PETALING JAYA: The new Mazda MX-5 is here but you have to wait in line if you want the legendary little roadster because all five units brought in for the launch today have been snapped up.
Plus the huge worldwide demand for the sports car isn’t helping.
The all-new fourth-generation MX-5 is lighter, more rigid, more powerful, yet more fuel efficient, faster and safer than before.
The much-storied roadster is the sixth model in Mazda’s line-up of new-generation vehicles that feature the full range of SKYACTIV technology and KODO-Soul of Motion design.
In developing this lightweight two-seater rear-wheel drive sports car, Mazda’s goal was to deliver pure Jinba-ittai driving fun, and development engineers went to great lengths to appeal, on a deeper level, to the senses and the sensations through which people enjoy cars.
The curb weight of the RM226,376.32 (OTR with insurance) roadster has been reduced by over 100kg compared to the previous model by increasing the use of aluminum and ultra-high tensile steel from 58 percent to 71 percent and adopting a body structure that is both lighter and more rigid. The roadster weighs between 990kg and 1,080kg.
From the car’s low, short front overhang to its compact cabin that positions the occupants in the centre, the MX-5 features beautiful proportions.
A low and wide trapezoidal form makes the vehicle appear as though it is firmly gripping the road and conveys an image of stability and agility.
The body panels wrap around to extend right into the door trim, dissolving the visual boundaries between the vehicle’s interior and exterior and creating an open-feeling interior design.
MX-5 production begins
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Headlights and tail lights are LED-based and the car comes with a keyless entry system.
Leather seats fit snugly. In addition to 50:50 front-rear weight distribution, a lowered yaw inertia moment achieved by moving the engine rearward and adopting aluminum parts at the front and rear ends of the body, as well as a lower centre of gravity achieved by lowering the engine’s mounting position and seating position, combine to realise a light driving feel.
The 6-speed automatic transmission features wider slip control and lockup ranges for a more direct feel and adds a blipping function and Drive Selection for sporty and meaty performance. Local purists won’t have to wait too long as Bermaz Motor is expected to bring in a manual version as well.
The MX-5 uses a SKYACTIV-G 2.0-litre direct injection petrol engine and its four cylinders produce 158hp at 6,000rpm and 200Nm of torque at 4,000rpm.
Another engine option is a SKYACTIV-G 1.5-litre direct injection petrol engine but according to Bermaz Motor managing director Datuk Seri Ben Yeoh, it would not be offered locally because of the Malaysian mentality, which continues to equate performance with displacement.
“A sports car with a 1.5-litre engine is a no-no in this country unless it’s supercharged or turbocharged.”
In a first for Mazda, the steering employs dual pinion electric power steering assist. It delivers highly rigid steering characteristics and provides direct feedback from the road surface.
The cockpit promises an ideal sports car driving position with high visibility, pedals that are centered to the driver’s body and controls laid out for maximum operability.
The canopy features a highly weather-resistant construction and can be opened and closed easily with one hand while the driver remains seated and the cabin is quieter when the top is up. It’s not motorised to shave off weight.
Mazda said that even with the soft top down, the cabin won’t be noisy as the flow of wind inside is controlled to ensure pleasant and comfortable open-top driving. A lightweight, automated fully retractable hard top is in the pipeline and this version will certainly cost more because of its intricate mechanism.
While staying true to its purpose as two-seater sports car, Mazda strived to make the roadster a practical day-to-day vehicle. Examples of these efforts include easy-to-use storage compartments, removable drink-holders and a trunk that can accommodate two carry-on-sized suitcases.
A nine-speaker sound system (Bose AudioPilot) was developed jointly with Bose to deliver high-quality sound even when the top is down. Speakers installed in the headrest ensure audio come through crisp and clear.
The Mazda Connect car connectivity system is standard equipment, linking a smartphone to enable various functions including hands-free telephone and SMS text messaging.
While navigation is provided, power seats and reverse camera are not available for the Malaysian market.
The i-stop idling stop system and i-ELOOP brake energy regeneration system are standard equipment.
Apart form having four airbags, other safety kit are High Beam Control, Lane Departure Warning System and adaptive headlights.
In addition, an Active Bonnet causes the bonnet to pop up in the event of the vehicle striking a pedestrian, creating a shock-absorbing space between the bonnet and items in the engine bay.
The MX-5 was introduced as a lightweight, affordable sports car. As a two-seater roadster with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, proven mechanicals and sound technology, and a fuss-free but distinctive styling, the compact car weighed merely 940kg.
Badged as the MX-5 Miata in North America and as the Eunos Roadster in Japan, the MX-5 went on to become the best-selling two-seater convertible sports car in history, as validated by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2000, with total production of 531,890 units. Nearly a million MX-5s have been sold around the world by July 2014.
Mazda president and CEO Masamichi Kogai once said: “We launched the original roadster in 1989 as the Eunos Roadster and for over a quarter of a century the model has been admired for its affordable price, exhilarating open-top feel and its Jinba-ittai fun-to-drive, which today has become a symbol of the Mazda brand.
“Written in the catalogue made for the original model were the words, ‘A car that will make anyone happy.’ I feel strongly now that these words were pointing the way, not just for the roadster, but for the entire Mazda brand. These days, Mazda is aiming to get closer to our customers and enrich their lives through a variety of touch points. By providing driving pleasure and satisfied smiles, we want to make a particular kind of connection with our customers and become for them a one-and-only brand that they will choose again and again.
“By delivering driving pleasure and satisfaction to even more customers, this all-new roadster will help to raise the value of the Mazda brand.”
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