track and on the radar of automotive enthusiasts.
It didnt hurt its Goodwood coming out party coincided with
the auto show celebrating Mazdas racing heritage including
the famous victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991 with the
renowned Mazda 787B.
91
06 LIVING THE MX-5
In fact, this famous race car was commemorated in

a new sculpture that was a centrepiece of the festival.
The 40-metre-high structure stood in front of Goodwood
House featuring the 787B and the Mazda LM55 Vision
Gran Turismo bursting into the sky on a twisting track of steel
beams.
GOODWOOD
AT A GLANCE
A specially build concept, the LM55 is based on a popular virtual racer

in the Playstation racing simulation game Gran Turismo 6. Like the art
installation itself, it is an expression of Mazdas KODO design philosophy. Yet
it was the all-new MX-5 that was the true star at Goodwood drawing accolades
at the official Mazda Stand, the Raise the Roof concert and the always popular
Moving Motor Show where MX-5 club members had the chance to test drive the new
model. All in all it was four great days of speed and MX-5 inspired fun.
he Goodwood Festival of Speed is a car show and

auto race rolled into one. But its also the social
occasion of the year for avid sports car enthusiasts. The annual event some 100km south of
London in West Sussex county draws visitors from all over
the world. It was initiated in 1993 by Lord March, an
avid motorsports fan who wanted to bring motor racing
back to Goodwood.
Goodwood showcases a variety of sports cars, from classic
roadsters to the latest Formula One racers. It also offers
fans the chance to see these vehicles race on its unique
uphill track, which has an elevation change of more than
90m and affords close-up views just a few metres from the
action.
92
93
THE GREAT OUTDOORS ARE EXTRA SPECIAL TO

EUROPE AND AROUND THE WORLD, THE AFFORDABLE ROADSTER IS A HOBBY PURSUED WITH
A PASSION, WHETHER AS PART OF MX-5 CLUBS,
OR SIMPLY OUT FOR A SUNDAY DRIVE. THE FOL-
Braving less than ideal top-down weather, members of the

Austrian MX-5 club got a sneak preview of a prototype of
the fourth generation MX-5. As an added bonus the 200
fans gathered at the event had the chance to get behind
the wheel for a quick jaunt around the track.
In 2014, journalists celebrated with Mazda the 25th

anniversary of the MX-5 getting the opportunity
to take three generations of the roadster for a test
drive on the famous Circuit du Laquais.
The trip of the year: 6,000km and

34 hours behind the wheel, all the
way to Ireland for two Spanish
MX-5 club members.
MX-5 clubs in Spain are very active, and members

driving 30,000km a year and more are no rarity.
Mazda Spain is even preparing an online tour guide
with some of the countrys best Jinba Ittai routes.
Three ACF Fiorentina footballers (De Silvestri, Gilardino

and Frey) at Villa Viviani in
Florence.
GERMANY
SWITZERLAND
JOURNALISTS HIT THE RACE

TRACK WITH MX-5s
Photo: Peter Lazar
AUSTRIA
In Salinas, California, the Mazda Raceway was the

location of a consumer car show on 6 September 2014 that attracted MX-5s (Miatas in North
America) from every state and Canadian province.
A total of 1,934 roadsters attending, the gathering
set a world record for the most MX-5s at any one
event. The high point for many was the debut of
the all-new fourth generation MX-5 as 80s super
group Duran Duran played live on stage.
SPAIN
NORTH AMERICAN FANS SET

MX-5 WORLD RECORD
MX-5 DRIVERS CELEBRATE

10TH ANNIVERSARY IN STYLE
GERMAN FANS GET SNEAK

PEEK AT ALL-NEW MX-5
The annual fan event Treffen in der Mitte taking place in Hannoversch
Mnden celebrated its 10th anniversary in style. With the all-new MX-5 on
display, the 330 fans in attendance were thrilled to be among the first in
Europe to get a glimpse of the fourth generation roadster.
MX-5 owners from across Europe gathered in April for the MX-5
Fan Event in Altendiez, organized by fans for fans. Celebrating
the official start of MX-5 season, about 420 lucky MX-5 devotees got their first glimpse of the fourth generation roadster.
NETHERLANDS
WHAT KIND OF SPIRIT DRIVES MX-5 FANS.
ITALY
The Karuizawa Meeting is the largest MX-5 event in Japan, attracting

thousands of fans, many driving their roadsters from all over Japan for
the one-day gathering. The total number of MX-5s at this years event was
1,323 consisting of 618 first, 358 second, 303 third and 44 fourth generation
models. A resounding success, with many fans reuniting with friends made
at last years event, one of the many highlights was a meet-and-greet with
engineers who helped develop the fourth generation MX-5.
LOWING IS A WORLD TOUR DEMONSTRATING JUST
FANS GET BEHIND WHEEL OF FOURTH

