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Mazda MX-5 Miata Cup racecar priced at $53,000

The 2016 Global MX-5 Cup is one of very few internationally competitive racing series that the average person can imagine (or afford) getting into. The ready-to-race Miatas are available to order now for $53,000 and deliveries are set to begin later this year. The first one is actually already on track as a pace car at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. With competition planned in North America, Europe, and Asia, all of the cup cars are identically prepared to emphasize drivers' skill rather than their bank account. The full list of Cup components hasn't been announced yet, but the roll cage and stripped interior are obvious. The 2.0-liter SkyActiv four-cylinder is still under the hood, too. The Global MX-5 Cup will also offer competitors big rewards, including a $200,000 scholarship for the season champion to move another rung up the motorsports ladder. In addition, Mazda will bring together the top racers from across the world to Laguna Seca to crown a series world title holder in a finale event. That winner will get a test In Mazda's prototype from the IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship. For now, Mazda is giving first priority to buyers planning to compete in its series. In the future, buyers of MX-5 Cup cars have other competition options, being eligible for some classes in Sports Car Club of America and National Auto Sport Association racing. Related Video: Mazda Announces Global MX-5 Cup Race Car Pricing - Initial Orders Being Accepted for the $53,000 Ready-to-Race 2016 MX-5 Miata - Oct 1, 2015 IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mazda MX-5 Miata is the most road-raced production car in the world. The reason is simple - great performance at an affordable price. The new Global Mazda MX-5 Cup race car follows that formula, and will be Mazda Motorsports' first-ever ready-to-race MX-5 Miata. The new race car will be available at the special introductory price of $53,000. The race car ordering process begins on www.MazdaMotorsports.com with first deliveries scheduled to begin later this year. 2016 Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Race Cars Having a turnkey, ready-to-race car removes the effort of engineering and costs of fabrication, enabling the racer to focus on racing. All racers can purchase identically-built race cars so that driving talent will be the number one determining factor for on-track performance, rather than budget, engineering capability or fabrication skills.

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata shows off perfect 50/50 weight balance

When I attended the first drive event for the Japanese-spec 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata in Spain earlier this year, I was blown away – and not just by the car. I was blown away by the charts and graphs Mazda's engineers brought along, showing how every little facet of the ND Miata was finely tuned for pure driving perfection. It's like rocket science. Only cooler. One of the most important parts of the Miata package is its weight distribution. The 2,332-pound roadster must achieve a perfect 50/50 balance, with a driver inside. That's not easy. But it has to be done. Only the best for the Miata. In this video, Mazda shows off the Miata's balance by putting it on an aluminum balance beam, to see if the car stays perfectly centered. You can probably guess the outcome, but watching it all take place is super cool, especially with commentary by Mazda engineer Dave Coleman and MX-5 program manager Rod McLaughlin. How does the 50/50 balance help the Miata's handling out on the road? You'll have to wait until the embargo on driving impressions for the US-spec car lifts. We'll have the full scoop at 3:01 AM Eastern on Monday, June 1. In the meantime, get a sneak preview of the new Miata in the video below. Autoblog readers got a closer look at the 2016 MX-5 at our Cars & Coneys meet-up, and as you can see, the excitement for this car is definitely real.

Ward's releases 10 Best Interiors list for 2014

While we're still a ways off from the automotive awards season proper, where things like North American Car and Truck of the Year, Motor Trend's Car of the Year and Car and Driver's Ten Best are named, that doesn't mean there aren't trophies being handed out to deserving automakers. Ward's 10 Best Interiors being one of them.
As the name might imply, the magazine focuses on the very best interior treatments in the US market. Whereas some awards purposely exclude extreme, high-dollar offerings, Ward's considers them - the only requirement is that a vehicle has a "new or significantly redesigned interior."
Ward's offered up the list of winners in simple, alphabetical order, and it only seems fair to do the same: