Autoblog

Slow-selling Mazda2 may not be renewed for U.S.

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:14:00 EST

As with its platform-mate, the Ford Fiesta, the Mazda2 hasn't exactly made hay with the monthly sales numbers. Unlike it's Ford relative, however, Mazda isn't committed to sticking it out with the Mazda2 in the U.S. Ford has gone on record as saying it will remain committed to the Fiesta here, while a report in Automotive News claims the next-generation Mazda2, due around 2014, might skip our shores. The lack of momentum in the U.S. subcompact market is one of the causes, as is the Mazda2's price: with an asking price of $14,530, it is only $670 less expensive than the four-door Mazda3.

The Japanese company is focusing on its volume models and on getting its Skyactiv technologies fully integrated throughout the line. We've now got a full look at the Mazda6, and AN suggest the 2.2-liter twin-turbo diesel with 170 horsepower and 310 pound feet of torque could come to the U.S. after the sedan is launched here.

The next Mazda3 will be a showcase of lightweight and efficient Skyactiv tech, with 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter direct-injection engines on offer, a diesel and i-Eloop regenerative braking being considered. The lighter, more powerful MX-5 Miata is expected to be here in about two years time, and a rotary-powered sports car is still being worked on well behind the scenes.

Slow-selling Mazda2 may not be renewed for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mini Cooper S Roadster vs. 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition

Chris Paukert — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Mazda, Mini, Comparisons

Veteran And Rookie Roadsters Face Off In Droptop Doubleheader

Like an aging ballplayer, the Mazda is starting to look a little gray around the temples - a bit vulnerable.

We've been eying this fight for a long time. Since the reborn Mini first burst on the scene in 2002, really. Oh, the Mini Cooper Convertible has been around since 2005, but we just couldn't bring ourselves to compare them. What with all that physical and visual weight from the Mini's nearly useless rear seats, it just didn't seem like a fair fight. The classically proportioned rear-drive Mazda MX-5 Miata against a front-drive droptop with a pair of roll hoops awkwardly stationed behind the second row of seats, Tour de France-sized blind spots and a windshield header so far away from the driver as to be oddly distant - not to mention streetlight blocking? No, the Mini Convertible wasn't the answer we were looking for.

And neither, as it turns out, have been all the other suitors the industry has concocted over the Miata's considerable lifespan. Everything from General Motors' Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky twins to the Aussie-built Mercury Capri, Toyota MR2 Spyder and Honda Del Sol has tried to crack Miata's iron grip on the affordable and fun basic roadster crown, and all have collapsed rather miserably. The Miata has been around for nearly a quarter century, and it's cornered the affordable convertible market for both new enthusiasts and golden oldies looking for a British sports car that doesn't leak and bears no trace of Lucas electrics. To borrow shamelessly from Terence Mann of Field Of Dreams (say it in your best James Earl Jones bellow):

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been the Miata. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. The sports car market has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But the Miata has marked the time."

But now, like an aging ballplayer, the Mazda is starting to look a little gray around the temples - a bit vulnerable. Despite a steady stream of small tweaks and tugs and a parade of special editions, this third-generation NC Miata has been on the market since 2005. Since that time, Mini has effectively released its second generation of ragtop Coopers with this new-for-2012 Mini Roadster, and it poses a more serious threat to the Miata than even we realized.

Continue reading 2012 Mini Cooper S Roadster vs. 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition

2012 Mini Cooper S Roadster vs. 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch Mazda's MX-5 GT Concept climb the hill at Goodwood

Zach Bowman — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Videos, Mazda, UK, Celebrities

Mazda brought the company's ever-sexy MX-5 Miata GT Concept to this past weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed for a little sprint up the hill. With 205 horsepower on tap thanks to new cams and a revised throttle body, the concept is exactly what Miata buyers have been clamoring for all these years: more power. Mazda handed the keys over to Jade Pavely, an endurance driver with the company for the run, and the driver had no trouble keeping the convertible right side up and between the hay bales on her way toward the finish line.