GENERATION PROTOTYPE
HUNGARY
FOUR MX-5 GENERATIONS TOGETHER

AT KARUIZAWA 2015
ATTENDING EVENTS, SETTING WORLD RECORDS
More than 120 MX-5s gathered at a private airstrip in

Tkl (near Budapest) for a 2010 club-organised meeting.
94
On 4 September 2014, MAZDA ROADSTER THANKS

DAY in JAPAN held at Maihama Amphitheatre near
Tokyo introduced the all-new Mazda MX-5 (Roadster
in Japan) to 1,150 eager fans. The fourth generation
two-seater was met with cheers and applause as it
was unveiled before the adoring audience.
THOSE WHO OWN AN MX-5. FOR THOUSANDS IN
NORTH
AMERICA
EVERY
COUNTRY
HAS ITS
STORIES
MAZDA UNVEILS ALL-NEW MX-5,

THRILLING FANS
JAPAN
06 LIVING THE MX-5
MX-5 PARADE SHATTERS

OLD RECORD
On 15 June 2013, the longest parade of Mazdas got
quite a bit longer. The setting this time was the MX-5
2013 event, a large gathering of MX-5s from around
Europe. And a new Guinness World Record was established by 683 MX-5s at around 3m below sea level on
the roads around the RDW Test Centre in Lelystad, a
city built on reclaimed land. The previous record set in
Essen, Germany in 2010 by 459 MX-5s was thus history.
95
06 LIVING THE MX-5
otor sports have accompanied the MX-5

since the very beginning. Literally. Unveiled at the 1989 Chicago Motor Show
alongside the original NA MX-5, the Miata
Club Racer concept (see p. 74) underlined the street models natural
born character. And this bold statement was followed up with some
incredible success on the track. Today, with more than 3,000 MX-5s racing
actively, Mazdas little roadster is the most-raced production car in the world.
GLOBAL MX-5 CUP

The newly established Global
MX-5 Cup is set to begin from
2016 onward. This is a new program where the worlds MX-5
drivers will compete in their
respective regions championships (North America, Europe
and Asia) and ultimately fight
to become world champion.
Through motorsports, Mazda
is dedicated to supporting the
challenger spirit of its fans
worldwide, providing a place
where they can share in their
enthusiasm for the iconic
Mazda roadster.
96
AS
PO
TH
RT
RO CA S
UG R
TH
RO AN H
UG D
H
From day one, the MX-5 has been raced at all levels, by inexperienced amateurs to
seasoned professionals. Competition dates back to the Teddy Yip Race of Champions
held as part of 1989 Macao Grand Prix weekend. Here 16 MX-5s were driven by what was
basically the whos who of motor racing at the time. Formula One and Two driver Geoff
Lees ended up winning ahead of Andy Rouse, one of the most successful British
saloon car series drivers ever, and four-time Australian touring car champion
Allan Moffat.
The MX-5 UK Cup Race Series began the following year. Amateur SCCA
(Sports Car Club of America) racing, meanwhile, counted everincreasing numbers of Miatas. From Nrburgring to Silverstone,
Spa Francorchamps to Zandvoort and the Laguna Seca Mazda
Raceway: MX-5 cups have flourished around the world on
some rather prestigious race tracks. In Europe (besides
the UK), Switzerland held its version from 1999 to
2002, Spain and Portugal organised cup series
between 2001 and 2003, Sweden from 2007
onwards, and the Netherlands starting in
2008. The U.S, Japan and Australia,
among other places, also host
MX-5 cups. //
97
IT JUST KEEP
S
AND
G
Yve and Hans Thoolen

have enjoyed many a trip
through Europe in their red
MX-5 since purchasing it in
1995. Now, 19 years later,
the 1992 model has almost
430,000km under its
belt still with the original
engine and clutch. The only
things theyve replaced
are the side sills and rear
fenders. The Dutch couple
promise they will never
sell it.
GO
I
N
G
A
ING
IN
O
G
N
OING
DG
AN
OIN
N
D
AND GOING AND G
G
O
O
I
N
I
N
G
A
ND
G A N D GO
ING AND
G
O
I
N
G
ONGOING SUCCESS. WITH SUCH A

HUGE COLLECTION OF AWARDS AND
ACCOLADES FOR BEING SO DEPEN
DABLE, THERE IS OF COURSE NO
SHORTAGE OF EXAMPLES OF MX-5s
REACHING EXTREME MILEAGE.
A TRIBUTE TO ONE OF THE MOST
FAITHFUL SPORTS CARS EVER.
D
G
O
BUILT IN THE SPIRIT OF THOSE

