Tag Archives: miata
The Mazda MX-5 Miata 30th Anniversary Edition Sold Out In 4 Hours
The 30th anniversary edition of the Mazda MX-5 Miata needs only four hours to completely sold out. The special edition roadster was unveiled at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show and we immediately saw why this would be such a hit. It’s fitted with a few extra features that make this iconic car even more covetable. All of its 500 units available were sold out in that period!
This wasn’t the first time a special edition MX-5 Miata sold out in hours or even minutes. Four hours was, in fact, too long when compared to 2014 when the 25th anniversary MX-5 sold out in just 10 minutes. Of course, the 25th anniversary roadster was available only in 100 units while the 30th anniversary edition needed to sell 500 units in the United States. About 2,500 units of the anniversary edition will be made available outside the US but we expect that to sell out quickly, too.
The reason why people are rushing to get their hands on this special edition Miata is not just because it’s an anniversary edition (though that plays into the equation). The new Miata comes with a range of exclusive features that might not be available in any of Mazda’s models in the future.
The body is finished in Racing Orange, which according to Mazda is a color that “evokes the breaking dawn of an exciting new day.” To complement this orange color, the Miata is fitted with black-painted multi-spoke wheels and orange brake calipers.
Inside, the Miata is fitted with Recaro sports seats instead of the usual units. The seats have the “30th Anniversary” badge with a serial number for all 500 cars. There’s also a Bose sound system with nine speakers while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Rounding off the cabin’s new design are orange accents on the seats, the door panels, the dashboard, and the gear shift lever.
For the performance, the Miata is upgraded with Blistein dampers on manual transmission models, Brembo brakes out front, and Nissin brakes at the back. It comes with the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 155 horses and 148 pound-feet of torque.
Extra Power For 2019 Mazda Miata RF Means Price Increase
For months, we have waited anxiously for information about the newest Mazda MX-5 Miata for the 2019 model year. Little by little, we got details about the car’s 2.0-liter I4 that makes 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque.
This increase in power (the current generation is 26 horses weaker) means an increase in price, too. The base model for the Miata RF will have a price tag of $33,240, including an $895 destination charge. That’s for the Club trim level with a six-speed manual transmission.
The price increase of $435 also gets a telescoping steering wheel, new door stops, updated cupholders and seat levers, standard rear-view camera, and 17-inch wheels. Reportedly, all of these are now coming as standard to all variants of the car.
The Club 6MT will have options such as Brembo brakes and BBS wheels for an extra $3,770, or the Brembo, BBS, and Recaro package for a cool $4,670.
On the other hand, the MX-5 Club with a six-speed automatic transmission will come with paddle shifters and sport mode for $33,840. This trim is not going to be available with the Brembo/BBS packages. The Club 6AT will, however, get the i-ActiveSense package option for $450. The package will include the Smart City Brake Support and lane-departure warning.
The Grand Touring trim will start at $34,230 with a six-speed manual transmission. This is $585 more than the outgoing model. For an extra $750, the Grand Touring 6MT can get the GT-S package that includes a front shock tower brace, limited-slip rear differential, Bilstein dampers, and a hand-painted black roof.
The Grand Touring with six-speed automatic gets a price tag of $35,305. If you want it with Auburn Nappa leather, that’s another $300.
The new MX-5 Miata RF is available in three premium colors—the Soul Red for an extra $595, the Machine Gray Metallic for $300, and the Snowflake White Pearl Mica for $200.
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Gets More Power, Now Has 181 HP
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is one of the most popular sports car in the history of automotive. It is so successful that there have been clamors for a much-needed update. Thankfully, Mazda heard all those appeals and decided that 2019 is the time for the MX-5 Miata to get additional power and a higher red line.
Yes, the rumors are true. The MX-5 Miata is getting a significant bump in power. It now has 181 horsepower. That’s 26 horses more than the previous generation’s engine. This little details was courtesy of Japan’s Car Watch, which recently had an opportunity to give the test mule a try.
According to the report, the 2019 Miata will be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can produce 181 horsepower at 7,000 rpm. That’s an increase of 26 horsepower from the current output of just 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. The Miata’s predecessor has an output also of 148 pound-feet of torque, but the 2019 version would have a bump to 151 pound-feet of torque.
There are significant changes in the powertrain, which accounts for the increase in power output. Specifically, Mazda added new pistons that are 27 grams lighter and new connecting rods that weigh 41 grams less than the ones fitted in the current generation.
The car’s redline increasing is due to the automaker’s installation of larger diameter throttle body, larger exhaust valves, and wider exhaust piping. The redline went up to 7,500 rpm from 6,800 rpm. Predictably, these updates would improve thermal efficiency and would lower emissions.
Moving inside the car, the Miata gets a telescoping steering wheel for the first time ever. The wheel has 1.2 inches adjustment and has a tilt function that will allow the wheel to move by as much as 1.7 inches.
Aesthetically speaking, the Miata will get a caramel brown top, full-tan leather interior, and bright finishes for the wheels.
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata To Get 181 Ponies
The Mazda MX-5 Miata has never been known to produce as much power as its contemporaries. The current model of the Miata only has 155 horsepower, which is much less than the power produced by the previous generation of the car. That will soon change, however, as reports said Mazda is giving the 2019 MX-5 Miata a bump of 26 horsepower to see the current production to 181 ponies.
This became evident in the VIN notice sent by Mazda to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that listed the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata as having a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can produce 181 horsepower. That is 26 more horsepower than the current generation has now. It is also the most every from a production model Miata.
