Miata, as it was then called in the U.S., became the most successful two-seat sports car in the world.
At the Chicago Auto Show on 9 February 1989, the all-new Mazda Miata debuted. A few months later, it was named as one of the five “World’s Best Cars” by Road & Track where I was working. While a bit bombastic an parochial, the claim had some basis in fact, at least for aging import drivers.
With the collapse of the British sports car industry and the absence of roadsters, the Miata, as it was then called in the U.S., hit a sweet spot in the market. Miata weighed a low 2,116 pounds curb weight and could reach 60 mph in less than nine seconds. Japanese quality, spirited open top driving and a starting price of $13,800 MSRP proved a winning combination.
Twenty-five years later, MX-5 has garnered more than 200 awards and sold more than 920,000 worldwide as of December 2013, making it the Guinness Book of World Records holder for “Best-Selling Two-Seater Sports Car.” In addition, more MX-5s are road-raced on any weekend than any other model of car.
“The MX-5 Miata has hit a number of milestones over the years and we’re honored to say that 25 years later it’s as much a global success and favorite among enthusiasts as it was on day one,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). “At the Chicago Auto Show in 1989, MX-5 Miata set the bar for sports car performance and driving pleasure. Here we are on its 25th birthday still looking up at that bar.”
More power was added for the second generation.
The second-generation MX-5 Miata debuted in 1998 as a 1999 model with a more powerful 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 140 horsepower and 119 lb.-ft. of torque, and new styling that was most obvious in the front as the first generation car’s distinctive pop-up headlights were replaced with a faired-in design. In addition, the plastic rear window in the MX-5’s soft-top was replaced with a heated glass window. Features such as a straight intake port, a variable-inertia exhaust system and a dual exhaust manifold were incorporated to aid the sporty feel. The base model could reach 60 mph in 7.9 seconds, with a top speed of 122 mph.
The fastest and most expensive Miata MX-5 appeared in 2005.
In 2005, the third generation MX-5 was introduced with a new 16-valve, 2-liter I-4 engine, producing 170 horsepower and 140 lb.-ft. of torque, coupled to either a five-speed or a six-speed manual transmission or 166 horsepower with the optional six-speed automatic transmission. A front wishbone/rear multilink suspension was used beginning with the 2006 MX-5 to increase ride quality and handling. Technologies like traction control and stability control also were added.
