Mazda Miata
The Mazda Miata (sold as the Mazda MX-5 in Europe and Australia, and Eunos Roadster in Japan) is a convertible sports car made by Mazda. It was designed to be a basic roadster with a minimum of unnecessary weight and complexity. Its design is inspired by the Lotus Elan, a 1960's roadster that is widely considered to be one of the best handling sports cars of its day.
Overview
After decades of cars that heavy, powerful, and technological, the Miata is a deliberate step back. Items such as electronic controls, power accessories and aerodynamic wings are deliberately left out. The idea is to let the driving experience speak for itself. The Miata's traditional FR layout, 4-wheel independent suspension, and light weight give it a unique driving feel, as does the convertible body style.
The Miata consists of a 1.6 or 1.8 liter B6P or BP engine coupled to a manual transmission (an automatic transmission is available, though rare). 6-speed transmissions are available with newer special edition and LS-model cars. The Miata send power through the rear wheels from a longitudinal (front-to-back) engine. The body is a conventional, but very light, unibody shell. Miatas also incorporate a unique trusswork called the Powerplant Frame (PPF) which connects the engine to the rear axle, minimizing flex and creating a tight, responsive feel. Many Miatas feature limited slip differentials and antilock brakes, but none features traction control.
With a perfect 50:50 balance (which is achieved with an average weight driver and a 2/3 full gas tank), the car has a very neutral handling, which makes it easy to drive for the beginner, and fun for the advanced driver. Inducing oversteer is easy and well controllable. The Miata is popular in amateur and stock racing events, particularly the Sports Car Club of America's Solo-II autocross series.
Production on the Miata began in 1989, and is the most successful sports cars ever produced. On February 13, 2002, the Mazda MX-5 Miata roadster was named the world's best-selling sports car by the Guinness Book of Records. More than 700,000 of these two-seat convertibles have been produced since the model was introduced in 1989. Quite a bit of this success can be attributed to the fact that one doesn't need a race track to enjoy the Miata, but that it offers fun for almost everyone, everyday.
Generation 1
The original MX-5 Miata was introduced in 1989 as a 1990 model car. It was produced for almost two calendar years, and was incredibly successful worldwide, making the 1990 MX-5 Miata one of the highest-volume sports cars ever made. The original Miata came with a 1.6L inline four-cylinder engine. The first special edition Miata came in 1991 with the British Racing Green Limited Edition. There was no special edition per-se for 1992, though the black and yellow colors were new and rare. The 1993 Limited Edition was black with a red leather interior.
Generation 1.5
The MX-5 Miata was freshened for 1994 with the introduction of a more powerful 1.8L BP engine, dual airbags, a geared limited slip differential, and other options.
There were a number of trim levels and special editions available. The standard model was sometimes called the "A Package". A "B Package" added some options, while the "C Package" included a tan interior and top and leather seats. A special "R Package" was introduced for racing, and the annual special editions were formalized as "M Editions". These included all of the luxury options from the C package as well as special paint and, sometimes, special wheels. This generation was phased out in the 1997 model year, with the final 1500 Mark-1 Miatas produced being the "STO" versions.
Generation 2
In 1997, Mazda released an updated MX-5 Miata design. This model is known as the NB (referring to the model number printed on the VIN plate) or Mark 2. With its introduction, the earlier MX-5 Miata became known as the NA or Mark 1. The NB features a more-powerful engine and more modern styling cues borrowed from the aggressive RX-7. The BP engine remained at 1.8L but now included a variable-length tuned intake and other changes. Although almost all parts of the car were different, the most notable changes were the headlights: The first model's retractable headlights had been exchanged for fixed ones.
Generation 2.5
In 2001, a facelift to the NB was released. There were some minor design changes, the design got a bit more edgy, and some cockpit elements were changed, as were the seats. The 1.8 liter engine was slightly modified and now featured variable valve timing on the intake camshaft. According to Mazda's specifications, this increased power by 6 hp (4 kW) but dynomometer tests have shown virtually no change in the power curve. Mazda was forced to buy back a number of 2001 cars due to these misleading power claims. The 6-speed transmission has become available for the top models, as well as 16 in (406 mm) rims and larger brakes. 2004 saw the introduction of the turbocharged Mazdaspeed MX-5 with 178hp.