CELEBRATED BRITISH ROADSTERS,
THE MX-5 HAS ONE CLEAR DISTINCTION:
ITS EXTRAORDINARY RELIABILITY.
TYPICALLY MAZDA, THIS IS ONE
OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR ITS
good start: The dependability of the MX-5 was

a target of admiration right from the beginning,
completing a 100,000km durability test conducted by Germanys Auto, Motor und Sport in early
1990 with flying colours. All the important mechanical
components covered the long distance virtually unscathed.
The engine uses practically no oil and runs with almost the
same vitality of its first days. The gearshift is still so magnificently crisp, and the chassis is just as fit.
In the U.S., Road & Track magazine took idea a giant step
further recently when it purchased a well-worn NA Miata
with more than 325,000 miles (520,000km) on the clock.
The plan for the Million Mile Miata is in the name: to wrap
the odometer across the 1-million mile mark (1.6 million km).
It even has its own Facebook page, like any respectable
25-year-old.
The Million Mile Miata

from U.S. Magazine
Road & Track
98
Photos: Kevin Necessary
07 MX-5 FACTS
GA
D GOING AND GO
N
A
G
N
I NG
I
O
D
G
N
O
A
I
N
G
G
G
AND
AN
OIN
D
G
N
D
G
N
OIN D
A
A
G
G
Carsite.co.uk named it the number one second-hand car

of the new millennium: The Mazda MX-5 deserves the top
position thanks to its strong reliability, value for money,
residual performance and driveability.
In Germany, meanwhile, the 2012 Dekra breakdown report
placed the MX-5 first among all sports cars on the market
for the third year in a row. Nine of every ten MX-5s with
less than 50,000km are problem-free. Even more than its
predecessor, the third-generation MX-5 is a model of relia
bility, wrote Dekra, Germanys largest vehicle inspection
company.
Back in the UK, Which? magazine named the MX-5 Britains
most reliable new sports car in its Car Survey 2013 that
nations largest review of car satisfaction and reliability.
With reliability scores of 97.4 per cent and 91.1 per cent,
respectively, for models up to and more than three years
old, the MX-5 beat a host of rivals, claiming first and second
places in the two age categories. It was also showered with
praise from the Which? editorial team: For a sports car
that will last for years and wont cost a fortune in repairs,
head to your local Mazda garage. The MX-5 has the lowest
number of faults and no annual repair costs in the first
three years. Which? also liked the second-generation
MX-5 models (1998-2005), calling them the automotive
equivalent of a double espresso. Near-telepathic steering
and handling make other cars (even some sports cars) feel
woolly and dull by comparison. You can pick-up a decent
used MX-5 for just 1,500 (1,800). We suggest you do.
What Car? also ranked the MX-5 as Britains most reliable

convertible in 2012. With 96 per cent of MX-5s built after
2005 fault-free, the model achieved a reliability index score
of 8 (lower is better) compared to an overall average score
of 100. The annual survey, which looks at more than 50,000
cars, calculates the score based on factors including age,
mileage, the number of breakdowns, cost of repairs and
average time spent off the road being repaired. According
to the 2012 survey, on the rare occasion something does go
wrong, MX-5 owners can also expect an average bill of only
168 (200) also the lowest in the review.
WHAT
A TRIP
Yuuichi Tsuyuki, 25 at the
time, had no idea how far
his NA MX-5 would travel
when he bought it new in
1993. Going on 21 years
later, hes put 855,000km
on his car equivalent to
having circumnavigated the globe 21 times and being
well into the 22nd lap. Averaging some 40,000km per
year, the Roadster Club of Japan member still has his
MX-5 and still loves it.
It stands out at Mazda get-togethers because its got
the original suspension and ground clearance. It also
has a Mazdaspeed semi-bucket seat on the drivers
side, a Mk2 glass window soft top, plus a vacuum gauge,
oil temperature gauge and voltmeter. Its on its third engine, transmission and radiator and its second propeller
shaft, differential and aircon, explains Tsuyuki. Ill
probably have to let it retire when it reaches 1 million
km. Between 2007 and 2009, I switched to a Mk3, but
I was still known as the guy who drove that Mk1 with
the high mileage, so I couldnt resist switching back
for the MX-5s 20th anniversary event.
99
07 MX-5 FACTS
2015
2012
2005
EUROPE
Red Dot: Best of the Best
product design award
CANADA
JAPAN
2013 Convertible of the

Year: Mazda MX-5
Car of the Year Japan

2005-2006
2010
MX-5 Award-List
SLOVAKIA
AND THE
WINNER IS...
2015
CODENAMED
Red Dot: Best of the Best product design award
2015
USA
Automobile magazine: 10 Cheapest Convertibles
2015
USA Southern Automotive Media Association: Best Small

Convertible
rd
GENERATION
MKIII
NC
CODENAMED
2015
USA
2015
USA

J.D. Power 2015 initial quality study:

top-rated compact sporty car
2006
AUSTRALIA
Drive Car of the
Year 2006:
Best Convertible
Canada 2013 Convertible of the Year: Mazda MX-5

