2009 Mazda MX-5 / Miata Facelift Photos and Details

The refreshed 2009 Mazda MX-5 / Miata made its global debut at the Paris Motor Show. The most apparent changes concern the more aggressively styled front end that incorporates elements from Mazda’s newer models like the larger grille as well as new headlights and fog lamp surrounds. Furthermore, Mazda’s designers restyled the side skirts, rear bumper and the tail lights which now feature a more elliptical motif while the alloy designs are also new. Additionally, the hartop Roadster Coupe now sports a mesh grille framed by a chrome ring and chrome detailing on the headlamp inner bezels and outer door handles. -Continued

The 2009 MX-5 / Miata’s cabin gains darker decorative surfaces on the instrument panel, new silver trim, redesigned graphics for the gauges while Mazda also eliminated a protrusion from the outer surface of each door pocket to create more leg space.

Under the hood, the upgraded 160HP 2.0-liter engine features a 500 rpm higher rev limit as well as sportier sound when accelerating thanks a newly developed device that Mazda calls Induction Sound Enhancer (I/8SE). This device supposedly amplifies the pulses that occur when an accelerator input opens the throttle valve to increase air flow into the engine.

The 6-speed manual gearbox has also been revised to offer smoother shifts while the six-speed automatic transmission is available for the first time in Europe. Finally, Mazda says that it has fine-tuned the suspension. The MX-5 facelift will be introduced on the European market in early spring 2009.