We could certainly think of less entertaining ways to get around the course. Mazda didn't mention how long it takes the machine to get from start to finish, but we doubt the company was out to set any records. Chances are this little exercise had more to do with putting eyeballs on that blaze-orange paint and testing the waters for a possible production version. Check out the brief video below to have a look.

Continue reading Watch Mazda's MX-5 GT Concept climb the hill at Goodwood

Watch Mazda's MX-5 GT Concept climb the hill at Goodwood originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK gets Mazda MX-5 Miata Kuro special edition

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Mazda, UK

The word "kuro" means "black" in Japanese, and several special edition kuro models have made there way to the UK from Japanese automakers in the past few years: the Nissan Juke Kuro last year and the Mazda RX-8 Kuro in 2007. Mazda has gone back to black with the MX-5 Kuro, but unlike those other cars, this one is oddly available in Crystal White Pearlescent, as well as Velocity Red Mica and Brilliant Black.

It will come in either 124-horsepower, 1.8-liter soft top or 158-hp 2.0-liter Roadster Coupe forms (read: retractable hardtop). Sportiness is the brief, but while the softie gets a five-speed manual, the Roadster Coupe bags a six-speed manual, limited-slip differential and side airbags.

Upgraded spec for both variants throws in a new rear bumper with larger exhaust tips, "race car inspired exterior" graphics, 17-inch gunmetal wheels, along with Brilliant Black side mirrors, roof and trim. Inside, the black treatment is contrasted with stone-colored leather on the heated seats, as well as red stitching and alongside alloy pedals. Climate control will come standard.

Just 200 examples of the £18,495 soft top ($28,905 U.S., inclusive of UK VAT) will be on offer when it goes on sale July 1, while 400 examples of the £21,995 Coupe Roadster ($34,375) can be had. Scroll down for a press release with more info.

Continue reading UK gets Mazda MX-5 Miata Kuro special edition

UK gets Mazda MX-5 Miata Kuro special edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda to debut MX-5 Miata GT Concept, looking for feedback

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Mazda, Misc. Auto Shows, UK, Design/Style

Does the idea of a Mazda MX-5 Miata with 205 horsepower - a useful bump over the stocker's 167 ponies - sound like a good idea? How about one with an upgraded suspension, carbon fiber front splitter, rear diffuser and spoiler?

Still not good enough for you? Fine. Throw in a free-flowing exhaust with single center-mounted tailpipe, body-color roll hoops, sticky tires and a pair of Recaro seats. If we're describing the Miata of your dreams, we suggest you tell Mazda how you feel - this exact machine, dubbed the MX-5 Miata GT Concept, will be on display at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it will make a run up the hill.

Mazda says it's "seeking customer reaction" to the hotted-up sports car, which it says is inspired by its MX-5 GT race car. Mazda: We speak for all when we say, "If you build it, we will come." Also on display at Goodwood will be the Mazda Takeri Concept and the company's new CX-5 crossover.

See for yourself in the image gallery above and the press release below.

Continue reading Mazda to debut MX-5 Miata GT Concept, looking for feedback

Mazda to debut MX-5 Miata GT Concept, looking for feedback originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda takes the long and winding roadster to the British isles with MX-5 Venture Edition

Noah Joseph — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Mazda, UK

Go back half a century or so and nobody owned the concept of the little roadster quite like the British. These days it belongs to Mazda and its ubiquitous MX-5 Miata, but as if to pay homage, the Japanese automaker has launched a new special edition in the UK.

Called the MX-5 Venture Edition, it bundles a dozen or so additional features into one slick little package. Gunmetal-finish 17-inch alloys, fog lamps and chrome grille are all part and parcel, but the nicest touch is the Havana Brown leather trim inside, with alloy pedals and piano black trim. TomTom sat-nav with a 5.8-inch touch screen and full connectivity keep it current.

