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Mazda takes the wraps off the next generation of MX-5.
It was 16 years ago that Mazda debuted the sporty little MX-5 Miata roadster. Now, after selling more than 700,000 of these fun-to-drive cars, Mazda is introducing an all-new Miata (now to be called only the MX-5).

Unveiled at a special event on the evening prior to the 2005 Geneva Motor Show media preview days, the new MX-5 is larger, roomier and more powerful than its predecessor.

This muscular-looking Miata sports larger, flared wheel arches, optional 18-inch wheels, a power bulge in the hood and a wider stance. Headlights and taillights have new styling, and a large grille dominates the front. Even with all these changes, however, there is no mistaking this car for anything other than an Miata.

One of the big improvements in this new-generation Miata is the roomier interior. Mazda officials claim that drivers taller than six feet can easily fit in this car, which is not the case with the current generation. In fact, this new Miata has grown all around—it’s longer and wider, with a wheelbase increased by 65mm (2.6 inches). Mazda has also increased the torsional rigidity of the chassis by almost 50 percent. Although it is larger than the previous generation, the new Miata only weighs about 20 lbs more.

For Europe, the MX-5 will get a 126-horsepower 1.8-liter engine, and available worldwide will be a more powerful 2.0-liter engine producing about 160 horsepower. According to Mazda, these figures are still preliminary and may change before the roadster goes on sale this summer.

However Motor Trend and various other sources confirm that Mazda is taking a risky move and dropping the Miata name and only going with MX-5 to keep in line with Mazdas current numeric vehicle naming.





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