The Chicago Motor Show 1989. This was the venue chosen by Mazda to reveal its Miata/MX-5 roadster, the car that ended up reigniting this niche segment by offering the kind of pure, uncorrupted driving experience most other manufacturers are happy just to pay lip service to. The first-generation MX-5 was a revelation to those who were either too young or had simply forgotten about the lightweight British roadsters of the 1950s and ’60s.
What Mazda did was introduce reliability and everyday usability to the segment, eschewing big engines and superfluous equipment to make for a perfectly balanced little roadster. Thirty years and four generations on, the MX-5 has become the most successful two-seater roadster in history with over 1-million units sold. To mark this impressive achievement and pay tribute to the legions of MX-5 fans, Mazda has just launched a limited run of the 30th Anniversary model.
Offered exclusively in Racing Orange paintwork, just 3000 cars will be produced globally with 550 destined for the UK, 370 convertibles and 180 hard-top RF models. All will come with forged aluminum Rays wheels developed exclusively for the MX-5, orange brake calipers and Brembo front brakes (a first for the UK). The interior too will feature orange accents throughout with Recaro seats and Alcantara trim adding further exclusivity. A liberal sprinkling of ‘30th Anniversary’ badges finish off the changes.
Commenting on the launch of 30th Anniversary MX-5, Mazda Motors UK managing director, Jeremy Thomson, said, “In the three decades since the launch of the original model over 130,000 Mazda MX-5s have been sold in the UK. This is a sports car that has resonated with enthusiastic British drivers ever since its debut and four generations on it’s as popular as ever. Along the way, it has remained true to the original principle of being an affordable, lightweight and above all fun-to-drive roadster. Today it is the very essence of the Jinba Ittai driver-and-car-as-one philosophy that goes into every Mazda.”
All Anniversary models come equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox, limited-slip differential and Bilstein dampers. Prices are £28,095 for the convertible and £28,8895 for the RF version. US availability and pricing should be released in due course.
Images courtesy of Mazda
