For the first time in nine years, Mazda has unveiled a new version of the MX-5 Miata sports car at simultaneous events that commemorated the 25th anniversary of the iconic vehicle in the United States, Japan and Spain.
The vehicle is known as the Roadster in Japan, but the MX-5 everywhere else. It instantly became a hit upon the launch of the first generation of the car in 1989, which rekindled the interest of the market in lightweight sports cars. Soon after its release, BMW, Toyota and Honda began selling lightweight sports cars of their own.
In 2011, the MX-5 was declared by Guinness World Records as the best-selling two-seater sports car in history.
"The MX-5 Miata stands as the flag-bearer for everything that a Mazda vehicle is," said Mazda North America president and CEO Jim O'Sullivan ahead of the simultaneous unveiling of the vehicle in events in Monterey, Calif., Tokyo and Barcelona.
"Tonight's reveal is a big deal for us."
No specific details have yet been released for the fourth generation of the MX-5, though it will likely follow the same formula that has fueled the sports car's success. The new MX-5 will likely sport a four-cylinder engine, rear-wheel drive and a six-speed transmission with an automatic option. Like its predecessors, the new car will likely focus more on eager handling over power and speed.
Mazda was able to reduce the weight of the new MX-5 by 220 pounds compared to the previous model, which is very impressive considering that the current MX-5 has a weight of only 2,500 pounds. The new MX-5 also became shorter by 3 inches and thinner by half an inch, which gives it a profile that looks closer to that of the original MX-5.
"There was a strong feeling that the car needed to be modernized," said Mazda North America design director Derek Jenkins. The design team made the hood lower and longer, and pulled the A-pillar back while raking the windshield even more. The "smiley face" found in the current MX-5 is replaced by a contemporary nose. The new MX-5 also features more dramatic fender flares and a dip in the beltline to update the car's look.
The quality of the interiors of the new MX-5 have also been increased to match with the current industry standards.
"We wanted a higher level of interior treatment, while continuing to focus on the driver," Jenkins says, with much-improved brightwork, finishes, and graining on the vehicle.
The 2016 MX-5 Miata is expected to make its debut in North America in November at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, with the vehicle going on sale next year.
