With regulations in several countries pressuring automobile manufacturers to shift into a future of hybrid electric vehicles by 2030, driving full force to all electric power by 2035, the unknown fate of certain production sports cars is unsettling for car lovers. In the midst of uncertainty, Martijn ten Brink, chief executive of Mazda in Europe, shared some good news: The Miata MX-5 will live on.
In an interview with Autocar, while discussing plans for the Miata’s next generation, ten Brink said, “How do you stay true to the concept of what the car stands for taking it into the next generation of technologies? That’s not been decided. But I think for Mazda it would be fair to say that the MX-5 will never die. I think it will continue to exist forever and it will have to go with the times. That’s a super challenge, and people are passionate about this car in Mazda.” He added, “Of course, as you can imagine, people have opinions on which direction it should go. So, I’m very curious where it will end up, but it will definitely remain part of the line-up.”
Since its introduction at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show, the Miata has been a symbol of Mazda’s car making philosophy, “Jinba Ittai,” which translates to the “horse and rider as one,” representative of the little lightweight sports car’s responsive, fun-to-drive platform. The Miata holds a special place in the Mazda lineup and in the hearts of its diehard enthusiasts.
In May 1989, the two-seater convertible became available to U.S. and Canadian buyers as a 1990 model. Mazda sold 35,944 Miatas within that first year. Automobile Magazine was obviously impressed, naming it “Automobile of the Year.”
“It was a labor of love, that’s for sure,” said Tom Matano, now retired as Mazda’s Chief of Design. “It still is.”
Built on its own unique platform, the Miata combines the best of past British sports cars with Japanese reliability. It’s also one of the few cars still sold with a manual gearbox. It’s no surprise that the little budget sports car has made its mark in motorsports. It provides a perfect platform for reliable, fun daily driving on weekdays and transitions to a quick, maneuverable weekend racer on the track. A forgiving car that is on the driver’s side, it knows you want to have fun but don’t necessarily want to be scared silly. Today, Miatas are abundant in SCCA classes and beyond. The platform has introduced many novice drivers into the competitive driving scene.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 1992
In a melting pot of SUVs that look the same, where performance names are slapped on just about anything to draw attention, reassurance in knowing that this automotive icon won’t be watered down feels similar to taking a deep breath of fresh, untouched mountain air. Very Zen.
In its 34-year run, the Miata generations have lived longer than most other models on the market. The original version, the first-generation NA, was in production for eight years. The second-generation NB lasted for seven, and the third-generation NC lived for a decade. The current ND model was released in 2015 and an upgraded ND2 engine may help to extend its life.
Will the next generation see hybrid-electric technologies? With the trend toward EVs, it’s likely unavoidable, but one thing is for certain: Miata will always be the answer.
