To commemorate the MX-5's (also known as the Miata in some markets) 20th birthday, Mazda will unveil a special anniversary edition of its rear-wheel drive roadster at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Called the MX-5 20th Anniversary Edition, this model will have a limited production run of just 2,000 units and will only be available in Europe.
Based on the 1.8-liter model, the limited edition MX-5 comes with a special exterior styling package that includes chrome grille, door handles and headlight fascia along with silver-look fog lamp surrounds, unique 17-inch alloy wheels and 20th Anniversary logos.It will be available in three exterior colors - True Red, Crystal White Pearl and, specific for this edition, a new Aurora Blue, with matching body-color painted decorative elements in the interior.
A front suspension bracing bar and a scuff plate in stainless steel with its unique serial number (from 1 to 2000) complete the upgrades.
More details and pricing will be revealed at the car's world premiere at next month's Geneva Salon.
7 Comments:
Does this crap detailing which is (most of it...handles etc) available as options in the standard car justify a 20th anni?????? for the mx5...give it 20hp extra (on the lighter 1.8lt), limited slip, a sports set up, a larini exhaust system and then mazda would do it justice...that's how u commemorate your own heritage mazda!!! enough of that cheap marketing bull...please!!!
What this car needs is a more powerful S2000 type engine with a record monza exhaust & BMC carbon airbox,it will sound like a Ferrari.
Yeah, I'm sure Mazda will come just running to take your advice.
Here we go again...
It's about balance... Power balance to chassis and available traction due to body envelope limiting tire size.
Balance ...> Power balanced by economy.
And the fact that most, given the opportunity, can't effectively use the power available in a Miata. That is because most of you can't drive in a performance manner at the 95th percentile. Hell, most can't drive beyond the 50th percentile level.
It's funny that when I hear somebody say Miata's are slow, 100% of the time they have never driven one.
The performance of all years of Miata's is about the same with one exception ... the 2004 and five 'Mazda Speed' Turbo models.
Mazda probably won't repeat that exception due to the fact that most drivers aren't able to effectively use the extra power and can get into trouble fast, especially in the wet where the lesser powered cars are quite capable provided that decent tires employed.
Take a lap in a Miata around the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife with a 2007 Mazda. The time set is only 33 seconds slower then a F-355 Ferrari over 12 miles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZcWf_x8VuI
Or passing a Ferrari, Camaro, and a RX-7 during a race.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRfGS-YYWJA
3Deuce27
POSTED #1... and couldnt agree more with #4message...though the mk3 1.8 is SLOW, i own a mk2,5 1.8 6speed LTD slip (officially rated 146 and about 15 more if u read my message above) the +20hp suggestion is for 20th anni (+1 each year) and it would only make it as powerful as a mk2,5!!! 1.8lt, not a current family oriented mazda 6...limited slip (from 2.0lt model) is transforming the car if u want 2 DRIVE and i forgot...i would also specify the optional recaros.
As u c all are mazda stuff and go for a mazdasport instead of a larini exhaust if u like...the 10th anni (on a mk2) was the first 2 b equipped with a 6speed MANUAL and had extra bracing to aid a stiffer setup...thats Mazda's own idea of a commemorative model...only 10 years ago!!!...today miata is offered as an automatic!!!(sorry i live in europe) and special means a few decorative stuff, apart from the mazdasport suspension brace. Its all a twist of the marketing dept!!! imho
regards
Thanks Anon. 'above'.
Can you explain Mazda's thinking regarding the marketing in Europe of two sizes of engine in the MX-5? Is it just a price point?
Here in NA(North America) we call the different iterations of the MX-5/Miata, 'NA'(89'-98'), 'NB(99'-05', & 'NC(06'to present)'. Does the Euro' 'Data plate' info not include the lettered prefix 'NA', 'NB' or 'NC'?.
Limited slip -'Torsen'- is quite common here in 'NA'.
I'm curious to why North America doesn't get an anniversary model... Maybe it's to be introduced at a later date(?) which doesn't account for it being introduced to 'NA' before Europe. Our market accounts for more then half of all 'Project 5' world wide sales.
Due to weight gains of between 100 to 437 pounds(Plus Options) from the original, actual performance increases have been marginalized resulting in incremental performance gains while losing some of the deft quickness in the twisties provided by the original low optioned 'NA's'. My 93' has no options other then the hard top, mats, and original alloy wheels.
Thanks too Mazda for continuing to provide the enthusiast the essence of sporty driving in and attractive package with rock solid reliability and economy, at a very reasonable price point.
3Deuce27
1.8lt engine size is a tax limit in many european countries, hence the need for the smaller engine and mazda's easy solution to just lift the engine from mazda 6 and straight to the mx5 with no more upgrading expenses...for those who want to jump that limit they can go for the mx5 specifically specced 2.0lt as available worldwide...mk2,5 is an NB after the 2001 facelift...people call the latest a mk3,5 (also a facelift of mk3=NC)
regards
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