What the NHTSA document failed to specify is if the 2.0-liter engine is only an evolution of same Skyactiv-G unit currently found in the Miata. The brand is about to come out with a “high-tech, gas-fed supercharged, compression-ignition-capable” Skyactiv-X engine sometime in the next year or so. This will be used on the next-generation Mazda 3 compact. It is estimated to have an output of 181 horsepower, the same one listed for the 2019 Miata.
For the next models, we’re expecting the Skyactiv-G to position itself as a cheaper alternative to the Skyactiv-X. It could be an entry-level option and still receive developments and updates from Mazda. The automaker confirmed nothing short of that. With that being said, it’s not entirely impossible for the Skyactiv-G to still be the engine we’ll see on the 2019 Miata, considering that it is highly capable of the additional 26 horsepower needed for this new Miata.
Once upgraded, the G would have better intake and exhaust plumbing while the engine internals will rise by a few hundred revolutions per minute. The Skyactiv-G engine has a 13:1 compression ratio and uses premium gasoline.
Tearing Down a Mazda MX-5 Miata Engine in a Timelapse Video
The engine truly works wonders in a car. After all, it is the heart of a vehicle. Despite its complex function, do you know how easy it is to dismantle it into pieces? The video above shows the teardown of a Mazda MX-5 Miata engine in a timelapse presentation.
A video released by the YouTube channel “How a Car Works” demonstrates how the Miata engine was disassembled down to the valves, crankshaft, cylinders, timing gears, rods and other major components. Looking at it, it appears that tearing down an engine is fairly easy, given the right tools and working space.
The video was made to promote the channel. As implied by its name, it features video courses explaining how a car works. So far, it has other videos showing the MX-5 Miata’s subframe and the operation of same car’s steering system. It looks like they either have a fondness for the MX-5 Miata or they are sponsored by a Mazda dealer. It is also likely that they are supported by the Mazda company itself.
Going back to the power unit, the visible markings state that it is a DOHC 16-valve engine. According to Motor Authority , it might have come from UK-spec right-hand drive MX-5.
The base model of the MX-5 Miata is powered by a 1.8-liter engine in the US. It is likely that the video shows the smaller 1.6-liter UK version of it. The output of the inline-four engine is estimated to be somewhere between 90 and 130 hp.
Based on Mazda’s UK website, the MX-5 Miata roadster has a starting price of £18,795. It embodies the KODO design, which combines sportiness with stylish appeal.
For two consecutive years, the Mazda MX-5 Miata has won the “Whatcar? Car of the Year” award under the “Best Convertible” category. The giver of the award is considered to be Britain’s top monthly car review magazine.
Top 3 Features of the Long Road Racing “Ultimate MX-5”
Long Road Racing, which has been reputed for its amazing work on some tuner packs, released one for 2017 Mazda MX-5 called the Ultimate MX-5. If you have a 2016 or 2017 MX-5, but felt that it has not lived up to expectations, you may want to look at what Long Road Racing is offering.
1. Exterior
According to TopSpeed , LRR did not give much focus on upgrading the exterior details of the MX-5, though it offers a lot of wheel and tire combinations. In particular, it’s suggesting customers to get the 17-inch Ray’s forged wheels which are wrapped in BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2 Ultra high-performance tires.
MX-5 owners would be hard-pressed to look for tuners that offer exterior upgrades for the sports car. The MX-5 already looks good enough as an entry-level performance car, and tuners should focus on giving it more power than upgrading its aesthetics.
2. Interior
LRR’s focus is to make the MX-5 feel more like a race car in the interior. This means stripping it off of all the comforts associated with a luxurious car, and fitting it with race-spec elements, safety equipment, and all-around weight shedding. Some of the race car-spec elements are a roll cage with NASCAR-style bars on both sides of the car, a centralized command center (which means removing the AC system) for power, fire bottle, and pump overrides.
There would also be head net constraints, Lifeline Zero 2000 fire system, seat mounting plates, foot well floor panel, a dead pedal, and a steering wheel with no air bags.
3. Drivetrain
This is where LRR truly went all out. The MX-5 is fitted with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, and LRR wants to boost its 155-horsepower output through a Setrab engine oil cooler, a race-proven water radiator, gold heat reflection materials, and motor-mounted positive location limiters.
Other upgrades are new limited-slip differentials, differential and transmission oil coolers, and pumps for upgrades.
Pricing
LRR did not release a price tag for the tuning package because it would depend on what the clients want done on their MX-5. Customers can customize their package based on their desired enhancements.
Mazda To Debut MX-5 Miata Power Retractable Hard Top
Sources have been abuzz that Mazda will introduce during the New York Auto Show later this month a Power Retractable Hard Top version of its MX-5 Miata.
Mazda has confirmed already that there are plans to unveil a new model during the auto show, but no details have been released regarding the said launch. What the company did say is that it would be a “world premiere” and that the car will “blow the lid off.”
With such a description, it may be safe to assume that a retractable hard top is on its way for the MX-5 Miata , currently in its fourth generation and is only available as a soft-top convertible.
This was quite a curious move for Mazda since other models have already offered both a soft-top and hard-top retractable roof. There was even one with a fixed roof.
To say that the company is simply bowing down to measure is quite an understatement. It has a valid, logical reason as to why it would introduce a retractable hard top. Since its introduction back in 2007, the variants with the PRHT have created huge following in the Miata family.
Mazda said that the hard top variant would be lighter than the ones fitted on previous models. This would, of course, help in the speed and power of the Miata. It would also provide a more compact look, and would free up extra cargo capacity.
Although the top would most likely add a bit of a weight to the roadster, this would still be popular for people living in the colder part of the world.
Under the hood, the same would probably be found in the MX-5 Miata—a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine at 155 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. Buyers can choose between a standard six-speed manual transmission and an optional six-speed automatic unit.
More details would be revealed at the New York Auto Show , so stay tuned.
