Mazda beefs up build-to-order Web-Tuned Roadster
Little known outside of Japan is the fact that you can design a build-to-order Mazda online and see you custom creation through to purchase without ever leaving your chair. Mazda’s Web Tune Factory has been up and running since 2001 and the newest addition to the lineup of 22 available vehicles is the Web Tuned Roaster that’s based on the MX-5.
Though one can access the Web Tune Factory from anywhere in the world, Mazda adds the caveat that the cars can’t be exported. That’s just as well since the site is only available in Japanese. We pimped out a new Web Tuned Roadster with every available option we could find, including a ¥54,600 ($463 US) car seat for the little kiddo in your life. Not being able to read the strange eastern hieroglyph, we simply chose whatever was most expensive. After the build you get a snapshot of your one-of-a-kind whip in a decidedly awkward setting (ours looks like it landed in Germany). Still, spending millions of virtual yen is always a fun way to while away the work hours.
[Source: Mazda]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Micah 2:23PM (4/19/2006)
Holy crap, and I thought german cars had a lot of options!
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David 2:33PM (4/19/2006)
Well, you could spend the work hours working but since I'm reading Autoblog, I obviously don't believe that. I do wish that buying options one at a time without buying packages were more possible. I drive a Mazda6i and in order to get what I wanted on the car had to buy a sport package which included the rear wing. It looks dumb to me and it hurts rearward vision so I then had to pay the dealer extra to swap out the trunklid for a plain one. Since the wing on this model also had the high mounted brakelight I had to get a new one installed inside the car as well.
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James 3:32PM (4/19/2006)
Is that Adolf admiring the new Mazda offering?
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Bryce 4:28PM (4/19/2006)
I'm pretty sure that background is Regensburg across from the Dom St. Peter. Some of the other background shots appear to have been taken nearby.
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Finished.Law.School 4:37PM (4/19/2006)
Is a V-8 one of the options? Will a V-8 still fit in one of these?
I remember folks putting a Mustang Cobra V-8 in older model Miatas...
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That One Person 5:25PM (4/19/2006)
#2...I agree with you. I think options should be offered as a single item. If you want foglights and dont want the spoiler and bigger rims (or whatever) you should be able to order the foglights by themselves. I think people would be a lot happier that way. I know when a friend of mine was looking at some cars, he just wanted a six disc changer...nothing else. But everywhere he looked he had to have some BS package with some BS options to have it...its ridiculous. I also think car companies should offer some sort of base small car...no frills or BS gadgets...just a car and four wheels and an engine.
Anyways, I think this is cool. You get to see what you get before you actually get it. Nifty!
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td500 5:46PM (4/19/2006)
Gee, I wonder if they have Web Tuned Roasters at Home Depot?
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Tom Design 10:05PM (4/19/2006)
Not really sure the Miata is moving in the right direction with this awkward look. Really needs to go back to the nicely styled, fully rounded original. This is what happens when Japanese automakers worry about what's going on in design around them. A badly morphed image. This 2-seater is targeting somewhere between a Solstice and the last-gen Miata. Not looking very clean and lost its freshness and design focus.
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Chris K 10:45PM (4/19/2006)
OMG, they killed the Miata! You bastards!
Owners of the original NA Miatas might have complained about the NB, with its projector beam lights and increased weight, but look at THIS thing! Where's the Miata in there? It looks more like an Apple mouse than a Miata.
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