It's available in special shades of black, white or grey, and buyers can choose between soft-top or retractable hard-top, but only 250 examples of the former and 550 of the latter will be made available exclusively in the UK. Check it out in the high-res image gallery and the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Mazda takes the long and winding roadster to the British isles with MX-5 Venture Edition

Mazda takes the long and winding roadster to the British isles with MX-5 Venture Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Targa Newfoundland, Part 1: Bill breaks an arm

Zach Bowman — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Etc., Mazda, Canada, Racing

Racing is built on a foundation of tired sayings packed with monumental truths. Recently, few have been more poignant for the crew of the supercharged NC Miata we're set to co-pilot in the 2011 Targa Newfoundland than, "You have to start before you can win." Last week, Bill Cardell, our valiant pilot and part-time lumberjack, wound up accidentally felling an aspen tree on himself while doing some work at a mountain cabin. He's currently awaiting a second set of x-rays to determine just how lengthy his recuperation will be, but either way, he's facing a few long weeks out of the saddle due to a broken humerus. Cardell, while in seemingly good spirits, finds nothing funny about the situation. Needless to say, squeezing into the cockpit of a race car isn't on his doctor's prescription pad, which leaves Nancy and I without a driver.

In a moment of solidarity, your author managed to high-side my '82 Kawasaki GPz750 on day one of a two-week motorcycle ride. The next morning, one very haggard ER doctor told me that while my bones were intact, there's a good chance that I've torn my rotator cuff.

"That's bad," I said.

"Yes. It's very bad," he agreed after a pause that conveyed a mix of disdain and admiration for my appreciation of the obvious.

Even so, I've regained much of the movement in my left shoulder, and the pain has subsided to an ever-present dull ache. If I can ride 2,300 miles on the arm, I can sure as hell use it to hold up pace notes. I'll circle back with the medical establishment after our return from Canada.

Meanwhile, Cardell's nephew, Brandon Fitch, will take over the forced-induction Miata's controls. Fitch formerly served as crew chief for both vehicles and has worked with Flyin' Miata for the past five years. As such, he's had plenty of seat time with our car as part of his work in product development, and word has it he's plenty quick to boot.

The race kicks off on September 10, and I've been ordered to stay indoors and intact until then. That's advice I'll likely heed. Our best get-well wishes go out to Cardell as he stitches himself back together.

The Road to Targa Newfoundland, Part 1: Bill breaks an arm originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda UK's Black edition MX-5 and Mazda2 can be had in any color... as long as it's not black?

Noah Joseph — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Hatchback, Mazda, UK

You'd expect a car labeled Black Edition to actually be, you know...black. Whether it's a Porsche, a Hummer or a Unimog. But then again Mercedes-AMG's top line of performance models are called the Black Series, and you can get those in any color you want. So maybe it's a page out of that playbook that Mazda has taken with its latest special edition.

Mazda's latest specials are available exclusively in the UK, and celebrate the success of the MX-5 GT race car. It's available on both the MX-5 Miata hardtop roadster and the Mazda2 five-door hatch, and while either can be ordered in green, red or white, it's the black trim on everything from the roof to the wheels that sets them apart and gives them their name.

Only 500 examples of the MX-5 Sport Black shown above will be offered, while the Mazda2 Black will give birth to 618 offspring, each packing all the bells and whistles to go along with the darkened trim. Details in the press release after the jump, with images in the high-res gallery.

Continue reading Mazda UK's Black edition MX-5 and Mazda2 can be had in any color... as long as it's not black?

Mazda UK's Black edition MX-5 and Mazda2 can be had in any color... as long as it's not black? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda targeting 1,760-pound target for next Miata - 400 pounds lighter than first-gen

Zach Bowman — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Mazda, Rumormill

2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata - Click above for high-res image gallery

The future is looking bright for the next-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata. According to Inside Line, the head honchos at the Japanese automaker have instructed the company's engineers to strip a whopping 720 pounds from the vehicles already comparably light 2,480-pound curb weight. If successful, that would put the new comer into the feathery 1,760-pound range, which is 400 pounds less than the first-generation roadster. How do they plan to do it? Engineers are turning to high-strength steel for the vehicle's chassis and contemplating a smaller-displacement engine.

