35 Years of the MAZDA MX-5

Very occasionally in the motoring world, car designers produce something that is “just right.” They design a model, first time, that does exactly what it sets out to do and although it may be refined and enhanced over the years, the car stays true to its original ethos. Just such a rare occasion happened in February 1989, when Mazda premiered its new Mazda MX-5 roadster.

This year the MX-5 celebrates its 35th year. It has literally become a legend in it own lifetime and has sold a record breaking 1.2 million examples worldwide across four generations. To celebrate the milestone, Mazda has introduced some exciting MX-5 updates, which add even more pleasure and excitement to this true driver’s car.

There is nothing quite like the thrill of driving an open top sports car, but in 1989 this joy had been largely confined to the history books for many motorists. Mazda, however, had other ideas and it was its California design team that that produced the concept of a classic rear-wheel-drive sports car, but with a groundbreaking front-mid-engine layout for improved handling. Compact, lightweight and affordable, the MX-5 instantly reimaged the joy of open-top driving and at the same time revived and redefined a complete segment of the car market.

Since 1989 the MX-5 has seen four different incarnations, but the key factor is that each has stayed true to the traditional Japanese philosophy of Jinba-Ittai, which views the horse and rider as one unit. It means in the MX-5, the driver can always feel at one with the vehicle and part of a perfect blend of balance, agility, lightness and performance.

Today the RF version of the Mazda MX-5 is available both as a soft top roadster and a fastback design with an electrically powered, folding ‘hard-top’ roof. Whichever version you choose you can be assured that the car continues to deliver the fun and pure driving pleasure that it has always done, but is also practical and refined enough for daily use.

The latest, 35th birthday, updates include new front and rear lights on the outside and a new infotainment system with enhanced connectivity on the inside. As a driver’s car the updates also feature the addition of a new ‘Track Mode’ that further enhances the feeling of driver engagement and works in combination with the software-based Kinematic Posture Control System (KPC), which provides additional driving stability in corners. An asymmetric limited slip differential now also comes as standard on the 135 kW/184 PS, 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G 2024 Mazda MX-5.

Hundreds of Stuarts Garages customers have fallen in love with the Mazda MX-5 over the years and the exciting roadster remains as popular today as it has always been.

If you enjoy driving as a pleasure, then you deserve to experience the exhilaration and excitement of the latest version of the Mazda MX-5.

To find out more and the arrange a test-drive, call the Stuarts Garages Mazda sales team on 01-462 4100.