(Auto123.com awards)
2009
UK
2009 Auto Express New Car Awards: Best Roadster
2006
New Zealand
National Business Review Sports Car of the Year 2006
2009
Ireland
New car awards 2009: Best roadster
2006
Australia
Canada Golden Key: Best sports car under $50,000
2009
USA Edmunds New Car Buying Guides:

top recommended convertibles under $25,000
Wheels Automotive Design Awards - Overall Outstanding

Automotive Design
2012 Canada
Le Guide de lAuto: Best new roadster under $50,000
2012
USA
Kelley Blue Books 10 Best Road Trip Convertibles
2012
Indonesia 2012 Autocar Indonesia Readers Choice Awards:

Favourite Convertible
Singapore Car of the Year
(SGCM Editors Pick)
Germany First place, sports car category (up to 50,000 km),

in the DEKRA breakdown report
2012

2012
USA Car and Driver: 10 Best Cars of 2013
2011
Germany

Auto Trophy 2011

Best imported convertible under 30,000
2011 USA
Car and Driver: 10 Best Cars of 2012
2011 UK
2011 Auto Express New Car Awards: Best Roadster
2011
UK 2011 J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey:

winner, sports car segment
Germany autoscout24.com Internet Auto Awards 2006:

Best Imported Convertible
2006
UK
2008
Philippines
2008 Philippines Car of the Year: Sexiest Car Award
2006
USA
Best Convertibles 2006: Best entry-level roadster
2008
UK
2008 Auto Express Used Car Honours: Best Roadster
2006
USA
Forbes Best Cars for the Bucks 2006: Best Convertible
2008
UK
2008 Auto Express New Car Honours: Best Convertible
2006
World 2006 World Car of the Year: one of three finalists
2008
USA
ROAD & TRAVEL 2008 Sexy Car Buyers Guide: Top Ten
2006
Canada
Best Sport Coupe/Convertible
2008
USA J.D. Power 2008 Initial Quality Study:

Highest-Ranked Compact Sporty Car
2006
Thailand
Thailand Car of the Year 2006: Best Roadster
2008
Thailand Thailand Car of the Year 2008:

Best Roadster
2006
New Zealand
Driver Sports/Performance Car of the Year
2006
Hungary
2008
USA
Playboy Car of the Year 2006:

Sports Car/Convertible (price value category)
2008
Canada World of Wheels Editors Choice:

Best Convertible of 2007
2006
USA
2006
Hong Kong
10 Best Cars
2006
USA
Most Fun on Wheels
2006
Australia
Wheels 2005 Car of The Year
2006
UK
What Car? Car of the Year 2006: Best open-top
2006
New Zealand
2005 New Zealand Car of the Year
2006
Japan
Sports Nippon King of Cars Award
2005
Hong Kong
Car for Him
2005
Croatia
2006 Roadster of the Year
2005
New Zealand
2005 New Zealand Herald Car of the Year
2005
Portugal
Cabrio of the Year
2005
USA
Car of the Year 2006 Top 10
2005
USA
Car and Driver: 10 Best Cars of 2006 & Best Roadster
2005
Japan Japan Fashion Color Association: Auto Color Award
2005
Japan
2005
Japan
Best Design Award
2005
UK
Top Gear Roadster of the Year 2005
2008
2007
Consumer Reports Top Picks 2008: Fun to Drive

Germany Auto Trophy 2007: Best imported convertible
under 30,000
2011
UK
2007
2011
USA 2011 J.D. Power vehicle dependability study:

highest ranked compact sporty car
USA Edmunds 10 Most Affordable Convertibles

(1st place)
2007
USA
Top Ten Sports Cars
2007
Scotland
Scottish Car of the Year 2007: Best Drop-Top
2007
USA
Gaywheels.com: Top 10 Gay-Friendly Cars (no.3)
2007
USA The vehicle dependability of 2004 model year

(Compact Sporty Car)
2007
Thailand
2011
CarBuyer Car of the Year 2011: Best Convertible

2010 USA
2010
Germany Auto Trophy 2010:

2014
UK
2010
2014
USA U.S. News Auto Rankings:

#1 in Affordable Sports Cars (2014)
UK 2010 UK Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study:

Best Sports Car
2010
USA

2010 Lowest True Cost to Own:

Convertibles under $35,000
Best cars 2010
2013
UK

Which? Awards
Britains most reliable new sports car
2010
Slovakia
2013
Germany

Auto Trophy 2013

2010

2013
Chile
Chilean Sports Car of the Year 2014
2010
USA
2013
USA
2013 U.S. IQS compact sporty car segment award
2009
2013

Germany Auto Trophy 2009: Best imported convertible

under 30,000
Auto Trophy 2012

Auto Trophy 2008

2007 USA
USA Consumer Reports best new car values,

sports cars/convertibles
What Car? Used Car awards, Fun Car of the year
2006
2008
Germany

