"A fun and affordable roadster designed purely and unashamedly for the people's pleasure. What a brilliant idea. Why did no one think of it before?"
- James May on the MX-5
Mazda MX-5 is a small lightweight roadster sports car produced and built by Mazda since 1989 and first launched in the United Kingdom in March 1990. This car earned its reputation for being a small, lighter and low-powered vehicle that can be used for both normal drive and for track but not built for speed.
The NA models came with the iconic pop-up headlamps and kickstarted the two-seater roadster trend, the pop-up headlamp is now scrapped on a later generations.
The NB model was the first of the MX-5's to come equipped with a 6-speed gearbox on Japanese market RS models and the 1999 10th Anniversary for the UK market. Both the NA and NB MX-5's are susceptible to corrosion, mostly under the sills.
The NA and NB were both designed by the late Tom Matano, whom later design the Mazda RX-7 FD.
The current ND model is powered by the SkyActiv engine, it retains same displacement as the NC (1.8-litre replaced by the 1.5). ND models released a special edition to commemorate the 100th founding anniversary of Mazda in 2020.
Today, the car still favourable among petrolhead, amateur racing etc.
Appearances[]
- In Old Top Gear 1989 episode, William Woollard reviewed the newly launched of first-gen MX-5 in California. He described the car is not the copied of many iconic rivals like Lotus Elan, MR2, MG B etc. He praised for its good handling.
- Quentin Willson does a buyers guide on the MK1 MX5 and looks at the updated 1.8i model in a 1994 episode.
- Jeremy Clarkson briefly drives a Mk1 Mazda MX5 when roadtesting the MG F in 1995.
- In Series 41 (Old Top Gear), James May reviews a second generation, 10 year anniversary MX-5. He praises the car as simply Brilliant.
- In Clarkson's Car Years, "Why Do People Like British Sports Cars?" Jeremy states that the second generation MX-5 to be the best British sports car as it followed the basic sports car recipe with none of the drawbacks..
- In Series 4, Episode 9, Richard reviews the second generation MX-5 against the Toyota MR2 and Fiat Barchetta. He praises the Mazda for it's chassis, handling and being much easier that the Toyota and more playful than the Fiat, stating it to be the best car there.
- In Series 7, Episode 6, Richard reviews the all new third generation MX-5, praising the car's handling, lack of speed, simplicity and engineering. He then challenges the Greyhound in a stadium in reciprocated direction and loses by 4 seconds.
- In Middle East Special, Jeremy purchases the second generation MX-5 which he pits against Richard in a Fiat Barchetta and James in a BMW Z3. Despite his initial hopes, the Mazda suffers a fair few breakdowns and proves not to be as fast as the Fiat. In the end despite all three presenters stating that the MX-5 was a brilliant car, they all preferred the Fiat for being a bigger surprise.
- In "Texas", Wood uses a first generation MX-5 against Foust in a BMW 325e and Ferrara in a Ford Maverick as the ultimate 2 door pickup.
- In Top Gear USA "Weekend Race Cars", Foust purchases a second generation MX-5 against Wood in a Subaru Impreza WRX Estate as the ultimate Weekend racer against Foust in a Mazda MX-5 and Ferrara in a VW Beetle Beach Buggy.
- In Series 1, Episode 3 of James May's Cars of the People, James drives a first generation MX-5 which he praises for it's simplciity and handling and how it advanced the sports car.
- In Series 22, Episode 7, after reviewing the first generation MX-5, Richard tests the all new fourth generation MX-5. Despite criticising it's styling he praises everything about the MX-5 from it's lightness, it's lack of speed, it's handling and its simplicity. He states to be superior to an Alfa Romeo 4C, something Jeremy disagrees with.
- In Morrocan Roll, Hammond chooses a fourth generation MX-5 as the best two seater sports car against Clarkson in an Alfa Romeo 4C Spider and May in a Zenos E10S. The Mazda proves itself to be the best in a lap test as well as in reliability and handling.
- In Bah humbug-atti, the MX-5 NDwas driven by the female employee competes the lunchtime business park race.
Gallery[]
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