Mazda MX-5. The Funniest Car
In 2018, the legendary roadster underwent the long-awaited restyling.
The Mazda MX-5 or Mazda Miata (in the US market) is a compact 2-door 2-seater rear-wheel drive roadster produced by Mazda (Japan) since 1989.
The first Mazda MX-5 was designed in collaboration with engineers from the British manufacturer of sports and racing cars, Lotus Cars. As a result, the first MX-5 roadster has inherited the main features of classic British sports cars: light weight, in-wheelbase engine, rear-wheel drive, and simple design. There are already 4 generations of the Mazda MX-5 on the market, and each generation has its own name. The last fourth generation has been produced since 2015. In 2020, this was the very model that could be purchased on the Israeli market.
The first generation
The first generation Mazda MX-5 called ‘NA’ was presented for the first time at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show. And it was produced for almost 10 years, until 1998. The name of the new roadster stands for ‘Mazda Experiment project No. 5’. The car was distinguished by a well-developed design, referring to the automobile classics, and by its low weight of only 940 kg. The NA body was all-metal steel, the hood was aluminum. The drag coefficient of the first MX-5 roadster was 0.38. The suspension was independent, with levers on all four wheels, and with the front and rear anti-roll bars. The B6ZE (RS) engine was specially developed for the MX-5. It had a lightweight crankshaft, flywheel, and an aluminum case with cooling fins.
The first generation Mazda MX-5 won many awards: Car of the Year (Automobile, USA), Event of the Year (Automotive, USA), World’s Most Obedient Car (Autocar & Motor, UK), Best Imported Convertible (Auto Motor & Sport, Germany) and even the Funniest Car of the Year by Playboy.
The second generation
The second generation Mazda MX-5 called ‘NB’ went on sale in early 1998 and was sold until 2005, while its restyling took place in 2000. In 2000, the total amount of all produced roadsters of both generations exceeded half a million pieces. Thanks to this, the model entered the Guinness World Records as the best-selling two-seater sports car.
NB continued to use independent suspension on all wheels, with larger anti-roll bars at the front and at the rear, but the wheels, tires and brakes were significantly upgraded. First, there was an optional anti-lock braking system (ABS). Secondly, there were alloy wheels. And the sports models were equipped with larger wheels and 195/50VR15 tires. The second generation Mazda MX-5 became more solid, slightly larger and heavier. In addition, the car lost its characteristic pop-up headlights due to new pedestrian safety regulations.
The Mazda MX-5 Roadster entered the Guinness World Records as the best-selling two-seater sports car, won the title of ‘The Funniest Car of the Year’, ‘Best Imported Convertible’ in Germany and ‘World’s Most Obedient Car’ in the UK.
After restyling in 2000, the MX-5 boasted a slightly new interior and design, new seats and a re-tuned engine that delivered more power.
The third generation
The third generation Mazda MX-5, called ‘NC’, released in 2005, featured a major change in the chassis: the double-wishbone rear suspension was replaced by a multi-link suspension. In addition, the NC was equipped with a new range of engines, different for different markets: in the USA, the MX-5 was supplied with a 2.0-liter engine with 170 hp, and in Europe, it had a 2-liter engine with 158 hp and a 1.8-liter with 126 hp. Additional noise insulation, many modern options, as well as the bigger size significantly increased the weight of the third generation Mazda MX-5 roadster. As a result, the car still retained its vibrant character and became even more popular.
In 2008, the MX-5 was restyled. The major changes were made to the grille, fog lights, side-skirts and moldings, rear bumper and taillights. By the summer of 2014, the total production volume of all generations of the roadster came close to the mark of a million cars, thereby beating its own world record. The sales of the MX-5 NC ended in 2015.
The fourth generation
On September 3, 2014, the fourth generation Mazda MX-5 was released under the name ‘ND’, which was developed jointly with Fiat (Italy). The Japanese roadster MX-5 and the ‘Italian’ Fiat 124 Spider were built on the same platform.
The fourth generation Mazda MX-5 has been created according to the canons of kansei engineering, which is based on the emotional perception of the product by the buyer. The new MX-5 roadster has become significantly more compact. Its length is now even shorter than that of the first generation roadster. The weight has been drastically reduced, and now the Mazda MX-5, just like in the good old days, weighs within a ton. In this case, the stiffness of the structure has increased significantly. All of this is for the sake of ‘the oneness between horse and rider’ or ‘Jinba ittai’ - this is how the creators call the philosophy of the MX-5.
The 2015 Mazda MX-5 is inspired by ‘the oneness between horse and rider’ or ‘Jinba ittai’ - this is how the creators call the philosophy of the MX-5. The new MX-5 Roadster won the Euro NCAP award for Best Car in its Class.
The 2019/2020 Mazda MX-5 Roadster is equipped with the latest Mazda Connect multimedia system, controlled by a special switch on the central tunnel, audio speakers in the headrests and a windscreen.
When creating the new roadster, the Japanese strived to reduce weight and used Skyactiv technology on a rear-wheel drive vehicle for the first time. The suspension of the MX-5 is completely new and is 12 kg lighter than the previous generation, but the layout remains the same: a double wishbone at the front and a multi-link at the rear. It is now clear why the new MX-5 won the Euro NCAP award for Best Car in its Class.