2011 Hungary
Playboy Car of the Year 2011:
Open-top sports car category
2014
2012
Germany

100
Kelley Blue Books 10 Coolest Cars Under $25,000
2007
Chilean Car of the

Year 2014
2012
Europe
Car of the Year:

Sexiest Car Award
CHILE
2012
Singapore

2015
PHILIPPINES
Automobile magazine:
10 Cheapest
Convertibles
2013
2012
MKIV
ND
USA
THAILAND
2012
GENERATION
2008
Thailand Car of the Year 2007:

Best Roadster
From the U.S. to Australia, from

Germany to Japan, the Mazda
MX-5 is one of the most decorated vehicles of the last 25 years.
th
Best cars 2010
Cars.com: Play Car of the Year 2010
2007 USA
2007
USA 2007 Cars.com Lifestyle Awards:

Best Deal for Empty Nesters
2006 Auto Express New Car Honours: Best Roadster
Goods of the Year (Vehicle Category)
2007 USA
2005
Japan
RJC Car of the Year 2006: Runner-up
2006
Germany

Auto Trophy 2006

2005
Japan
Car of the Year Japan 2005-2006
2006
UK
Top Gear: Roadster of the Year 2006
2005
Canada Golden Key: Best sports car under $50,000
2006
Australia
Drive Car of the Yea 2006: Best Convertible
2005
USA
Best Buy in Sport/Performance Car Class
2006
USA
Most Efficient Two Seaters 2007
2005
Japan
2005 Good Design Award (G-mark)
Scottish Car of the Year 2006: Best Drop-Top
2005
Australia
Wheels Car of the Year 2005
2009
USA
2006
Scotland
2009
Australia
Wheels Gold Star Cars Awards:

Best Sports Roadster under $150K
2006
USA Edmunds Editors Most Wanted Awards:

Convertible Under $25,000
101
07 MX-5 FACTS
2006
2004
UK
DENMARK
Auto Express
Best Used Roadster
Money Can Buy
Best Roadster
1996
1993
USA
GERMANY
Consumer Reports
Most Fun to
Drive Car 1996
Auto, Motor & Sport

readers poll
Best Import
Convertible
2001
2003
JAPAN
ISRAEL
Japan Fashion Color

Association
Auto Color Award 2001
2003 Sports Car

of the Year
2000
1999
2002
USA.
MotorWeek
Driver Choice Award
Best Convertible
USA
Car and Driver
Ten Best Cars 1999
1990
AUSTRALIA
Most significant Car
of the 1980s
NEW ZEALAND
Car of the Year 1990
nd
GENERATION
MKII
NB
CODENAMED
2006
102
UK 2006 Auto Express Used Car Honours: Best Roadster &

Best Used Roadster Money Can Buy
2004
UK
Excellent Second Hand Buy
2004
Thailand
2004
Denmark
Best Roadster
2003
Israel
2003 Sports Car of The Year
2003
UK
Best Handling Car
2003
Portugal
Best Speed trophy
2003
Thailand
2003
Denmark
Best Roadster
2003
New Zealand
Best Mid Size Car
2002
Australia
Most significant car of the 1980s
2002
Hungary
Playboy Car of the Year 2002
2002
Thailand
2001
Portugal
Best Speed trophy
2001
UK
Top 10 Performance Cars
2001
Japan
Japan Fashion Color Association: Auto Color Award 2001
2001
UK
Used Car Awards: Best Roadster
2001
Canada
Automobile Magazines only 11 time All-Star winner
2001
USA
Automobile 2001 All-Star
2001
USA
10 Best
2000
USA
2000
USA
2000
USA
MotorWeek Driver Choice Award: Best Convertible
2000
USA IntelliChoice 2000 Best Overall Value of the Year Awards:

Base Sport model
1999
USA
Eight Great Rides
1999
UK
Used Car Buyer: Best Sports Car under 10,000
1999
UK
Good Housekeeping: Sports & Coupe winner
1996
Israel
Car of The Year
1990
UK
Sporting Car of the Year
1999
USA
Consumer Reports: Best Buy
1996
USA
1990
UK
Newcastle Journal: Best Sports Car
1999
UK
Auto Express: Best Used Sports Car
1995
Australia
Wheels Top 10 of 95
1990
UK
AutoCar & Motor: Best Handling Car in the World
1999
USA
1999 All-Stars: Best Entry-Level Sports Car
1995
UK
Auto Express: Best Sports Car 1995
1990
1999
USA
Car and Driver: Ten Best Cars 1999
1995
USA
J.D. Power: Most Problem-Free Car under $25,000
USA J.D. Power Initial Quality Study:

Most Trouble-Free Sports Car
1998
UK
Best Sports Car
1995
USA
1990
USA
1997
USA
1994
Australia
Wheels Top 10 of 94
1990
USA
Edison Best New Products
1998
Japan
First Prize Smash Hit Goods
1994
USA
1990
USA
Playboy: Most Fun to Drive Cars for 1990
1998
Scotland
Scottish Car of the Year: Sports Car of the Year
1993
Australia
Wheels Top 10 of 93
1990
USA
Motor Trend 1990 Import Car of the Year (2nd place)
1998
USA
Consumer Digest: Best Buy
1993
Germany
Auto, Motor & Sport readers poll: Best Import Convertible
1990
Japan
Best Cars 1989: Best New Model
1998
UK
IBCAM Auto Design Award
1993
USA
1990
Japan
Gold Medal: Super Goods of the Year
1998
UK
Auto Express: Best Convertible 1998
1993
Germany
Auto Trophy 1993: Best Fun Car
1990
1998
Croatia
Sports Car of the Year
1992
Australia
Wheels Top 10 of 92
Australia Modern Motor: Best Car 1989/90 &

Best Sports Car 1989/90
1998
New Zealand
AutoCar 1998 Best Sport Car
1992
Australia
Best Buys of 1992 (sports cars under $47,280)
1990
Germany
1992
Germany
1990
Japan
Best Car: Grand Prix Exterior
st
1992
USA
1990
USA
Best and Worst of the Year 1989: Best (one of)
1992
Germany
1990
USA
Best of the Decade, Design category
1992
USA
1990
USA
Business Week Best Products of 1989
MKI
NA
1991
Australia
Wheels Top 10 of 91
1990
Australia
Car Australia: Car of Australia 1989
1991
Hong Kong
Best Five Exteriors Design Award
1990
Australia
Wheels Car of the Year 1989
1991
Australia
Best Sports Car under $45,000
1990
USA
Automobiles 1990 Automobile of the Year

(inaugural award)
1991
USA
Best Sports Car, Drivers Choice Awards
1990
USA
1991
UK
What Car? Best Sports Car 1991
1990
Japan
Nihon Keizai Shimbun: Design of the Year
1991
Germany
1989
Japan
Trendy Goods 1989 Grand Prize (hobby & play category)
GENERATION
CODENAMED
Motorweek TV: Best Sports Car, Drivers Choice Awards
1998
USA
Consumer Digest: Best Buy Sport Coupes/Sedans
1991
Germany
1989
USA
Life Hot Products for 1990
1997
Australia
Wheels Top 10 of 97
1991
USA
Playboys Sexiest Car For Your Girlfriend
1989
USA
Automotive News Coupe of the Year
1997
Israel
1997 Sports Car of the Year
1991 USA
1989
Japan
Sports Nippon King of Cars Award: Best Sports Car 1989
1997
USA
1991
USA
1989
Japan
1989 Trendy Goods Grand Prix (hobby & resort category)
1996
Australia
Wheels Top 10 of 96
1990
1989
Japan
Promoters Cup 1990: My Best Choice
1996
Israel
1996 Sports Car of the Year
USA Road & Track: Ten Best Cars in the World & Best Sports/
GT ($13,000-$21,000)
Consumer Digest: Best Buy Sport Coupes/Sedans
Wheels Top 10 of 90
Wheels Top 10 of 89
USA
Australia
Australia
1996
1990
1989
Car of the Year 1990
Popular Science Best 100 Products
Automobiles Perfect Ten
New Zealand
USA
USA
1990
1989
1996
Best Sports Car
First prize, Smash Hit Goods 1989
USA Consumer Reports: 1996 Reliability, Sports/Sporty Cars

(2nd place)
Australia
Japan
1996
1990
1989
1990
Denmark
Danish Motoring Journalists Club: Prize of Honour 1990
1989
USA
Motor Trend Top Ten Imported Cars
1996
USA Consumer Reports: Most Fun to Drive Car

(1996 model year)
1990
USA
Top Ten Trouble-Free Cars
1989
USA
Road & Track: Worlds Best Cars (one of five)
Buying Cars: Best Value Sports Car of the Year
Autoweek: Most Fun, Chicago Auto Show awards
USA
UK
USA
1996
1990
1989
Intellichoice Best Value: Base Sports Car
103
Rye, Sussex, 15:47,

on the way to Goodwood...
104
105
MX-5 IN
S
E
I
V
O
M
THE
1 2 3 4
/UK)
1996 (CDN
g
Year:
Cronenber
id
av
D
ah
r:
Directo
der, Debor
pa
S
es
am
J
eas,
ot
K
s
lia
Starring:
er, E
na
Kara Ung
and Rosan
r
te
un
H
Holly
e.
Arquett
ial
controvers
Crash is a
novel
73
19
a
Story:
on
film based
a
t
ou
ab
lard
by J.G. Bal
who have
le
op
pe
group of
r actish for ca
a sexual fe
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iv
dr
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hi
cidents. W
ar
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MX-5 NA,
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ne
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at
acter (C
off
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ends up be
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th
lls
ro
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the road an
MACGRUB
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2010 (USA
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Year:
rma Taccon
Jo
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to
Wiig,
Direc
rte, Kristen
Fo
ill
W

g:
d
an
Starrin
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pp
Ryan Philli
Val Kilmer
Night
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Based on