A turbocharged, direct-injection 1.4-liter four pot could work its way under the hood, though IL reports that the vehicle may also be considerably narrower than the current car. Other clever weight-saving moves include the deletion of the dashboard glove box and the replacement of the traditional paper owner's manual with an electronic copy on a USB stick.

Here's hoping you've got your laptop on you the next time you need to check your service intervals.

The report claims that the engineers at Mazda aren't entirely sure they can hit the weight target, but the vehicle will be much closer to the waif-like 2,178-lb 1989 Miata than the heftier 2011 model.

Mazda targeting 1,760-pound target for next Miata - 400 pounds lighter than first-gen originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2011: 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition adds exclusivity... for a price

Michael Harley — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Mazda

2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

In the market for a new MX-5 Miata, but want a bit more exclusivity? Check out the 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition, as the new range-topping droptop should fit the bill perfectly.

Based off of a fully-loaded power retractable hard top Grand Touring model and limited to just 750 units by Mazda, the Special Edition is most easily spotted by its Sparkling Black Mica or Dolphin Gray Mica exterior paint and bright-finish 17-inch alloy wheels. The interior sports gray upholstery, chrome accents and aluminum pedals (6MT only). Unique underpinnings include the MX-5's standard Suspension Package with Bilstein shocks, a limited-slip differential and sport-tuned dampers. Motivating the 2,593-pound two-seater is Mazda's 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 167 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque (158 horsepower with the 2,619-pound 6AT).

If the specs catch your fancy, be prepared to shell out $30,925 for the manual transmission model or $31,525 for the six-speed automatic.

Gallery: 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition: Chicago 2011

Chicago 2011: 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition adds exclusivity... for a price originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda MX-5 Matte and Black Special Edition is darkened hotness

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Mazda, Misc. Auto Shows, Design/Style

Mazda MX-5 Matte and Black Special Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

We make no effort to hide the fact that we love the Mazda Miata just the way it is. In fact, it's always been just about perfect in our eyes, as evidenced by our most recent road test of the sporty little Japanese runabout. But if bright schoolbus yellow just isn't your bag, baby, may we suggest something a little more subtle?

Mazda has just rolled out the MX-5 Matte and Black Special Edition at the 21st annual Salon du Cabriolet, Coupé & SUV in Paris. Ostensibly to celebrate the Miata's 20th birthday in France, we kinda think Mazda just wanted to prove that its sportscar looks pretty darn good in the automotive equivalent of the little black dress. And boy, does it ever.

There's nothing special underhood, so the 2.0-liter four still puts out an adequate 167 horsepower. We can't say that we see them in the photos ourselves (fortunately), but design label LK by Laure Kczekotowska Paris has reportedly decked the MX-5 out in rhinestones, gems, and crystals. Ah well, nothing can be perfect. See for yourself in the image gallery below.

Gallery: Mazda MX-5 Matte and Black Special Edition

[Source: Mazda via Le Blog Auto]

Mazda MX-5 Matte and Black Special Edition is darkened hotness originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blimey! UK gets its own 20th Anniversary Mazda Miata

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:28:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Europe, Japan, Mazda

Mazda MX5 20th Anniversary Edition (UK) - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you'll allow us to channel Kyle's mother for a moment, "What!? What!? What?!?!" That's right folks, not only has Mazda decided that them good bread and cheese eaters over in Europia get a 20th Anniversary edition Miata, but the redcoat wearing, Simon Cowell spawning, Union Jacking Queen-lovers over in Britain are fit to get their own special special edition 20th Anniversary Miata. Us Yanks? Bupkis.

