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Mazda Mx-5 Miata Auto

Street Competition Roadster M2-1028 (FEB-94) Limited 1 / 300 M2-CORP Roadster is the third issued in the spring of 1994, made based on the original "Jinba Ittai" concept by Toshihiko Hirai. This was the first song Roadster. (The United States has a cheaper version known as received R-Package). Available in white or Casto only Brilliant Black, this roadster, the new 1.8L engine with improved pistons and camshafts, and other similar products as the previous set 1001, and 1002 However, this roadster with a capacity of almost 150 HP! It contained 14 "wheels Factory Eunos with a unique color of gunmetal with polished lip. The only real change is a new set of mirrors light, MOMO steering wheel have been, center console, racing seats, racing trailer hitch, a series of earlier and lower rear spoiler lip, (R- Package) and a new design "Duck Tail" spoiler with integrated (the trunklid-1028 M2 is made of aluminum and weighs only 7.7 kg. trunklid similar, very light cover of the original 15.5-lbs) ... Design was used as in the NL also with a 6-point roll cage, but would not cover (instead, you have a sheet that stretched over the cage) shock. come with optional FRP hardtop rear window with Plexiglas for the weight savings of more just 19 lbs.

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Mazda MX-5 Auto

M2-1002 Vintage Roadster (Nov-92) Limited 1/300 M2-CORP released it's second Roadster in late 1992, with a sightly different front bumper, it had all the same goodies as the previous 1001 Roadster, but offered a more unique looking interior option, the Ivory Leather interior with wood accents like Brake handle and shifter. And was also limited to 300 units produced. This one did not do as well as the 1001 Roadster, so the got stuck with some left over interiors. Which later were later installed as the Tokyo Limited, and only 40 of those made it to the streets of Japan. Here you can view pics of Dean Barnes M2-1002 Roadster.

Mazda MX-5 Auto M2-1001 Cafe Roadster M2 Corp. released the M2-1001 Roadster in December 1991. It was a special "Limited Production" Roadster variant that was a short production run of only 300 units, in a special Blue/Black Mica Paint, with a sticker price of $26,000. Prospective buyers were required to show up in person at M2's Tokyo headquarters to register for a lottery to place an order for this extremely limited Mazda MX-5 Auto Roadster.

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Mazda MX-5 Auto

Mazda MX-5 Auto M2-1001 Cafe Roadster M2 Corp. released the M2-1001 Roadster in December 1991. It was a special "Limited Production" Roadster variant that was a short production run of only 300 units, in a special Blue/Black Mica Paint, with a sticker price of $26,000. Prospective buyers were required to show up in person at M2's Tokyo headquarters to register for a lottery to place an order for this extremely limited Mazda MX-5 Auto Roadster.

This upscale Eunos Roadster was M2-1001 Roadster's first turn-key race-ready offering. Here is a list of some of the goodies that made it so popular: functional front airdam with integrated fog lamps, vintage aero mirrors, 4-point rollbar, vintage gauge cluster, fixed back bucket seats, polished 3-spoke steering wheel, stiffer suspension package with M2-1001 Roadster specific codes, polished aluminum strut brace, upgraded exhaust by HKS, intake system, a 1.6L motor with new aggressive pistons, radical camshaft, lightweight flywheel, LSD cooling intake, manual steering, manual windows, (A/C was optional) racing pedals, centerless console with matching shortened radio bezel, aluminum gas filler cap, a more aggressive wheel & tire package (15" x 6" Panasport rims), and a rear spoiler (which became standard for the R package). The performance changes made to the Roadster would bump the horsepower to 132 hp @ 7000 RPM and 109 ft/lb of torque @ 5500 RPM. Once released, it was so popular that people were paying up to $35,000 to get their hands on the M2-1001 Roadster!

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Mazda Mx-5 Miata Auto

The first generation Mazda MX-5 was phased out with the 1997 model year (with the exception of 400 limited edition Berkeley models sold only in the UK in 1998 to mark the end of the NA), with the final 1500 NAs produced for the US market being the "STO" ("Special Touring Option") versions.

A small range of Mazda MX-5 Miata units were assembled by the M2 Incorporated. It's "Uncompromising standards and craftsmanship are our development theme." - M2 CORP. Founded in November 1991, M2, also known as "Mazda Too" was Mazda's new off-line planning / niche-house / Research & Development company back in the early '90s. The M2 Corp. employees had noble intentions—creating niche-mobiles derived from Mazda's volume products. Although M2's basic mission involved focusing on the "soft" aspects of vehicle design in an attempt to create more specifically targeted niche variants, the changes to the off-line cars would go well beyond mere cosmetics.

