Mazda MX-5 Miata Celebrates 25 Years Of Exhilaration

On February 9, 1989, the world was introduced to the all-new MazdaMX-5 Miataat the Chicago Auto Show. Twenty-five years later, MX-5 has won more than 200 awards and sold more than 920,000 units worldwide as of December 2013, making it the Guinness Book of World Records holder for "Best-Selling Two-Seater Sports Car." MX-5's success is that it has not strayed from its promise to deliver pure driving enjoyment at an attainable price. Its introduction in 1989 revived the two-seat roadster segment, and it went onto be named to Road & Track's "World's Best Cars" list and was 14-times one of Car and Driver's "10 Best".

OneShift Editorial Team

10 Feb 2014

The first-generation MX-5 Miata featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 116hp and 100 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, but a four-speed automatic was available as an option. The engineering team created a three-fold, easy to- operate soft top with one-hand operation that was lightweight and offered superior weather protection, and is still the model of simplicity in today's roadsters. All together, the MX-5 Miata weighed a low 2,116 pounds curb weight and could reach 60 mph in less than 9 seconds.

The second-generation MX-5 Miata debuted in 1998 as a 1999 model year, offering a more powerful 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 140hp and 119 lb-ft of torque, and new styling that was most obvious in the front as the first generation car's distinctive pop-up headlights were replaced with a faired-in design. In addition, the plastic rear window in the MX-5's soft top was replaced with a heated glass window. Features such as a straight intake port, a variable-inertia exhaust system and a dual exhaust manifold were incorporated to aid the sporty feel. The base model could reach 60 mph in 7.9 seconds, with a top speed of 122 mph.

A special limited edition model was introduced in 1999 to celebrate MX-5's 10-year anniversary. This model ramped up performance by use of a new six-speed manual transmission, Torsen limited-slip differential and sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers. A special Sapphire Blue Mica paint with blue soft top also was offered on the special edition model.

In 2005, the third generation MX-5 was introduced with a new 16-valve, 2.0-liter MZR I-4 engine, producing 170hp and 140 lb-ft of torque, coupled to either a five-speed or a six-speed manual transmission or 166hp with the optional six-speed automatic transmission. Every component on the car was either all-new or extensively revised, with the only part shared with the earlier generations being the side-repeater turn signal lamp on non-U.S. models. A front wishbone/rear multilink suspension was used beginning with the 2006 MX-5 to increase ride quality and handling.

Enthusiasts are encouraged to wish the MX-5 Miata a happy birthday on Twitter using the hashtag #MX5Turns25.

Credits: Oneshift News Team