Of course, when you scrape your way down to the nitty and/or gritty of the matter, you learn that just like the Europe-only MX-5 Miata, the Brit version also gets a 1.8-liter motor, not the more powerful 2.0-liter found in U.S.-spec Miatas. Meaning that only a very few crazy die hards would shell out good money for a detuned special edition Miata even if the 1.8-liter model "echoes true spirit of 1990 original." And of course, as we all know (ahem) the 1990 original Miata came with a 1.6-liter power plant and the 1.8-liter motor didn't show up until ~~1996~~ 1994.

The truth of the matter is there doesn't seem to be any difference between the British 20th Anniversary cars and the European ones aside from the fancy paint job (the 20th Anniversary car is largely an appearance package detailed here). It's just that Britain is such a huge Miata market the island nation secured 33 percent of the production run. After all, the Miata is essentially a British roadster minus all the never absent rust, fatal electrical gremlins and routine catastrophic purging of essential fluids. Still feeling bad that we're not getting a 20th Anniversary Miata? It takes 9.9 seconds for that 1.8-liter to 60 miles per hour... Press release after the jump.

Gallery: Mazda MX5 20th Anniversary Edition (UK)

[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Blimey! UK gets its own 20th Anniversary Mazda Miata

Blimey! UK gets its own 20th Anniversary Mazda Miata originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata to get SKY-G power, 50+ mpg?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:56:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Mazda, Rumormill

Mazda MX-5 Miata Superlight Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Are big changes ahead for the Miata? As a blog that's gone on record as adoring the current iteration (and all previous - Ed.) of Mazda's quintessential sportscar, that notion is a bit worrisome. Still, it sounds as if the company is going in the right direction. According to Inside Line, the 2011 MX-5 Miata will shrink in size a bit with an expected curb weight of just 2,200 pounds. That low weight should pay big dynamic dividends as well as boost efficiency, but the big news on that front will be an all-new engine.

Powering the next-gen Miata will reportedly be either a 1.3-liter or 1.5-liter version of the four-cylinder SKY-G engine (G as in gasoline) that Mazda showed off earlier this year at the Tokyo Motor Show. With an expected power rating near 150 horsepower, the current model's power-to-weight ratio would remain intact (the 2009 model boasts 167 hp), and Mazda reportedly predicts the downsized mill will return in excess of 50 miles per gallon in the little sportscar. Consider our interest piqued.

Gallery: Mazda Superlight Concept

[Source: Inside Line]

2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata to get SKY-G power, 50+ mpg? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: Turbo rotary Mazda MX-5 begs to be flogged

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Mazda

Turbo Rotary Mazda MX-5 - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you get the impression things are all high gloss and dubs in Vegas, you wouldn't be far off. But walk around the SEMA compound long enough and you come across something cool that that speaks to the gearhead, track rat in each of us.

Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of details about this red NA Mazda MX-5, but we do know it's been worked over by Mike Burlas Designs from Rialto, California, and it has a turbocharged 13B rotary underhood. Further, it has been kitted out with an adjustable suspension, upgraded brakes and what appears to be a fiberglass (or Kevlar) blistered fender kit.

But the crowning jewel is the carbon fiber fastback roof which the company is selling in fiberglass form for $1,800. It's not quite as cool as the MX-5 coupe concept from way-back-when, but it's nice to see the Miata getting some S2000-style fixed roof love in Sin City.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: Turbo Rotary Mazda MX5/Miata

SEMA 2009: Turbo rotary Mazda MX-5 begs to be flogged originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata is still the drive of our childhood dreams

Chris Paukert — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Mazda, New Car Reviews

2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata - Click above for high-res image gallery

Remember back when you were a diapered enthusiast-to-be and you weren't allowed to venture beyond the end of your family's tree lawn? The sum total of your 'driving' experience was probably a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe. If you were like us, your toddler self was all big dreams, bustling feet and arms akimbo, twirling around those front caster wheels, savoring your first taste of automotive freedom.

Mazda created a timeless masterwork upon minting the very first MX-5 Miata back in 1989.

