Photo: Mazda
Good news, Mazda fans - while we were busy looking at their new CX-3 crossover in Geneva, they quietly started full-scale assembly of the brand new MX-5 Miata in Japan, at Ujina Plant No. 1.
Heralded as a major breakthrough in the roadster segment, the ND or 4th generation model is already available for pre-order in the country. Apparently, people who visit a Mazda dealership and inquire about the car also get a complementary shopping bag with all four Miatas on it.
The 2016 Miata has gone back to its basics with a super-light chassis and a lower rag-top body. The design is also brand new and has absolutely nothing in common with the previous generations.
It's a game of evolution by inches, as the body is shorter than ever, but there is more headroom, thanks to the seats being placed lower down. It only weighs about 1,000 kilograms, so it's even lighter than most city cars. All that is due to Skyactiv, not a platform, but an engineering philosophy where they look at every component and ask "well, how can we make that even lighter. There are a few things you'll be missing on, like a fully adjustable steering wheel or a glovebox. The roof is also operated completely by hand.
As for the engines, well there are two to choose from, a base 1.5-liter that replaces the old 1.8 and produces 130 hp and 150 Nm (111 lb-ft) of torque, or a bigger 2-liter that, depending on the market, has 155 or 160 horsepower.
The MX-5 remains the world's most popular sportscar. Since its launch in 1989, the Japanese company has sold well over 950,000 examples across the world. However, given how impressive the new one is, now is the best time to become a Miata owner.
The 2016 Miata has gone back to its basics with a super-light chassis and a lower rag-top body. The design is also brand new and has absolutely nothing in common with the previous generations.
It's a game of evolution by inches, as the body is shorter than ever, but there is more headroom, thanks to the seats being placed lower down. It only weighs about 1,000 kilograms, so it's even lighter than most city cars. All that is due to Skyactiv, not a platform, but an engineering philosophy where they look at every component and ask "well, how can we make that even lighter. There are a few things you'll be missing on, like a fully adjustable steering wheel or a glovebox. The roof is also operated completely by hand.
As for the engines, well there are two to choose from, a base 1.5-liter that replaces the old 1.8 and produces 130 hp and 150 Nm (111 lb-ft) of torque, or a bigger 2-liter that, depending on the market, has 155 or 160 horsepower.
The MX-5 remains the world's most popular sportscar. Since its launch in 1989, the Japanese company has sold well over 950,000 examples across the world. However, given how impressive the new one is, now is the best time to become a Miata owner.
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