Mazda MX-5 | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Mazda |
Also called | Mazda MX-5 Miata (North America) Mazda Miata (North America) Eunos Roadster (Japan) Mazda Roadster (Japan) |
Production | 1989–present |
Assembly | Hiroshima, Japan (Hiroshima Plant) |
Body and chassis | |
Class |
Sports car Roadster |
Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
Platform | Mazda N platform |
First Generation (NA) Mark 1 | |
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Overview | |
Production | May 1989–1997 |
Designer | Tsutomu Matano, Shunji Tanaka (1984, 1986) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-door roadster |
Platform | Mazda NA |
Powertrain | |
Engine | |
Transmission | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,265 mm (89.2 in) |
Length | 3,950 mm (155.5 in) |
Width | 1,675 mm (65.9 in) |
Height | 1,230 mm (48.4 in) |
Curb weight | 940 kg (2,070 lb) |
Second Generation (NB) | |
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Overview | |
Production | January 1998–2005 |
Designer | Tom Matano (1995) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-door roadster |
Platform | Mazda NB |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 1.6 L (98 cu in) B6-ZE I4 (Europe/Japan) 1.8 L (110 cu in) BP-5A I4 (Japan) 1.8 L (110 cu in) BP-4W I4 1.8 L (110 cu in) BP-Z3 I4 1.8 L (110 cu in) turbocharged BPT I4 (Mazdaspeed) |
Transmission | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic 6-speed manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,270 mm (89.4 in) |
Length | 3,940–3,950 mm (155.1–155.5 in) |
Width | 1,680 mm (66.1 in) |
Height | 1,220–1,230 mm (48.0–48.4 in) |
Curb weight | 1,065 kg (2,348 lb) |
Third Generation (NC) | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Mazda MX-5 Miata (United States) |
Production | May 2005–2015 |
Designer | Yasushi Nakamuta (2003) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-door roadster 2-door folding hardtop roadster |
Platform | Mazda NC |
Related | Mazda RX-8 |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 1.8 L (110 cu in) MZR I4 (Europe) 2.0 L (120 cu in) MZR I4 |
Transmission | 5-speed manual 6-speed automatic 6-speed manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,329.18 mm (91.7 in) |
Length | 4,000–4,020 mm (157.5–158.3 in) |
Width | 1,720 mm (67.7 in) |
Height | 1,240–1,255 mm (48.8–49.4 in) |
Curb weight | 1,110–1,153 kg (2,447–2,542 lb) |
Fourth generation (ND) | |
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Overview | |
Production | 4 March 2015–present |
Model years | 2016–present |
Designer | Masashi Nakayama |
Body and chassis | |
Body style |
2-door roadster 2-door retractable fastback |
Platform | Mazda ND |
Related | Fiat 124 Spider (2016) |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 1.5 L SkyActiv-G I4 2.0 L SkyActiv-G I4 |
Transmission | 6-speed SkyActiv-MT Manual 6-speed SkyActiv-Drive Automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,315 mm (91.1 in) |
Length | 3,915 mm (154.1 in) |
Width | 1,730 mm (68.1 in) |
Height | 1,235 mm (48.6 in) |
Curb weight |
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The Mazda MX-5, released as the Mazda MX-5 Miata /miˈɑːtə/ in North America and as the Eunos Roadster in Japan, is a lightweight two-seater roadster with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Manufactured by Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan, the model debuted in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show. The MX-5 was conceived as a small roadster – with light weight and minimal mechanical complexity limited only by legal and safety requirements, while being technologically modern and reliable. The MX-5 is conceptually the evolution and spiritual successor of the British sports cars of the 1950s & '60s, such as the Triumph Spitfire, Austin-Healey 100, MG MGA, and particularly the Lotus Elan.
The second generation MX-5 (NB) was launched in 1998 (for the 1999 model year), the third generation (NC) model was launched in 2005 (for the 2006 model year), and a fourth generation (ND) was released in 2015 (for the 2016 model year). It continues to be the best-selling two-seat convertible sports car in history and by April 2016, over one million MX-5s had been built and sold around the world. Production of the MX-5 had fallen by 2013 to below 14,000 units, due to the world finance crisis in 2008, and the pre-announcement in 2012 of the coming ND model.
Since the launch of the third generation, Mazda has consolidated worldwide marketing using the MX-5 name with the exception of the United States where it is marketed as the MX-5 Miata. The name "miata" derives from Old High German for "reward".
The MX5's first generation, the NA, sold over 400,000 units from May 1989 to 1997 – with a 1.6 L (98 cu in) straight-4 engine to 1993, a 1.8 L (110 cu in) engine thereafter (with a de-tuned 1.6 as a budget option in some markets) – recognizable by its pop-up headlights. The second generation (NB) was introduced in 1999 with a slight increase in engine power; it can be recognized by the fixed headlights and the glass rear window, although first generation owners may opt for the glass window design when replacing the original top. The third generation (NC) was introduced in 2006 with a 2.0 L (120 cu in) engine.