:
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fun at 198
Sto
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ki
po
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Live sk
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MacGyver
TV drama
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MX-5
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ASSION
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2012 (USA
Year:
Johnson
n
ia
R

r:
Directo
is, Joseph
Bruce Will
Starring:
vitt and
Le
ndo
or
G
nt
lu
B
Emily
2074,
In the year
to
Story:
are sent in
loopers
sed
ni
ga
or
the past by
ses to assa
crime boss
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O
E
D
I
V
IN
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CER
RIDGE RA
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o
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Racer vide
its Ridge
Namco
Alongside
ed in 1993,
as
le
re
scale
llgame
fu
a
h
up wit
tually
ac
also came
rs
ye
la
rsion. P
e steeth
g
arcade ve
in
us
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shift to
ar
ge
sat in a re
d
, pedals an ted on to
ring wheel
ec
oj
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uges
control a
en. The ga
front scre
the
of
t
ou
the triple
e
m
d wind ca
ding
an
d
ad
d
ke
or
un
w
so
h surround iving expevents, wit
dr
e
th
of
ism
to the real rs could even bring
ye
rience. Pla
r.
ge
ssen
along a pa
106
RIZON 2
O
FORZA H
one
ion MX-5
th-generat actually
ur
fo
e
th
offered
w model
fore the ne ng Xbox-ers the
month be
givi
s,
er
al
de
alongside
arrived at
e the ND
virtual-rac
limited
as
l
el
w
chance to
as
nerations
azdasprevious ge e turbocharged M
e th
lik
ns
io
it
ed
5.
peed MX-
Forza pictures: Microsoft Deutschland; All games: registered trademarks
CRASH
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2006 (USA
Year:
Linklater
rd
ha
ic
R

a
Director:
ves, Winon
,
Keanu Ree
Harrelson
Starring:
dy
oo
W
,
Ryder
Jr. and
y
ne
ow
D
Robert
ane
Rory Cochr
by
the novel
on
ed
as
B
the film
Story:
k,
ic
D
.
K
Philip
d
identity an
deals with
ar-fune
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n
deceptio
by
ia plagued
ture dystop
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id
ep
n
io
dict
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nt monitor
and consta
lice surpo
h
ec
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Ryders ch
veillance.
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th
aw
H
na
acter (Don
.
B
N
MX-5
drives an
rd
th
MKI
NA
MKII
NB
CODENAMED
MKIII
NC
MKIV
ND
BADGE
BADGE
BADGE
BADGE
Reborn: Known
as the Miata in
North America
and Eunos
Roadster in
Japan
Sleeky clean:
The MX-5
badge was
simple, modern
and stylish
Spyder style:
Retro chrome
emblem alludes
to sports cars
of the 1950s
Into the
SKYACTIV age
yet back to the
roots well,
almost
WHEELS
WHEELS
WHEELS
WHEELS
Rollin: The
14-inch wheels
and tires were
as lightweight
as possible and
very British
looking, too
Bigger power,
bigger feet:
15-inch wheels
were now available
with 16-inchers
arriving in 2001
Growing and
growing: 17-inch
wheels can be
had with the
160PS 2.0-litre
Sleek cold-cast
aluminium
wheels revert
to four-nut hub
to save a few
grams
GEAR
SHIFT
GEAR
SHIFT
GEAR
SHIFT
GEAR
SHIFT
Nothing
standard about
it: The short,
direct strike
made changing
gears a joy
Business as
usual: Still a
target for acclaim
with super fast
throws and
minimal ankle
movement
Common
knowledge:
The MX-5 had
become the
benchmark for
gearshifting
New SKYACTIVMT with same

40mm stroke
seems to draw
the gearshift
into position
STEERING
WHEEL
STEERING
WHEEL
STEERING
WHEEL
STEERING
WHEEL
The centre of
the three-spoke
Momo leather
wheel was remov
able for a rawer
racing ambiance
World famous:
The airbagequipped steer
ing wheel was
supplied by none
other than Nardi
of Italy
At your fingertips: Steering

wheel audio
controls put
the driver in
even better
control
Compact,
unpretentious
and with a slim
grip for enhanced cornering
action
HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS
Sign of the
times: Pop-up
headlamps
were a musthave for sports
cars in the late
1980s
Fixed: Oval
headlamps
reduced weight
and improved
aerodynamics
Compelling look:
The slimline projector headlamps
were available
with xenon bulbs
Aggressive,
glinting LED
headlamps, 15%
lighter than
the previous
generations
... ARE ONE