Heading the M2 operation was Mr. Masakatsu Kato, original father of the Mazda MX-5 Miata (Eunos Roadster) in Japan, as well as creator of several Mazda concept vehicles. Kato-san was assisted by Hirotaka Tachibana, development engineer responsible for the superb dynamics of the FC (second-generation RX-7) and the NA Roadster (Miata MX-5). M2 Corp. was based out of Tokyo, Japan. M2-Corp was a 100% owned subsidiary of Mazda MX-5, and it was sadly closed by Mazda MX-5 in 1995, but not before creating some really sweet vehicles. Mazda kept a similar program going with the Mazdaspeed cars, and then in the late '90s Mazdaspeed was absorbed into Mazda MX-5 as a subsidiary company in Mazda Auto Tokyo. There were a lot of different types of M2 branded vehicles between 1991 and 1995 beginning with the 1001 up to the 1031. Cafe Racer (Dec-91) Limited 1/300

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There were a number of trim levels and special editions available, determined by local Mazda marketing departments. In the US, the base model was offered for US$13,995 at launch and was very basic, with manual windows, steel wheels, and without A/C or power steering. The "A Package" offered power steering, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum alloy wheels and cassette stereo. The "B Package" added power windows, along with cruise control and headrest speakers, while the "C Package" included a tan interior and top and leather seats. The "R Package" was 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. In the UK, to celebrate Mazda's 24 hours of Le Mans win, Mazda brought out a special edition of the MX5, with the winner's color scheme (see Mazda 787B) and came equipped with BBR (Brodie Brittain Racing) turbo conversion; the car is one of the most sought after special edition cars of the MX5s.


The first generation MX5 was phased out with the 1997 model year (with the exception of 400 limited edition Berkeley models sold only in the UK in 1998 to mark the end of the NA), with the final 1500 NAs produced for the US market being the "STO" ("Special Touring Option") versions.

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In November 1993, in an attempt to boost sales, Mazda of Australia introduced an automatic transmission as an option on the MX5 for the first time. Unfortunately, sales continued to decline, and hit an all-time low of just 197 units in 1995.


For the 1994 model year, the first-generation MX5 was freshened with the introduction of the more powerful 1.8 L (110 cu in) BP-ZE engine, dual airbags and a limited slip differential in some markets. The chassis was substantially braced to meet new side-impact standards, most visibly by adding a "track bar" between the seatbelt towers inside the car, but also to the front and rear subframes. Also, 1994 and 1995 were the only years in which Mazda offered a light metallic blue paint (Laguna Blue Mica), making these cars rare collectors cars to some. 1994 also saw the introduction of the "R" package, a sport-themed package with Bilstein shocks and subtle underbody spoilers, in addition to the removal of unnecessary items such as power steering. No body style changes were made, though.


The new 1.8 L (110 cu in) engine produced 98 kW (131 bhp), which was then increased by 1 kW (1.3 bhp) for the 1996 model year. The base weight increased to 990 kg (2,200 lb). Performance was improved slightly, the additional power being partly offset by the extra weight. In some markets such as Europe, the 1.6 L (98 cu in) engine continued to be available as a lower-cost option, but was detuned to 66 kW (89 bhp). This lower-powered model did not receive all the additional chassis bracing of the new 1.8 L (110 cu in). Japanese and US cars were fitted with an optional Torsen LSD, which was far more durable than the previous viscous differential.

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The original MX5 came with a 1.6 L (98 cu in) dual overhead cam inline four-cylinder engine, producing 90 kW (120 bhp) at 6,500rpm, and 136 N·m (100 lbf·ft) of torque at 5,500rpm. The engine employs an electronic fuel injection system using a vane-type air flow meter and a camshaft angle sensor instead of a distributor. This engine, codename B61P, had been previously used in the 323 series. Standard transmission was 5-speed manual. Japan and the USA got an optional automatic transmission which proved unpopular; these markets also received an optional viscous limited slip rear differential, although were only available for cars with a manual transmission. To achieve the low introductory price, the base model was stripped. It had steel wheels, manual steering, roll-up windows, and no stereo or AC. Power steering, AC, and stereo were added as standard equipment in later years.


The NA could reach 60 mph (97 km/h) in 9.4 seconds and had a top speed of 190 km/h (120 mph). This first generation of Miata (often referred to as the NA) included a special edition in 1991, produced in British Racing Green with the first use of tan interior.


1500 LE (Limited Edition) cars were produced in 1993. This model featured red leather interior, upgraded stereo, Nardi shift knob, leather wrapped steering wheel, cruise, limited slip differential, power windows, power mirrors, power steering, air conditioning, BBS wheels, Bilstein shocks, front and rear spoilers, ABS brakes, stainless sill plates and Harley style peanut tank door speaker trim. All '93 LE cars came in black.

