One of Mazda's most iconic cars - the MX-5 or Miata to North Americans - almost never made it to the production phase. Mazda took a risk when it first introduced the MX-5 at a time when there were only a couple of roadsters available and none from a Japanese manufacturer.
Easily one of the best cars ever to come out of Mazda, the Miata was named by Guinness as the best-selling two-seat sports car in history in 2000 with 531,890 units produced. Mazda broke that record again in April of 2016 when it rolled out the one-millionth MX-5.
I know you're curious as to why MX-5 is called Miata.
The Miata nickname comes from an old high German term that translates to "prize" or "reward". Mazda intended this from the very start - to build a high-performing roadster that would be rewarding, a delight to drive, and one that would offer excellent value for hard-earned money.
The Concept and History of the Mazda Miata
The Miata concept came at a time when roadsters were virtually non-existent due to new regulations in safety and emissions. Laws required convertibles and powerful roadsters to have detuned engines and equipped with extra crash protection. These restrictions somehow made the cars no longer fun to drive.
Mazda started to become popular in the United States in the late 1970s. Its annual exports reached about 170,000 cars, consisting of both expensive cars like the RX-7 and those that are cheap and practical.
MotorTrend Journalist Bob Hall Joins Mazda R&D
In 1979, Mazda’s head of research and development Kenichi Yamamoto met with Motor Trend journalist Bob Hall and asked what the latter thought Mazda should produce next. Hall replied that it should be a fun, lightweight sportscar that is more affordable than the RX-7 and inspired by classic British sportscars.
When Mazda set up a research and development centre in California in 1981, Yamamoto asked Hall to join Mazda. Officially, Hall was working on the B-series pickup trucks but worked on his idea of a sports car in his spare time. For several years, Hall would work on the sports car concept.
A Lightweight, Fun to Drive Sportscar
Inspiration came to him one day while driving to an event in Pebble Beach with a fellow Mazda employee Shigenori Fukuda. Hall asked what type of car Mazda should build next. To Bob Hall’s excitement, Fukuda replied - a lightweight sportscar!
Following this, an essay on "What is a sportscar to an American?" reached Mazda's Japan headquarters. The paper summarised that Americans needed an affordable performance car that was fun to drive and gave a feeling of going fast but not necessarily doing that.
This essay didn't accomplish anything right away. Meanwhile, a couple of engineers in Hiroshima decided to invite Kenichi Yamamoto to take a ride in a Triumph Spitfire on his way to a meeting in Tokyo.
It was during this ride, which took the mountain roads, that the idea of developing the MX-5 Miata was conceived.
A Design Competition Gives Birth to the Miata
A design competition for a new sportscar was held with three teams, two teams based in Japan and the other was Hall's team in California under a new development programme called the "Offline, Go Go."
Each group was assigned different layouts - front-engine front-wheel drive, mid-engine rear-wheel drive, and front-engine rear-wheel drive - with the last one assigned to the California team.
During the sketch competition, the Japanese team assigned with the front-engine front-wheel-drive layout came up with a design that was practical and cheap to build as it used technology currently already in production.
The mid-engine rear-wheel-drive design was also favoured as this would compete with Toyota's MR2.
Bob Hall's design thinking was a car that could be marketed for over 10 years, as opposed to the average 4-to-6-year cycle of most Mazda models. Since Hall’s design approach needed to last, he opted for a convertible with a curved body design that was more typical of the old 1960s roadsters like the Lotus Elan. This design was deemed too old-fashioned and, thus, lost in the competition.
The Miata that We Know Almost Didn't Make It to Production
Initially, the contest was supposed to eliminate the least liked design. However, in recognition of the effort done by the California team, all three designs were given the go-ahead to produce clay models of their concepts.
Upon presentation of the clay models, the front-engine front-wheel drive was still the most viable option since the mid-engine rear-wheel-drive model was deemed to have fierce competition from the likes of the popular Toyota MR2 and the Pontiac Fiero.
