Mazda Miata on 2040-cars

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2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata configurator fulfills your droptop dreams

The first batch of 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miatas are already at dealers, but Mazda is finally launching a configurator for its completely revised sports car. Even if pricing doesn't come as a surprise, you can still have some fun creating one to your own specific tastes. The major equipment changes on the Miata happen between the Sport, Club, and Grand Touring trims, and options are generally kept light. The real standout is the Brembo/BBS package for $3,400 that's exclusive to the Club version. It adds Gunmetal 17-inch BBS wheels, Brembo front brakes with red calipers, side sill extensions, a rear bumper skirt, and keyless entry. On the Sport and Grand Touring, $1,200 buys the Appearance Package with a front air dam, side sill extensions and rear bumper skirt. There's also keyless tech for $130 on them. Mazda also offers a few items to dress up the convertible's looks. There's a choice of a black or body color rear lip spoiler for $350, and Soul Red Metallic paint adds $300. For protection, clear film for the front and rear paint is $125, all-weather floor mats go for $90, and wheel locks cost $55. Finally, a cargo net is $50. We ticked every applicable box on the Club trim above to make its $28,600 base price leap to $33,790, after the $820 destination charge on all models. Happy building. Related Video:

Autoblog Minute: VW finds CO2 'irregularities', Takata dropped by automakers, SEMA recap

Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal gets a new wrinkle, US regulators hit Takata Corporation with a substantial fine, and we head to Las Vegas for a look at tuner paradise at the 2015 SEMA show. Autoblog senior editor Greg Migliore reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute Weekly Recap. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal gets a new wrinkle. US regulators issue a significant fine to Takata Corporation. And we take a peek inside tuner paradise at the 2015 SEMA show. I'm senior editor Greg Migliore and this is your Autoblog Minute Weekly Recap. The VW diesel emissions scandal, first brought to light in September, gets a new wrinkle, as an internal investigation by the German automaker revealed [00:00:30] irregularities in CO2 emissions that could affect approximately 800,000 vehicles. VW estimates the issue could pose a 2-billion euro economic risk. VW claims that most of the vehicles affected have diesel engines, but industry analysts say a 1.4-liter gas engine is also affected. VW says that fuel consumption figures were set too low during the CO2 certification process. During all of this, sales of some diesel-powered Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche models [00:01:00] have been halted. Takata Corporation is back in the news in connection with its deadly airbag scandal. Federal regulators fined Takata $70 million. If the parts supplier does not comply, the fine could balloon to $200 million. Takata was also dropped this week by its biggest customer, Honda. And now, Toyota and Mazda will be following Honda's lead in dropping Takata. We're also hearing that Mitsubishi and Subaru are considering a switch in air-bag inflator suppliers. SEMA 2015 [00:01:30] came and went. We saw offerings from Mopar, like the AWD Challenger concept. Honda unveiled a Ridgeline that it will race at the Baja 1000, which gives us a hint at what future production model could look like. The celebrity presence was also felt in Vegas as it always is. Kid Rock brought a Duramax Diesel Chevy Silverado, and Acura restored and presented Ludacris with his now famous 1993 Acura Legend. Those are the highlights from the week that was. Be sure to come back on Saturday for my full recap, [00:02:00] where I'll have some added insight into Hyundai's foray into the luxury sector. For Autoblog, I'm Greg Migliore. Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive.

Mazda Miata speedster and spyder concepts set for SEMA

Mazda will show speedster and spyder concepts based on the 2016 MX-5 Miata next week at SEMA in Las Vegas. The speedster is at the top of the teaser, and the spyder is the bottom half. The speedster goes with an extreme lightweight design. It has only a small wind deflector in place of the windshield and a blue ether topcoat. The spyder is a vintage roadster rendered into a modern form with a handcrafted leather interior and mercury silver paint job. Both are lighter than the production version and will be sure to get the hearts of Mazda fanatics and roadster enthusiasts alike racing at the possibilities. We doubt either will actually see production, like so many Miata-based concepts of the recent past. But that won't stop us from dreaming all the same. MAZDA TO SHOWCASE LIGHTWEIGHT PERFORMANCE AT SEMA WITH TWO MX-5 MIATA CONCEPTS - MX-5 Spyder and Speedster Concepts Bring Vintage Cues into Modern Designs - IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 29, 2015 -- The Mazda MX-5 Miata has been an exercise in honing the concept of a lightweight sports car for more than 26 years, created solely for driving exhilaration. But for the 2015 SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Mazda designers wanted to see what they could do if that idea was taken to the extreme. What they created were two vastly different takes on the fourth-generation MX-5: The 2016 MX-5 Spyder Concept and 2016 MX-5 Speedster Concept. MX-5 Spyder captures the character of a vintage roadster and translates it into a modern-day design, including bespoke leather interior details that were painstakingly crafted, and featuring a new Mercury Silver concept paint color. MX-5 Speedster is a study in the extremes of lightweight, purpose-built performance, paying homage to minimalist roadsters of the 1950s. The Blue Ether-painted MX-5 Speedster is uncompromised in its approach to wind-in-the-hair driving, going so far as to eschew a traditional windshield for a lighter deflector. Both cars are significantly lighter than the 2,332-lbs. MX-5 roadster that customers can purchase at dealers and come with a host of conceptual and aftermarket pieces and fabrication from partners including Racing Beat, Haartz Corporation, ASC – American Sunroof Corporation, Makin Industries/RAYS Wheels, KW Suspensions, Delta Seat, H&R Springs, Lusch, AC&A Manufacturing, Franks Fab Shop, Long Road Racing and SIM Specialty Interior Manufacturing.