Small wonder, then, that Little Tikes' now 30-year-old bauble of rotation-molded plastic was last year's best-selling car - it's timeless. Combine classic styling, unburstable robustness, an inexpensive sticker price and the fact that it remains just quick enough for its target audience, and you've got a recipe for lasting success. The CC's whimsical, animated face; rounded, friendly styling; unfussed interior; nimble handling and general affordability has meant that despite a decidedly casual model update schedule, the folks at Little Tikes still have the whole fun-to-drive thing knocked. Sound like anyone else we know?

Oh, it may have taken them a decade longer to cotton on to the idea, but Mazda's designers eventually stumbled upon the same secret sauce as those wondrous toymakers from Hudson, Ohio. Perhaps inadvertently, they, too, created a timeless masterwork upon minting the very first MX-5 Miata back in 1989. All these years later, just like the Cozy Coupe, you can't help but smile a little when you see one. Just like the Cozy Coupe, you have to adopt the same mildly vulnerable, elbows-out-the-window driving position because of the cabin's pronounced narrowness. Just like the Cozy Coupe, both cars have more than their fair share of plastic in their interior. Just like the Cozy Coupe, road imperfections are transmitted directly through the modestly sized wheels into the driver's hands and back pocket - and in both cases, it's part of the fun. Most importantly, just like that Cozy Coupe of your youth, Mazda's minimalist masterwork will help you rediscover your inner enthusiast's childlike heart.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Continue reading Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata is still the drive of our childhood dreams

Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata is still the drive of our childhood dreams originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Mazda preparing sub-Miata MX-2?

Noah Joseph — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Mazda, Rendered Speculation

We've seen it happen a million times: a small car is successful, then the automaker ruins it by making it larger and heavier to satisfy what it thinks the average buyer is after. Fortunately, that hasn't been the case with the Mazda MX-5, which - retractable hardtop option notwithstanding - the Japanese automaker has always been careful not to spoil the core elements of the MX-5. So we'll take reports that Mazda is preparing an even smaller MX-2 with a grain of salt. But a small one.

According to the speculation, a future MX-2 would come in noticeably smaller than the full-size Miata, and therefore require smaller engines. Something between 700cc and 1.6-liter engines are reportedly in store, with a turbo at the top end delivering 160 horsepower. No word on layout, but we'd grudgingly expect a front-drive set-up when the purported MX-2 is unveiled as early as 2012.

[Source: Auto Express]

Rendered Speculation: Mazda preparing sub-Miata MX-2? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New automaker V-Vehicle Co. sets up shop in idled Louisiana GM plant, hires Miata designer

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing

Wither natural gas? T. Boone Pickens was last heard strongly supporting using the abundant North American fossil fuel as a means of moving the U.S. away from foreign oil. Today, though, the Texas oil man (and almost wind man) was revealed as an investor in a new automotive company called V-Vehicle Co. Based in San Diego, VVC has announced that it will move into an ex-GM plant in Monroe, Louisiana that has been idle since 2007 to build "environmentally friendly" vehicles.

About all we know of the vehicles is the teaser image above and that the company says it will be a "fuel-efficient car for the U.S. market," but we can guess at the style because former Mazda design chief Tom Matano, the man behind the MX-5 Miata, has been hired as VVC's design director. Matano said that more details on the car would be released later.

As we mentioned earlier, the state hopes that the plant will create about 1,400 new jobs with an average salary of $40,000. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal was at the announcement ceremony today and says that the state offered VVC an incentive package worth $67 million, and local governments will put up a further $15 million. Thanks again to Mart for the tip!

[Sources: CNBC, Automotive News - sub. req'd]

New automaker V-Vehicle Co. sets up shop in idled Louisiana GM plant, hires Miata designer originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next Mazda Miata to be lighter; get smaller engines and electric power steering?