The real surprise of the contest was from the California team. The clay model of their sports coupe turned out to be very pleasing in three dimensional, and when Hall and Fukuda took the top off, this revealed that the design was actually a convertible. It won the competition, and the MX-5 Miata was born.
First Generation MX-5 Miata (NA), 1989-1997
The Mazda Miata on its release was a 2-seater sports coupe with a removable hardtop. The whole body was done in steel except for the bonnet, which was made of lightweight aluminium.
It was called the Eunos Roadster in Japan since the Miata name sounded identical to a long-time Japanese company called Miyata that produced bicycles, motorcycles, and cars.
Design
To make the Miata car look like a Mazda, design components were taken from the RX-7 like the pop-up headlights, the front air vent, and the chin lights.
The popularity of the Miata and Mazda's marketing catchword ("A look into the future") consequently gave rise to RX-7 adopting a few Miata design features in its third-generation release.
As initially envisioned, the Mazda Miata 1990 went into production as a front-mid-engine rear-wheel drive with independent double-wishbone suspension in all four wheels. Ventilated disc brakes provided the stopping power at the front, with solid rotor disc brakes at the rear.
Engine
A 1.6L petrol B6ZE(RS) inline 4-cylinder DOHC (85 kW/ 137 N⋅m) supplied the power, transferred to the drive wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox.
In 1994, the engine was upgraded to a 1.8L BP-ZE I4 DOHC (98 kW/ 155 N⋅m) with an option of either a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Features
During its introduction, MX-5 Miata base models were equipped with manual steering, steel wheels, and roll-up windows. They didn't come with stereo or air conditioning to keep the price low. Later, Mazda offered these features as standard equipment as the popularity of the Miata car became evident.
Interior trims varied over the years but remained its no-frills character to adhere to its roadster heritage of simplicity and driving fun.
As popularity increased and sales went beyond expectations, numerous special editions were released incorporating interior trim improvements, suspension upgrades, colour options and body kits which were also marketed as options later on.
Second Generation Mazda MX-5 (NB), 1998-2005
The second-generation MX-5 Miata was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1997, displaying styling cues from the RX-7.
With the pop-up headlights no longer passing pedestrian safety tests, the new Mazda Miata MX-5 now had fixed headlamps. Aerodynamics was improved, and the car's dimensions grew a bit but still retained its roadster feel and heritage.
Mazda Miata Interior
The interior was updated, including the addition of a retractable wind deflector behind the seats. The rear window was now also made of glass with a built-in defogger.
A four-wheel independent system still handled the suspension but with enlarged front and rear anti-roll bars. Anti-lock braking system (ABS) was offered as an option together with different wheel and tyre options available depending on the trim and market territory.
Engine
Some countries still offered the original 1.6L B6-ZE, but in Australia, the 1.8L BP-4W (106 kW/ 165 N⋅m) was the available engine from 1998 to 2001.
From 2001 to 2005, the 1.8L BP-6D (113 kW/ 181 N⋅m) was added to the range. In 1999, a Limited Edition (10th Anniversary Model) equipped with a Torsen limited-slip differential, sports suspensions and special alloy wheels joined the lineup.
In 2001, the Miata MX-5 received a facelift that incorporated fog lamps, which were previously an option. Some interior elements were changed, and the rear turn light was restyled and received a clear lens instead of the old amber.
In 2004 in Japan, Mazda introduced the Mazdaspeed MX-5 Roadster turbo, a turbocharged version of the BP-4W. It produced 133 kW and 226 N⋅m and came equipped with a front-mounted intercooler. It could accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and had a top speed of 204 km/h.
Mazda MX-5 Miata Australia
Mazda Australia developed and marketed one of the most powerful production models, the MX-5 SP. The turbocharged 1.8L was capable of producing 157 kW at 6,800 rpm coupled to a 6-speed manual gearbox, but the production of these cars was limited to only 100 units as the price was considerably higher than the base cars.
Third Generation MX-5 (NC), 2005-2013
The NC was a completely new car, unlike the transition from the NA to the NB. The design of the third-generation Miata was lifted from the 2003 Mazda Ibuki concept car.
