The 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata Inspired by the face and form of the original 1990 Mazda MX-5 design, Mazda launched the distinctive Ibuki concept at the 2004 Tokyo Motor Show. Meaning ‘breathing new energy into‘, the Ibuki name suggested the concept car’s secret that it really was the new MX-5 while the world’s press reported that any link was merely theoretical.
In fact, the Ibuki’s ovular design motif which was apparent all over the car really would become the design motif of the next-generation Mazda MX-5 when launched at the Geneva Motor Show 2005. The ovular headlights and pronounced arches and the clean, uncluttered and clear surfaces would all ultimately be seen in the final vehicle. Inside the production MX-5 kept some elements from Ibuki’s design, such as the three-point steering wheel and ovular centre console, the strong centre tunnel and rectangular door-pull handles.
What’s more, for the Ibuki concept, Mazda moved the entire drivetrain rearwards and downwards to make the centre of gravity lower and closer to the center of the car. The goal was to improve balance and handling, and maintain the 50/50 weight distribution. The resulting concept had unusually short overhangs and was 305 mm shorter than Mazda’s current production MX-5. By the time of the launch of the subsequent MX-5, the production vehicle did indeed exhibit shorter overhangs and improved handling.
The 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a two-seat roadster that is offered in three trim levels: base Sport, well-equipped Touring and premium Grand Touring. All come standard with a manually operated soft top, while the top two trims can be had with a power-retractable hardtop (PRHT).
In Sport trim, standard features include 16-inch cast-aluminum wheels, a black vinyl convertible top with a glass rear window, air-conditioning, cloth seats, a six-speaker sound system with a CD/MP3 player and an auxiliary audio jack, a height-adjustable driver seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and power windows and mirrors.
The Touring model adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a shock tower brace for the front suspension, foglights, cruise control, power door locks, keyless entry, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a trip computer, a six-CD changer, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and a leather-wrapped shift knob. The Grand Touring steps up with the choice of a black or beige cloth top, automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated seats, a seven-speaker Bose audio system and silver interior accents. The PRHT models are identically equipped.
The Special Edition 2011 Mazda Mx-5 Miata is most easily spotted by its Sparkling Black Mica or Dolphin Gray Mica exterior paint and bright-finish 17-inch alloy wheels. The interior sports gray upholstery, chrome accents and aluminum pedals (6MT only). Unique underpinnings include the MX-5's standard Suspension Package with Bilstein shocks, a limited-slip differential and sport-tuned dampers. Motivating the 2,593-pound two-seater is Mazda's 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 167 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque (158 horsepower with the 2,619-pound 6AT).
It may be tougher than you think to produce a simple roadster like the Mazda MX-5. Mazda is currently hard at work on the next generation of the sporty little car, and the automaker is concerned with its efficiency. To help matters, Mazda wants to lighten the engine's workload by making the entire car at least 10 percent lighter. If that happens, the new MX-5 would be just about as lithe as the original Miata, which was introduced all the way back in 1989. Aluminum won't be used for the chassis, though, as it's just too expensive for a car that needs to sell at a specific price point.