MX-5 DESIGN
ELEMENT ...
... THAT
DID NOT
CHANGE
UNTIL
NOW!
CODENAMED
ER
ER DARKLY
nd
GENERATION
LOOPER
A SCANN
st
GENERATION
GENERATION
CODENAMED
GENERATION
CODENAMED
BLINKERS
THE ROUND
SIDE SIGNAL
LIGHT
BLINKERS ...
107
1
nd
GENERATION
MKII
NB
CODENAMED
th
GENERATION
MKIV
CODENAMED
ND
st
GENERATION
MKI
NA
CODENAMED
rd
GENERATION
MKIII
NC
CODENAMED

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4 GE NE RATIONS

The ND vs. NC reduction in (a)

MX-5 owners club members

When introduced in 2006,

MAZDA MX-5 | 4 GENERATIONS MAGAZINE

hat makes a classic? In literature or film, a classic is a work that

This is an important point. As one commentator said: Classics are classics

The 900,000th MX-5 was

The perfect weight distribution between the front and

The number of MX-5s being

Awards to date worldwide.

MX-5 ON THE SCREEN

01 THE ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5

FROM CTE DAZUR

MAZDA MX-5 | 4 GENERATIONS MAGAZINE

MAZDA MX-5 | 4 GENERATIONS MAGAZINE

01 THE ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5

ay one begins in Nice, with the top down taking

MAZDA MX-5 | 4 GENERATIONS MAGAZINE

DRIVING SOME OF EUROPES

01 THE ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5

MAZDA MX-5 | 4 GENERATIONS MAGAZINE

01 THE ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5

Across the Alps: No other

CURVES AND MORE

MAZDA MX-5 | 4 GENERATIONS MAGAZINE

01 THE ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5

MAZDA MX-5 | 4 GENERATIONS MAGAZINE

01 THE ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5

What kind of balance were you aiming

MAZDA MX-5 | 4 GENERATIONS MAGAZINE

to select which EPAS system to use. The easy

What do the NA and ND have in

What was perhaps your single most

MAZDA MX-5 | 4 GENERATIONS MAGAZINE

ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5

Available on 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels4:

SKYACTIV Technology for the first time in an

1) Depending on market and vehicle specification

Classic compact three-spoke steering wheel

Rotary commander5 on centre console enables blind operation of functions viewed

Sport seats designed for enhanced comfort

Key controls like the pedals, steering wheel,

Three interior packages available5:

Brings safe on-the-road internet access into

SKYACTIV-G direct-injection petrol engines

Nine-speaker BOSE premium sound system5

THE MX-5S COCKPIT-LIKE INTERIOR BRINGS

Rear parking sensor6

Exterior ridgeline extending from the front

MAZDAS NEW-GENERATION HUMAN-MACHINE

Applies the heads-up cockpit concept used in

Offers higher output than the outgoing MX-5s

Stylish analogue gauges with a tachometer

A COMBINATION MADE IN HEAVEN: THE MX-5

Passive safety a truly modern roadster

Enhanced the boosters to deliver better and

The SKYACTIV-Body structure, modified for

Improved control over load shifts smoothens

Increased stiffness with strong yet lightweight materials such as:

Suspension system weighs 12kg less than the

CHASSIS & BODY

SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission

Direct-drive sixth gear, lower final ratio and

Available on 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels4:

SKYACTIV Technology for the first time in an

Classic compact three-spoke steering wheel

Rotary commander5 on centre console enables blind operation of functions viewed

Sport seats designed for enhanced comfort

Key controls like the pedals, steering wheel,

Three interior packages available5:

Brings safe on-the-road internet access into

Nine-speaker BOSE premium sound system5

Rear parking sensor6

Exterior ridgeline extending from the front

Applies the heads-up cockpit concept used in

Offers higher output than the outgoing MX-5s

Stylish analogue gauges with a tachometer

Enhanced the boosters to deliver better and

The SKYACTIV-Body structure, modified for

Improved control over load shifts smoothens

Increased stiffness with strong yet lightweight materials such as:

Suspension system weighs 12kg less than the

Direct-drive sixth gear, lower final ratio and

Uses a straight, continuous framework

Delivers the MX-5s legendary crisp shifting

Adapted various components of the front

Adopted a space-saving dual pinion electric

New ring structure improves the rigidity

Smaller, lighter differential unit cuts another

A range of measures to improve NVH makes

Enhanced framework improves side impact

Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system

Seatbelts equipped with pretensioners and

Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)

Evolved active bonnet uses sensor technol

High Beam Control (HBC) uses a camera to

Easily replaceable bolt-on parts absorb en

Passenger seat accommodates ISOFIX child

The system can be personalised with

Can be operated using the rotary

Quick, smooth and responsive acceleration

n ew air guide duct uses air from electric fan

Smaller, thinner radiator and lighter intake

Lightweight design some 7kg lighter

Clutch pedal stroke (length and pressure)

Allows continued use of electrically powered

Attractive and thin (1.7mm) die-cast alumin

Newly developed transmission oil maintains