The rear suspension was now changed to a multilink layout while still retaining the front wishbone setup adapted from the RX-8. The exterior design also incorporated fender bulges that gave this generation a wide-body look.
Engine
Base engines differed depending on location and included the 1.8L MZR L8-DE (93 kW/ 165 N⋅m), the 2.0L MZR (118 kW/ 188 N⋅m) and the 2.0L MZR (130 kW/ 190 N⋅m). Transmission options were the 6-speed auto with paddle shifter, 5-speed manual and the 6-speed manual gearbox.
Updates, Refresh, & Special Editions
In 2006, a Power Retractable Hard Top became available with a two-piece folding hardtop done in polycarbonate. The retractable hardtop added 36 kg to the overall weight of the car, slightly affecting performance.
A mid-cycle refresh was done in 2008 and featured interior and exterior design changes. More prominent front grille, new headlights, side skirts, rear bumper and taillights brought the MX-5 Miata in line with the newer models offered by Mazda. Redesigned gauge clusters with darker features and upgraded interior components were incorporated.
Numerous special editions were also released worldwide, notable of which is the MX-5 20th Anniversary edition with special exterior styling package, chrome grille, door handles and headlight fascia.
Also included are uniquely designed 17-inch alloy wheels and 20th Anniversary badges. The Japanese market was treated to the Mazda Roadster Black Tuned special edition in 2011. This edition had so many upgrades from the factory that it would easily become the most sought-after model in the future.
Fourth Generation MX-5 (ND), 2014 to Present
Unveiled in September 2014, the fourth and current generation of the MX-5 is now lighter than its predecessor and incorporates the SkyActiv technologies seen in other Mazda models.
The exterior design strayed from the old curvaceous body, now sporting a more aggressive look and in keeping with current trends. With its heritage and popularity, the new MX-5 is now head-to-head with other prestigious marques yet maintaining a significantly lower price than its competition.
Trim Levels and Engine Options
Two major versions are available, a 2-door convertible and the 2-door retractable fastback. These are available in different trim levels with 2 SkyActiv engines options available.
- The 1.5L SkyActiv-G (P5-VPS) rated at 96kW power and torque of 150 N⋅m.
- The 2.0L SkyActiv -G (PE-VPS) produces 118 kW of power and 188 N⋅m of torque.
These engines come coupled to either a 6-speed automatic or the 6-speed manual gearbox.
Standard and optional equipment encompasses almost all the latest technology developments in safety, convenience, connectivity and performance from Mazda.
With the SkyActiv technologies, the 2.0L engine fuel efficiency is at about 9.0L/100km for both the automatic and manual gearbox.
Miata Upgrades
In 2018, the 2.0L SkyActiv engine was further improved to produce 135 kW of power and 205 N⋅m of torque, with the designation changed to ND2.
At this time, the interior also received upgrades in the form of a telescoping steering column, standard reverse camera, revised seat controls and other little improvements.
In 2020, the interior received minor styling changes most notable of which is the burgundy Nappa leather upholstery which gives the MX-5 a more luxurious appeal.
Miata Special Editions
Just like the previous generations, the current Miata car also released several special editions from 2016 to the present year, including the Yamamoto Signature in 2018, the 30th Anniversary (of the MX-5) in 2019, the 100th Anniversary (of Mazda) in 2020, and the 25th MCP Anniversary Edition in 2022 (exclusive to the Philippines).
The MX-5 Miata Heritage
At a time when car manufacturers thought roadsters were unpopular, Mazda took the risk with the Miata and captured the market for 2-seater sportscars.
The current generation of the Miata car is the basis for the Fiat and Abarth 124 Spider.
What Bob Hall’s team designed for a 10-year production cycle is now well into its 33rd year, and with Mazda’s SkyActiv programme, we might yet see these roadsters powered by hybrids or pure electric in the future.
If you own an MX-5 and are looking to buy some replacement parts or accessories for it, please visit our website and browse our current listing of parts or send us a car parts request. We'd be delighted to assist you.
By Fred Cajulis