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The MX5 was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show on February 10, 1989 with a price tag of US$14,000 (US$24,100 in 2008 adjusted for inflation). The MX5, with production code NA, was made available for delivery to buyers worldwide in the following dates: March 1989 in Japan, May 1989 (as a 1990 model) in the U.S.A. and Canada, 1990 in Europe. An optional hardtop was made available at the same time, in sheet moulding compound (SMC). Demand initially outstripped production, fueled by enthusiastic press reviews.


In Japan, the car was not badged as a Mazda, as the company was experimenting with the creation of different marques for deluxe models, similar to Nissan's Infiniti and Toyota's Lexus (both brands of which launched at the same time as the Miata). Instead, the Mazda MX5 was sold as the Eunos Roadster in that market.


The body shell of the NA was all-steel with a light-weight aluminium hood. Overall dimensions were 3,970 mm (156 in) in length, 1,675 mm (65.9 in) in width, and 1,235 mm (48.6 in) in height. Drag coefficient was indicated as 0.38. Suspension was an independent double wishbone on all four wheels, with an anti-roll bar at the front and rear. Four wheel-disc brakes, ventilated at the front, were behind alloy wheels with 185/60HR14 radial tires. The base model came with stamped steel wheels from the current 323/Protege.

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The first round of judging the competing designs was held in April 1984. At this stage, designs were presented solely on paper. The mid-engined car appeared the most impressive, although it was known at the time that such a layout would struggle to meet the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) requirements of the project. It was only at the second round of the competition in August 1984, when full-scale clay models were presented, that the Duo 101 won the competition and was selected as the basis for Mazda's new light-weight sports car.


The Duo 101, so named as either a soft top or hard top could be used, incorporated many key stylistic cues inspired by the Lotus Elan, a 1960s roadster. International Automotive Design (IAD) in Worthing, England was commissioned to develop a running prototype, codenamed V705. It was built with a fiberglass body, a 1.4 L (85 cu in) engine from a Mazda Familia and components from a variety of early Mazda models. The V705 was completed in August 1985 and taken to the U.S.A. where it rolled on the roads around Santa Barbara and got positive reactions.


The project received final approval on 18 January 1986. The model's codename was changed to P729 as it moved into production phase, under head of program Toshihiko Hirai. The task of constructing five engineering mules (more developed prototypes) was again allocated to IAD, which also conducted the first front and rear crash tests on the P729. While Tom Matano, Mark Jordan, Wu Huang Chin and Koichi Hayashi worked on the final design, the project was moved to Japan for engineering and production details.


By 1989, with a definitive model name now chosen, the MX5 (as in "Mazda Experiment", project number 5) was ready to be introduced to the world as a true lightweight sports car, weighing just 940 kg (2,100 lb).

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In 1976, Bob Hall, a journalist at Motor Trend magazine who was an expert in Japanese cars and fluent in the language, met Kenichi Yamamoto and Gai Arai head of Research and Development at Mazda.


In 1981, Bob Hall moved to a product planning position with Mazda US and again met Kenichi Yamamoto, now chairman of Mazda Motors, who remembered their conversation about a roadster and gave Hall the go-ahead to research the idea further. At this time Bob Hall hired designer Mark Jordan to join the newly formed Mazda design studio in Southern California. There, He and Bob collaborated on the parameters of the initial image, proportion and visualization of the "light-weight sports" concept. In 1983, the idea turned concept was approved under the "Offline 55" program, an internal Mazda initiative that sought to change the way new models were developed. Thus, under head of project Masakatsu, the concept development was turned into a competition between the Mazda design teams in Tokyo and California.


The California team proposed a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, codenamed Duo 101, in line with the British roadster ancestry, but their Japanese counterparts favored the more common front-engine, front-wheel drive layout or the rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout.

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The body is a conventional, but light, unibody or monocoque construction, with (detachable) front and rear subframes. The MX5 also incorporates a truss marketed as the Powerplant Frame (PPF) which connects the engine to the differential, minimizing flex and contributing to responsive handling. Some MX5s feature limited slip differentials and anti-lock braking system. Traction control is an option available on NC models. The earlier cars weighed in at just over a ton, with engine power output usually 116 bhp (87 kW). The later cars were heavier, with higher power engines.


With an approximate 50:50 front/rear weight balance, the car has nearly neutral handling. Inducing oversteer is easy and very controllable, thus making the MX5 a popular choice for amateur and stock racing, including, in the USA, the Sports Car Club of America's Solo2 autocross and Spec Miata race series and in the UK the Mazda racing championship.