Dan Roth — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:27:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Convertible, Performance, Etc., Green, Technology, Mazda, Rumormill

Click above for a high-res gallery of 20 years of the Mazda Miata/MX-5

Low weight and greater efficiency might not be the sexiest of selling points for a sports car unless you're a devotee of Lotus founder Colin Chapman's "add lightness" philosophy. Thankfully for those less-is-more enthusiasts, however, Mazda has steadily adhered to that formula with its MX-5 Miata - and now, word from the crew at GoAuto is that company engineers are working even harder to adhere to that design philosophy, with thoughts of smaller, force-fed engines and lighter curb weights dominating discussions for the next iteration of the iconic roadster.

There have long been rumors of a rotary-powered MX-5, but that's probably not in the cards. A modern take on the RX-7 is supposedly being worked up to take a new version of Felix Wankel's whirling dervish of an engine zipping into the future, with the MX-5 getting a newly developed line of four cylinders with direct injection and forced induction (finally!). A heavy-breathing Miata, packing the muscle of a MazdaSpeed3, for instance, might move the neo-MGB into a new realm at the top of its range.

Three words that tend to generate a half-frown on enthusiasts faces are being thrown about in the same sentence as the new Miata: "Electric power steering." We can see the push for the greater energy efficiency that EPS offers, but hopefully Mazda can make the Miata's helm joyously alive instead of Toyota Corolla-style numbness, all shot up with Novocaine (as most such systems tend to be).

Chassis details are also in the realm of conjecture at this point, but with words like "lighter" being shoved at us, we expect some significant re-engineering going on under the skin. That skin, by the way, will likely be more expressive than the rather safe MX-5 we have now, with Mazda's design chief Laurens van den Acker on record as saying the plan is for the car to "be more dramatic and give it some balls."

Gallery: Chicago 2009: Twenty Years of the Mazda Miata

[Source: GoAuto]

Next Mazda Miata to be lighter; get smaller engines and electric power steering? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Retroforza gives Mazda Miata a Ferrari complex

Dan Roth — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Performance, Mazda

Click above for a gallery of the RetroForza Italia

If you've got an obsession with boomer culture, but don't have the budget to spring for a period-specific Ferrari, never fear, RetroForza makes it possible to be a nostalgic poseur. Sporting lines reminiscent of Ferrari's 275, RetroForza is claiming that its Italia bodywork kit for the Mazda MX-5 takes inspiration from vintage Lotus, Alfa, Jaguar and Cobra models. While It's not horrible, the proportions don't exactly work. There's too much front overhang, leading to a fierce underbite, but it avoids looking as stubby as it might on the MX-5's short wheelbase. The Mazda mechanicals mean that it'll be reliable and fun to drive, and with a coupe version supposedly available, there are worse ways to rebody your Miata.

Gallery: RetroForza Italia

[Source: RetroForza]

Retroforza gives Mazda Miata a Ferrari complex originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Refreshed Mazda MX-5 Roadster goes on sale in Japan

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Mazda

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2009 Mazda MX-5 Roadster

What Mazda has called a "refresh" is actually a seriously thorough tweaking of the MX-5's mechanics and aesthetics. Outside the rag top, known as the Roadster in Japan where it's just gone on sale, gets a smaller version of the smile we've seen on the Mazda3, new alloy wheels, a stronger character line and three new colors. Inside it gets new gauges, more supportive seats and a new MX-5-specific BOSE system. And underneath the hood, the engine gets a higher redline, the automatic transmission gets a couple of new modes, and manual gearbox just gets more refined and the front end has been lowered. And those changes represent just the tips of many icebergs. One thing we can all be thankful Mazda hasn't changed about the MX-5 is its Jinba Ittai. That's Japanese for "rider and horse as one." Who knew? Follow the jump for the exhaustive press release and check out the high-res gallery of Mazda's new Roadster below.

Gallery: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Roadster

Continue reading Refreshed Mazda MX-5 Roadster goes on sale in Japan

Refreshed Mazda MX-5 Roadster goes on sale in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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