The first generation MX-5 was released in 1989. The roadster of the late eighties had a catchy design, rear-wheel drive, good dynamics, sharp steering and a relatively affordable price. Mazda has proven that open cars can not only enjoy driving, but at the same time be moderately comfortable and well equipped. According to its ideology, the MX-5 belongs to the classic roadsters, which England deservedly recognized as their birthplace. It was there that he was rumored to be conceived - a group of car companies, including Lotus, tried. But the British did not pull out this project, and the still crude prototype bought the Mazda.
The result is a great model that embodies the idea of sports cars and advanced technology. In the basic configuration, the car is equipped with a 16-valve 1.6-liter petrol engine producing 116 hp. and a five-speed manual gearbox. The car has power steering, disc brakes on all wheels (front - ventilated), airbag, electric windows and air conditioning.
ABS was installed at an additional cost. Initially, the MX-5 was aimed at the American market and was offered there under the name Miata. Gathered for the first year of sales all possible titles, the car was recognized as the most popular roadster of the last decade and is still so. In 1994, the 1.8-liter engine with a power of 130 hp was added to the range of power units. The second generation debuted in the fall of 1997 in Frankfurt.
It was the last generation with rising lights. The body is double, bearing, with a soft folding top, to reduce the weight of the individual elements (hood, trunk lid, glass frame and some power segments) were made of aluminum. The engine in front is practically in the base, as a result - an ideal weight distribution on the axles, 50/50. Drive to the rear wheels through a manual transmission.
Suspension independent front and rear double wishbone. On the second-generation Mazda MX-5, there were new versions of both engines, which now received 110 and 140 hp, and the 2001 version got a 145-hp unit with a 6-speed transmission in the basic configuration (previously this option was only available in limited series). Since the advent of the second generation roadster twice updated.
Therefore, the model of the 2001 model year is not much like the original MX-5. All external body parts and lighting other, lifting the headlights replaced block headlights. But the plastic and proportions remained unchanged. From the previous model MX-5 of the second generation, it also differs in lighting, again, in a more aggressive front bumper with built-in circular fog and new 16-inch alloy wheels. In addition to the soft top, if desired, you can order a hard, also removable, with heated rear glass.
From the interior of the sample of 1989, there remained the vents of the ventilation system and the instrument panel (however, an electronic odometer and aluminum rims of instruments appeared). The location of the devices themselves has not changed: fuel level, tachometer (with a red zone of 7000 rpm), oil pressure, speedometer and engine temperature. New leather seats with improved lateral support and an integrated headrest have only two adjustments: the length and angle of the backrest.
In September 2003, the roadster was upgraded. The exterior has been updated (new front bumper, hood and fenders, transparent headlights, new design of 16-inch wheels) and interior (aluminum inserts, new seats from perforated leather), and the Bose 225 W audio system has entered the options list. In early 2005, Mazda introduced a completely new generation MX-5 at the Geneva Motor Show. The car is built on the basis of a new platform and became slightly larger - its overall length increased by two centimeters, and the size of the wheelbase - by 6.5 centimeters, but it weighs only 10 kg more than its predecessor.
This result was achieved due to the use of lighter and more durable steel in 58% of cases. Aluminum is used for the hood, trunk, frame, front suspension arms, and rear brake calipers. More lightweight materials are also used in the manufacture of rear-view mirrors. In addition, the roadster received a new, expressive body design, intersecting with the older model Mazda RX8. Exterior MX-5 is a combination of original, informal style and modern trends. The third generation equipped with side airbags, large diameter wheels and a reinforced body structure. Compared to the previous model, the new Mazda MX-5 has improved comfort and safety.
A distinctive feature is the underlined sportiness of the car, expressed by new wheel arches and 17 inch alloy wheels. The carefully assembled interior is simple and functional. The front panel is T-shaped, combining the center console with a tunnel between the seats. Switches and controls are placed according to the requirements of ergonomics. Five dials on the instrument panel are equipped with metal rims and covered with a polarized glass, allowing you to read their indications, even with direct sunlight.
For greater comfort when driving with an open top in the cabin at the waist level, additional holes for the heating and ventilation system are installed, and behind the seats there is a small mesh mesh deflector, reducing turbulence at high speeds. There are two engines for both, and both petrol engines: a 1.8-liter capacity of 126 hp and a two-liter one, of a power of 160 hp. With the latest MX-5 accelerates to 100 km / h in 7.9 seconds.
Both versions are equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox, and as an option for a two-liter model offer a six-speed gearbox. Independent suspension, double-lever front and multi-link rear. In April 2005, the MX-5 was noted in the Guinness Book of Records as the most popular sports double car ever produced.