Beginning with the third generation, Mazda consolidated worldwide marketing using the MX5 name, though enthusiasts in the USA still refer to it as Miata, a name that means "reward" in Old High German.

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Now in its third generation, the MX5's first generation, the NA, sold over 400,000 units from 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 1998 with a slight increase in engine power; it can be recognized by the fixed headlights and the glass rear window. The third generation (NC) was introduced in 2005 with a 2.0 L (120 cu in) engine.


The MX5 was conceived as a small roadster – with light weight and minimal mechanical complexity limited only by legal and safety requirements; technologically modern, but a philosophically direct descendant of the small British roadsters of the 1960s such as the Triumph Spitfire, Austin-Healey Sprite, MG Midget and Lotus Elan.


The MX5 was designed with a traditional front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout and four-wheel independent double wishbone suspension. It has a longitudinally-mounted four cylinder engine coupled to a manual transmission (5 speed for NA, 5 or 6 speed in NB & NC); an automatic transmission is a cost option.

Mazda MX5 Miata Cars

1999 was the year of many upgrades to the interior, exterior and anti lock braking system, while the engine received minor upgrades. A 1999 10th anniversary edition was produced in limited amounts and was capable of quicker acceleration. The hot little Miata was appropriately upgraded for the 2001 throughout the 2007 model years as automotive technology and engineering developments and options became more advanced.


After a complete overhaul in 2006, the 2007 the Mazda MX5 Miatais now available in four trim styles and a variety of configurations that are all equipped with a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder 163 to 166 horsepower motor. A hard top and soft top are available for the Sport, Touring and Grand Touring models, while the most affordable base model, the SV, is available in soft convertible top only. Although now lighter than ever before with a wider wheel base, the overall dimensions are larger to more comfortably accommodate driver and passenger. Additional upgrades include an adjustable steering wheel and a 2.0 liter 4 cyllinder engines capable of 160 horsepower and include a choice of 6 speed manual or automatic transmissions. With the ability to deliver speed and a smooth ride, the Mazda MX5 Miata Cars is extremely entertaining, quick and fun to drive with the top down.

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The Mazda MX5 Miata convertible has been in production since its debut at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show. The fervent and passionate response to the introduction of this sporty cabriole style coupe initially caused supply to fall short of demand. The first generation of this vehicle was equipped with a 120 horsepower 1.6 liter inline four cylinder engine and the ordinary distributor was replaced by a camshaft angle sensor and Jetronic fuel injection mechanism. Although available with either a 5 speed manual transmission or an automatic, the automatic proved unpopular with drivers in this vehicle. It was recorded as reaching 60 mph in 9.4 seconds, which was extremely quick for an '89.


The MX5 Miata drew quite a loyal following throughout the following years. In response to consumer and industry demand, the MX5 received was made available as a 1991 special edition produced in British Racing Green with a tan interior. The limited edition 1500LE model was produced in 1993, was only available with black exterior and red leather interior and featured upscale power accessories, Blistein shocks and sporty front and rear spoilers. The 1994 models were equipped with a new and more robust 1.8 liter engine that produced 130 horsepower, a limited slip differential system and track bars for increased safety. 1994 models with Laguna Blue Mica paint (a light metallic blue) are considered collectable as this was the only year the MX5 was available in this color. By 1996 the horsepower of the 1.8 liter engine was tweaked to increase the horsepower slightly and various configurations and models of the Miata were available to please the most discriminating and thrill seeking convertible driver. Production was suspended for the 1998 model year and resumed for the 1999 model year.

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Founded in January 1920 as a cork factory, Mazda began making tools in 1929, and then expanded into the manufacture of trucks for commercial trucks. Its first passenger cars were introduced in the early 1960s, and at about the same time, the company began developing rotary engines. Headquartered in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda Motor Corporation ranks as one of Japans leading car makers.


In 1970, Mazda began exporting cars to the United States and Europe, and those sales account for more than two thirds of the company's total volume. Cars are assembled at one of two sites in Japan, or one of 18 sites elsewhere around the world. The facility in Hiroshima is one of the largest single site automobile factories in the world, and has an annual production capacity of more than half a million units. The Hofu plant is smaller, with a capacity of roughly 400,000 units. Sites overseas include joint ventures in Thailand and the United States, in partnership with the Ford Motor Company, Mazda's largest shareholder.


Mazda's signature rotary engine represents their entire history of engineering innovation. Many other automakers attempted to adapt the concept, but it was Mazda that persevered and succeeded with the creation of a commercial sports car engine. Today, they are the only car maker in the world that makes gasoline, diesel, and rotary internal combustion engines, and the latest incarnation of the rotary engine is what powers their new Mazda RX-8.