2008 Mazda Mx-5 Miata Grand Touring Convertible With 11,015 Miles! on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Mazda MX-5 Miata goes Head 2 Head with Subaru BRZ

It's a battle that's been in the making for some time now: the Subaru BRZ versus the Mazda MX-5 Miata. And now that the new Miata has arrived – and in Club spec to boot – that's exactly what Motor Trend has lined up for its latest episode of Head 2 Head. Now before you go screaming that one's a coupe and the other a convertible, take a few commonalities into account. Roofs aside, both feature a 2.0-liter four mounted up front, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Both are made by Japanese automakers and cost around $25-30k, give or take. Both produce around the same amount of torque, and while the Subaru may be more powerful, the Mazda's considerably lighter. To create a more even contest, then, you'd have to line a BRZ up against a Scion FR-S, or the MX-5 against the upcoming Fiat version of the same. Of course, being that close on paper doesn't mean that it's a draw. One has to come out on top. And after taking both along country roads and the Streets of Willow racing circuit, our friends at MT have picked one over the other. You'll want to watch the 22-minute video above (or at least skip ahead to the end) to see which came out on top, but if you're as enthused by a purist driver's car as we are, you'll enjoy every minute of it. News Source: Motor Trend via YouTube Mazda Subaru Convertible Coupe Economy Cars Performance Videos motor trend mazda mx-5 head 2 head

Junkyard Gem: 1981 Mazda RX-7

The first-generation Mazda RX-7 was sold for the 1978 through 1985 model years, and for decades you'd see and hear these nimble little sports cars buzzing around American streets. Then, well, the apex seals went out, or owners tired of a 2,400-pound car that drank fuel like an Eldorado, or the floor pans were eaten by the Rust Monster... and then nearly all of them were gone. Enough of them remain, however, for a steady trickle to show up with depressing regularity in self-service wrecking yards. Here's a pretty solid '81 that I found in a Denver yard last month. The 12A Wankel engine in this car made 100 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque, which was very good for 1981 (considering that you could buy a new Camaro with a 115-horsepower V8 that year). The $9,385 RX-7 looked like an especially good value when compared to, say, the $11,299 Datsun 280ZX or the $8,997 Fiat 124 Sport Spider, being much lighter on its feet than the former and much quicker than the latter. View 12 Photos If you have ever considered getting one of these cars, move fast before all the restorable ones are gone! Auto News Mazda Automotive History mazda rx-7

Mazda builds 1 millionth MX-5

Mazda produced its 1 millionth MX-5 Miata on April 22. Known alternately as the Miata, the Mazda Roadster, or the Eunos Roadster, the MX-5 has long held the record as the best-selling open-top two-seat sports car. It topped half a million at the turn of the millennium, and hit 800,000 less than a decade ago. The MX-5 recently entered its fourth generation over 27 years, which only promises to drive that record number higher. While it's not one of the most prolific automobiles in history – Ford has made over 34 million F-Series pickups and Toyota produced over 40 million Corollas – the Miata stands as a rather notable exception among niche performance vehicles. Related Video: Mazda Produces One-Millionth Mazda MX-5 HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation announced today that production of the Mazda MX-5 (Mazda Roadster in Japan) reached one million units on April 22, 2016. The milestone figure was achieved over 27 years, with mass-production of the MX-5 starting at Ujina Plant No. 1 in Hiroshima in April 1989. "From the first generation through to today's fourth-generation model, the reason we have been able to continue selling the MX-5 all these years is due to the strong support of fans around the world," said Masamichi Kogai, Representative Director, President and CEO. "Mazda was founded in Hiroshima 96 years ago, and as we move toward our centennial year we will continue offering customers the joy of driving with this model, which has become a symbol of our brand. Mazda aims to create a special bond with customers and become a 'one-and-only' brand they will choose again and again." As a way of expressing thanks to MX-5 fans and owners, the One-Millionth MX-5 will be displayed at fan events in Japan and around the world. The tour begins on May 3 at the Hiroshima Flower Festival where the car will participate in the Flower Parade. The MX-5 is a symbol of Mazda's car-making philosophy and tireless pursuit of driving pleasure. Since its debut in 1989, the model has consistently offered driving fun that can only be experienced in a lightweight sports car and won the admiration of people from various countries, cultures and age groups. The MX-5 is also critically acclaimed, with over 200 awards from around the globe to its name. The fourth-generation model released last year has won a string of awards, including 2015-2016 Car of the Year Japan, World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year 2016.