The facelift MX-5 embodies the purest form of Zoom-Zoom. With evolved sensory qualities, it continues to deliver the unchanging value of “Jinba-Ittai” (oneness between driver and car) despite the changing world. Marking its 20th anniversary next year, the new MX-5 offers a “lots of fun” driving experience underpinned by the untiring passion of Mazda’s engineers since 1989.

Updates at a Glance

Newly evolved look that’s functional and instantly recognizable, as Mazda, and as MX-5
• Exterior styling with greater dynamism & athleticism, which contributes to superior aerodynamics
• Strongly emphasized a premium identity in the look and feel of the Roadster Coupe

Enhanced engineering to enable the driver to enjoy the full potential of the engine performance
• 500 rpm higher rev limit and the raised engine speed at max power
• Introduced a forged crankshaft, fully floating pistons and newly designed valve springs

Sportier engine sound that responds more crisply to accelerator inputs
• Surge tank rigidity optimization, new forged crankshaft and ISE , Induction Sound Enhancer (for 6MT)

Smoother shifting feel with brisk and high-quality steering feel
• With 6MT, the meshing surfaces of the 1st–4th triple-cone synchronizers are now carbon coated, and the 3rd–4th synchronizer diameter has been increased.
• Linear & sporty 6AT that’s newly available for Europe incorporates two new control technologies, Direct Activematic (DAM) and Active Adaptive Shift (AAS).
• A lower front roll centre and retuned suspension make the car’s response to steering inputs more linear and enable the driver to precisely trace desired lines. The yaw and roll also feel more natural, producing a higher-quality ride
Improved quietness
• Roadster Coupe cockpit road noise with the roof closed is 2.1dB lower than before. Improvements include urethane filling in the front suspension member and damping material in the front roof section.
• Quietness is further promoted in the Roadster Coupe and soft-top version by stiffer door modules and by newly added reinforcements on the No. 2 crossmember.

Environmental, safety and conformability
• More convenient features, ie., improved Bose®sound system, 5 step adjustable seat heater, etc.
• Average fuel consumption display and outside air temperature is equipped
• More models featuring DSC as standard equipment

All information in this press copy is based on the specifications of the freshened Mazda MX-5 at the time of writing. Mazda’s product development is ongoing, so certain details of the vehicle may change. For confirmation, please contact the nearest Mazda public relations representative.

At the 2008 Paris Motor Show, Mazda is unveiling the freshened Mazda MX-5 and Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe.* Both versions of the facelifted MX-5 been reined for an even purer experience of Jinba Ittai — the unique feeling of oneness between driver and car that has distinguished the MX-5 since its inception.

Since launching the first-generation MX-5 in 1989, Mazda has stuck to the concept that driving enjoyment is the key value offered by the MX-5. Through two full redesigns and countless improvements, we’ve continued to heighten and improve the MX-5’s Jinba Ittai- focused “lots of fun” character. We expanded the MX-5’s appeal to an even broader audience in 2006 with the launch of the MX-5 Roadster Coupe. As demands for safety and environmental compatibility have grown amid major changes in the automotive environment, we’ve continued to incorporate new technologies and innovations without compromising the MX-5’s inherent lightness.

*The version with a retractable hard top has various names according to market. In Europe, it’s called the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe. In North America, it’s called the Mazda MX-5 Power Retractable Hard Top. And in Japan, it’s called the Mazda Roadster Power Retractable Hard Top.

With the latest MX-5 facelift, Mazda engineers set out to combine an enhanced Jinba Ittai feeling with revisions that would further cement the MX-5’s reputation as the most enjoyable lightweight two-seat sports car in the world. The designers retained the well- known friendly facial expression while incorporating elements of Mazda’s latest design themes for a dynamic, athletic look that embodies the MX-5’s function and purpose as a sports car. With the Roadster Coupe, they strongly emphasized a premium identity in the look and feel of the body and cabin.

With regard to dynamic performance, the engineers enhanced characteristics that appeal to the emotions yet cannot be expressed in terms of catalogue specifications. For example, they optimized the engine potential for greater enjoyment, created a sportier engine sound that responds more crisply to accelerator inputs, and realized a brisk, high-quality steering feel that gives a more linear response to movements of the steering wheel. And at the same time, they enhanced the MX-5 in terms of comfort, convenience, fuel economy, and safety.

MX-5 Programme Manager Takao Kijima says: “Although the kind of driving experience that people find enjoyable in a lightweight sports car never really changes, maintaining it in a vehicle that must also meet the continually changing demands of society is a daily challenge for Mazda engineers, and a particularly vital mission with the MX-5. Speaking as the engineer in charge of MX-5 development, I’m convinced that the MX-5 is—and will remain—more enjoyable than any competing car. I’m delighted that the new MX-5 and the newly evolved Jinba Ittai fun that it offers will soon be thrilling customers who already embrace the MX-5 philosophy, and those who are about to encounter the MX-5 for the first time.”

Heritage : Worldwide Acclaim and More than 850,000 Units of Production

The MX-5 has enjoyed worldwide popularity since its first-generation debut in 1989. Indeed, it is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s highest-selling two-seat convertible sports car in history. Since the launch of the third-generation model, the MX-5 has won more than 175 accolades including the 2005–2006 Japan Car of the Year award; Wheels magazine’s 2005 Car of the Year award; Top Gear magazine’s Roadster of the Year 2005 award; a place in Car and Driver magazine’s 2006 Ten Best Cars list; and selection by Consumer Reports as the best 2008 car in the “fun to drive” category. Aggregate MX-5 production stood at 852,682 units at the end of July 2008, which looks set to be recognized again by Guinness World Records as the highest-ever production volume for a two-seat convertible sports car.

MX-5’s “Lots of Fun” Character

The “lots of fun” character conceived by Mazda for the MX-5 encompasses several kinds of fun: the fun of driving it, the fun of seeing its great styling, the fun of personalizing it, the fun of using it to get together with friends, and the fun of owning and using the MX-5 on a day-to-day basis. And underpinning this “lots of fun” character is the feeling that Mazda calls Jinba Ittai. In developing the third-generation MX-5, Mazda engineers clearly defined Jinba Ittai by creating a fishbone chart with six categories (styling, touching, listening, driving, cornering, and braking) which were then broken down into individual attributes. With reference to the fishbone chart, they then used techniques based on Mazda’s unique philosophy of Kansei engineering to conduct development with a focus on enjoyment, beauty, and emotional attachment (values that can’t be measured in numerical terms). With the latest facelift, all members of the development team used the fishbone chart again as a way to keep their goals consistent while evolving the MX-5 to meet new social demands and customer expectations.

An Uncompromising Focus on Lightness

In the third-generation MX-5’s development, Mazda engineers pursued the ‘gram’ strategy (a programme of weight minimizationon a component-by-component basis), used cutting-edge technologies to make the body light and rigid, and adopted materials that were stronger and lighter than those used in the second-generation MX-5. As a result, they were able to limit the overall weight increase to just 10 kg (22 lb) and enhance performance at the same time. With the latest facelift, the development team adopted new mechanicals and equipment throughout the MX-5 but again kept the overall weight increase to an absolute minimum. The MX-5’s ideal 50:50 front/rear weight distribution and the reduced yaw-inertia moment achieved by Mazda with the third-generation MX-5 are totally uncompromised.

Design: A Newly Evolved Look that’s Functional and Instantly Recognizable

Design and craftsmanship, which are encompassed, respectively, by the “styling” and “touching” categories in the fishbone chart, are particularly crucial to a sports car since they’re the main source of the car’s “fun to own” and “fun to use” characteristics. They must complement and underpin the car’s functionality. With the latest MX-5 facelift, the development team incorporated elements of Mazda’s newest design themes while carefully carrying forward the simple and instantly recognizable personality that Mazda established with the first-generation MX-5. The updated exterior styling reflects an evolution toward greater dynamism and athleticism, and it contributes to superior aerodynamic performance. The updated interior design realizes significantly enhanced quality and a more functional, driver-friendly sports-car cockpit.

Exterior Design: A Fusion of New Mazda Elements and an Unmistakable MX-5 Look

The front grille has been enlarged and changed from an oval shape to the five-point grille that forms part of the well-known Mazda family face. Combined with tautly styled headlights and lowing fog- lamp bezels, the new grille creates a reined and athletic expression. To preserve the character that has always been a hallmark of the MX-5, the five points of the grille are slightly rounded. Also, the new shape of the front bumper, with corners that extend downwards, enhances the dynamic look and improves the aerodynamics.

Viewed from the side, newly designed side sills form a character line that lows to the rear bumper in a way that emphasizes speed and stability. The reshaped side sills deflect air away from the rear wheels, and thereby contribute to superior aerodynamic performance.

The rear bumper has a new design that makes the rear look wider, sportier, and more integrated into the body. The rear combination lamps inherit the traditional MX-5 elliptical motif, and protrude further outboard for greater aerodynamic efficiency.

The Roadster Coupe’s more Upscale Identity

The MX-5 Roadster Coupe, which features a groundbreaking powered roof system, also incorporates several design changes that further emphasize its more upscale identity and distinguish it from the soft-top version.
• Front grille: Whereas the soft-top version has a in-type grille, the Roadster Coupe has a mesh grille that is framed by a chrome ring.
• Headlamp inner bezels: The headlamp inner bezels are painted silver on the soft-top version, but have a chrome finish on the Roadster Coupe. • Fog-lamp inner bezels: The fog lamp inner bezels are black on the soft-top version, but are painted silver on the Roadster Coupe.
• Outer door handles: The outer door handles are body-coloured on the soft-top version, but have a chrome finish on the Roadster Coupe.
• High-mounted stop lamp: The high-mounted stop lamp has a red lens on the soft-top version, but a clear lens on the Roadster Coupe.

New Wheel Designs

The MX-5 is available with 16-inch and 17-inch aluminium wheels. The 16-inch wheels have five sets of twin spokes for a lightweight look. The 17-inch wheels have 10 twisted spokes for a stronger impression of power and dynamism.

Interior Design: Higher Than Ever Quality and Driver- Friendliness

The interior design delivers the MX-5’s traditional combination of comfortable snugness below shoulder level and openness above shoulder level. It also reflects customer feedback in the form of enhanced quality and driver-friendly features.

The decorative surfaces on the instrument panel have been changed from glossy piano black to dark silver, which has a subtler, higher- quality look befitting a sports car. The meters have new graphics for higher legibility. The climate-control dials on the centre stack have each been given a silver-coloured ring for a higher-quality look. A protrusion has been eliminated from the outer surface of each door pocket to create more leg space. And the door and centre-console armrests have each been given a soft pad for a better feel.

Recaro seats designed exclusively for the MX-5 are available in certain regions. They are upholstered in leather and perforated Alcantara® for a sporty look, and they combine excellent support with easy ingress and egress.

Colour Variations

The MX-5 for Europe has a lineup of seven body colours including two new choices: Aluminium Metallic (a mix of sportiness and refinement) and Metropolitan Grey Mica. The soft top is black. Non- Recaro seats in the MX-5 for Europe are upholstered with black fabric or with black or Dune Beige (not available in Europe) leather depending on grade. The leather and perforated Alcantara* on the Recaro seats have a black-based two-tone colour scheme. The full lineup of body colours is as follows:
• Aluminium Metallic (new)
• Metropolitan Grey Mica (new)
• Sunflower Yellow (new; not available in Europe)
• Copper Red Mica
• Stormy Blue Mica
• True Red
• Brilliant Black
• Marble White (soft-top version only)

Dynamic Performance : Evolved Jinba Ittai for Enhanced Fun-To-Drive

The Jinba Ittai feeling on which Mazda has always focused with the MX-5 defines the kind of spontaneous car-and-driver interaction that anyone can experience whether they’re driving the MX-5 in town, on twisty roads, or on an open highway. With the latest facelift, Mazda engineers evolved the attributes in the “driving”, “cornering”, “braking”, and “listening” categories in the fishbone chart to realize performance that lets drivers enjoy the feeling of oneness with the car to an even greater degree.

A 500 rpm Higher Rev Limit Maximizes Engine Potential for Greater Enjoyment

The powertrain has been enhanced to enable the driver to enjoy the full potential of the engine’s performance (a key “fun to drive” aspect of the MX-5). Specifically, the speed at which the engine delivers maximum power has been raised from 6,700 rpm to 7,000 rpm (2.0-litre M/T version) and the rev limit has been raised from 7,000 rpm to 7,500 rpm (all 2.0-litre versions). Without these enhancements, the engine feels smooth and linear right up to the rev limit, even with the throttle wide open. With them, however, the driver can really experience the sensation of extracting every single horsepower out of the engine (the enhancements described here apply to the 2.0-litre grades with a manual transmission). The crucial 500 rpm increase in the rev limit is enabled by greater precision in the engine, namely: a forged crankshaft (this ensures the required rigidity at high engine speeds), fully floating pistons and newly designed valve springs.

A Sportier Engine Sound that Responds More Crisply to Accelerator Inputs
The engine sound (a key element in the “listening” category of the MX-5 fishbone chart) is a big part of the sports car experience. With the latest facelift, Mazda engineers made the MX-5 engine sound even better without causing aural discomfort for people outside the car. Notably, they increased the rigidity of the plastic surge tank in the intake manifold. The optimized surge tank combines with the new forged crankshaft to realize a clearer engine sound throughout the rev range. In vehicles with the six-speed manual transmission, the engineers also adopted a newly developed device called an Induction Sound Enhancer (ISE). This amplifies the pulses that occur when an accelerator input opens the throttle valve to increase air low into the engine, thereby delivering a more exciting sound to the cockpit. The intake sound created by the ISE feels synchronized with the driver’s accelerator inputs, so the driver enjoys a crisp, thrilling engine sound even when using the accelerator pedal gently to adjust the revs for a downshift.

Newly Evolved and Reined Transmissions

With the six-speed manual transmission, the meshing surfaces of the 1st–4th triple-cone synchronizers are now carbon coated, and the 3rd–4th synchronizer diameter has been increased. These improvements enable smoother shifts up to the engine’s heightened rev limit of 7,500 rpm.

A six-speed Activematic automatic transmission that’s newly available with the MX-5 for Europe incorporates two new control technologies. One is Direct Activematic (DAM), which allows the driver to quickly change gears using paddles on the steering wheel while still driving in the “D” range. It was developed to enable quick downshifts for three common situations: decelerating using engine braking on a downhill road; accelerating after decelerating into a corner; and overtaking another vehicle. (The driver does not need to select the “M” range before shifting down.) Since Direct Activematic enables engine braking and acceleration more quickly and easily, it makes driving easier and more fun. The other new technology is Active Adaptive Shift (AAS), by means of which the transmission control system evaluates the driving situation from factors such as the road’s gradient and twistiness and the accelerator and brake inputs. When the system recognizes enthusiastic driving, it actively promotes upshifts and downshifts to realize a linear and sporty response that matches the driver’s intentions.

Handling that Further Heightens the Jinba Ittai Feeling

The MX-5 development team also heightened the Jinba Ittai feeling by comprehensively reining attributes in the category that’s called “cornering” on the fishbone chart. A key refinement was made to the front suspension knuckles. The ball joints’ vertical pivot position was changed to reduce the height of the front roll centre by 26 mm. This decreased fluctuations in the vertical loading on the outer wheel during cornering manoeuvres. Consequently, roll movements caused by steering inputs feel more natural and the car’s response to steering inputs is more linear. In combination with newly tuned suspension components, the revision improves the Jinba Ittai steering feel whereby the driver can precisely trace desired lines. It also realizes a higher-quality ride by making the yaw and roll feel more natural.

An Athletic Design that Heightens Aerodynamic Performance

To improve handling stability, quietness, and high-speed fuel economy, the MX-5 development team drew on Mazda’s expertise in incorporating aerodynamic improvements into styling that’s faithful to a design theme. The main aerodynamic improvements are as follows:
• air guides that protrude downward from the left and right corners of the front bumper
• specification vehicles, except some specific markets)
• protruding rear combination lamps
• wider front tyre deflectors

As a result of these improvements, both the soft-top version and Roadster Coupe have top class aerodynamics for their class.

Comfort and Utility: A Quieter Ride in the Roadster Coupe

Given the Roadster Coupe’s more upscale positioning, the development team produced a quieter ride by reducing wheel resonance and adding damping and sound-insulating materials, such as urethane filling in the front suspension crossmember and damping material in the front part of the roof. Thanks to these improvements, road noise in the cockpit on a coarse road surface with the roof closed is 2.1dB lower than before. Quietness is further promoted in the Roadster Coupe and soft-top version by stiffer door modules and by newly added reinforcements on the No. 2 crossmember.

New Equipment for Comfort and Convenience

• Bose® sound system (optional): New features such as a six channel equalizer (with separate channels for the woofers and the door-mounted mid-to-high frequency speakers) achieve clearer, more dynamic sound reproduction.
• AUX jack: Third-party audio devices can be connected to the car’s audio system. There is also a 12V power socket.
• Bluetooth telephone system (optional): Hands-free communication is possible without even having to physically plug in Bluetooth-capable mobile telephones. The driver can make and accept calls using voice commands or controls mounted on the steering wheel.
• Improved seat heaters (optional): Shorter warmup times are complemented by five levels of adjustability (as opposed to the previous on/off control) for greater comfort.
• Storage for small items: The divider that forms cupholders in the centre-console can be removed to create a handy box for small items. There is also a net pocket on each door.

Ecology and Safety: Enhanced Environmental Performance for Greater Enjoyment

Mazda regards efforts to reduce fuel economy and exhaust emissions not only as a vital way to protect the environment but also as a way to make sports cars more fun to drive.

With the latest MX-5 facelift, Mazda engineers addressed fuel economy by reducing the rolling resistance of the tyres, reducing engine friction, and revising the transmission gear ratios. Lower exhaust emissions were achieved through upgraded precious metals in the catalytic converter. The MX-5’s improved emission performance complies with Japan’s SU-LEV standard, the European Union’s Stage 4 standard, and the United States’ ULEV2 standard.

To promote eco-driving, the digital display on the instrument panel can show the average fuel consumption (The display can be toggled between average fuel consumption, a double tripmeter, and the outside air temperature.)

Rigorous Attention to Safety

Improved active safety on the European MX-5 is realized by expanded availability of a tyre pressure monitoring system and by more models featuring Dynamic Stability Control as standard equipment. The MX-5 facelift will be introduced on the European market in early spring 2009.

Driving the 20th Anniversary of a Great Idea
By Peter Lyon, Contributor, Japan
Date posted: 01-26-2009


Let's bring the 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata onto the stage with a round of applause, shall we?

Some 855,000 examples of the MX-5 Miata have streamed out of Mazda's factory in Japan since the first 1990 model hit the ground in late 1989. In fact, this convertible roadster has a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most popular sports car ever built.

The MX-5 lifted the idea of the lightweight roadster out of obscurity and placed it back on the wish list of car enthusiasts around the world. It single-handedly proved that lightweight sports cars were cool once again, and from this epiphany has come a long list of cars that partake in the Miata's spirit if not its form, like the Audi TT, BMW Z3/ Z4, Fiat Barchetta, Mercedes-Benz SLK, Pontiac Solstice, Porsche Boxster and Rover MGF.

Some 20 years on, the feisty little roadster has withstood the test of time and competition. And now just as the rest of the world is getting a glimpse of the 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata in official Mazda photography, we're on a little road in wintry Japan to actually drive it.

The Magic Comes From Lightness
The secret of the Miata's success lies in its conception. Mazda modeled its small sports car pretty frankly on the rear-wheel-drive 1962 Lotus Elan, which offered a revolutionary combination of lightness and performance even then. And no matter how much Americans and Europeans alike have longed for more passenger room and more power ever since, Mazda hasn't strayed from its original mission. The MX-5 Miata is still a lightweight, balanced and responsive roadster that delivers the very best in wind-in-the-hair driving at an affordable price.

As Takao Kijima, chief engineer of the MX-5, tells us, his team has embraced the philosophy of Jinba-ittai, the feeling of oneness between a horse and its rider that has guided the Mazda engineers from the start of development more than two decades ago.

"When I started working on the original MX-5 back in the mid-'80s," Kijima says, "we knew from the very beginning that it had to be small, as light as possible and rear-wheel drive." Getting that first-generation car off the ground was a battle, Kijima explains, as Mazda's bean counters kept emphasizing to the planners that it would be cheaper to build a car with front-wheel drive like the Honda Civic CRX.

Kijima is very aware of the impact his car has had on the sports car world. Even his down-to-earth personality can't disguise his passion about the planning team's concept of "lightweight sports." He says, "The MX-5 must remain a small, lightweight car. That's its personality." His philosophy hasn't wavered for the last quarter century. In fact, this face-lifted 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata here is the culmination of his life's work, as he's retiring from the company after 25 years.

Things Left Undone
So in honor of Mr. MX-5, the engineer who cut his teeth under Toshihiko Hirai (the boss who led the team that built the first-generation MX-5), we are going to take some poetic license and unofficially call this revision the 20th-anniversary model.

As we pulled up at Mazda's R&D facility in Yokohama, just south of Tokyo, Kijima greeted us with the keys to our test car, an RS model with a six-speed transmission. This face-lift for 2010 comes two years after the introduction of the third-generation MX-5 (known within Mazda by its engineering code, NC), which captured the Car of the Year award in Japan. And as development for the fourth-generation MX-5 is already under way, but under a new, as yet unnamed chief engineer, the 2010 model is Kijima's last effort in charge of the MX-5. "I wanted to complete everything left undone on the current model," he smiles.

As he counts the number of changes, it's clear Kijima wanted to go out in style. Mazda might call this model only a minor face-lift, but the fact is that every major component of the car has either been redesigned or tweaked. Exterior styling, interior trim and fittings, engine, suspension, transmission, even the exhaust all went under the microscope.

No More Waffling in the Corners
Walking toward the soft-top test car, you're struck by the wide, five-sided grille and the driving light nacelles, which reflect a theme adapted from Mazda's recent concept cars, notably the flowing Nagare.

The headlights are slanted upward more than before, rocker sill skirts have been integrated into the shape, the taillights protrude (it's all the rage in Japan) and a small spoiler is integrated into the trunk lid. The designers have also made the front and rear bumpers wider to redirect the flow of air away from the turbulent area around the spinning tires. As a result, the Cd has dropped 0.01 to 0.34 for the soft top and 0.32 for the hardtop.

Despite his limited budget for improvements, Kijimi really pushed the envelope with the revised car's on-road experience. He felt that the current car lacked in certain areas and he wanted to "fix them."

First he used the Bilstein dampers from the MX-5 NR-A (the racing-specification model in Japan). The increased compression damping in the rear combined with a lower roll center for the front suspension has dramatically improved cornering behavior. The new car magically absorbs that initial waffle or dip in the suspension as you turn into a corner, delivering, instead, a more progressive, precise and faster cornering arc, with less body roll.

Straight-line stability has also been enhanced, although the stiffer suspension settings generate a slight pitching motion at speed and a harsher ride overall. But on winding roads and racetracks, this new suspension setting is superb and cannot be faulted, especially when combined with these grippy 205/45R17 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A run-flat tires.

More Revs!
Next Kijima turned to the MX-5's MZR engine. The 2.0-liter power plant's 170 horsepower arrives at 7,000 rpm, not 6,700 rpm, while the redline has climbed 500 rpm to 7,500 rpm. This enables you to squeeze that little bit extra out of the 2.0-liter inline-4's top end to get the full 170 hp. You really appreciate this upgrade when you exit a corner and want every herb on tap to get a quick escape. And as someone who races an MX-5 in Japan, we'll tell you that the top-end power will be more than welcome when we come out of the hairpin bends at Tsukuba Circuit looking for a quick exit.

To enable such high-rpm punishment, Mazda fitted pistons with full-floating wristpins and a forged crankshaft, technology borrowed from the 2.5-liter MZR engine featured in the new Mazda 6. The corporate specifications sheet says power remains unchanged at 170 hp, and so does the torque rating of 140 pound-feet at 5,000 rpm. But Kijima lets on that these revisions have in fact upped power by around 3-4 hp. As a result, this new engine calibration for Japan (which has 100-octane gasoline) delivers a sprint to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, marginally quicker than the current model.

Coat a Cone With Carbon
Helping to generate such a time is a modified six-speed manual transmission. The Miata's transmission has produced nothing but accolades from driving enthusiasts, but Kijima still saw room for improvement. Now the outer cones of the triple synchros for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gear wear a coating of carbon for slicker shift action, so you can drain every last rpm out of this screaming 2.0-liter.

The chief engineer also revised the MX-5's six-speed automatic, adding Active Adaptive Shift (AAS), which now allows drivers to instantly engage the manual mode while in Drive just by flicking one of the shift paddles on the steering wheel.

To complete his mission to make the MX-5 Miata's driving experience the best it can be, Kijima fitted an induction sound enhancer to the intake manifold. It picks up sound and vibration when accelerating hard and feeds a raspier sound to the cabin, making the whole experience a lot more engaging.

Overall, Kijima's tweaks take the MX-5 to the next level. The car feels more supple and in touch with the road, and when you want a bit more power, just give the sound enhancer a good old stir.

What's Next? Smaller and Lighter, Naturally
Inside the cabin, the 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata is almost unchanged except for a newly fitted auxiliary socket for your iPod, softer leatherlike trim surfaces and a fuel-economy gauge located between the tach and speedo. And for lanky 6-foot-3 drivers like yours truly, there's a new cupholder within the door pocket that doesn't foul your knees. Recaro sport seats are also optional, as are 17-inch BBS rims.

Whenever you speak with Kijima, you cannot complete more than a few sentences without him mentioning "lightweight sports." But as we inquired whether this philosophy of minimalism can survive the modern era, he replied, "Don't be surprised if the next-generation MX-5 is even smaller and lighter than this one. The market demands it and so do we."

Unconfirmed reports are suggesting that the “Zoom-Zoom” automaker may have a new high-tech 4-cylinder engine, code named “Sky-G” in the works for their 2011 Miata. Reports put the potential mileage as high as 70 miles per gallon.

According to InsideLine, the naturally aspirated 1.3-liter 4-cylinder engine that was first introduced at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show is expected to produce power in the same realm as the current Miata, roughly 150 hp, and would easily retain the Miata’s existing power-to-weight ratio with the 2011 model’s expected weight of 2,200 pounds.

The eye-brow raising fuel economy figure of 70 mpg was speculated by some speaking to InsideLine, as well as a 50 mpg figure. Both figures were reportedly based on testing with a vehicle approximately the size and weight of the Mazda Kiyora concept car that debuted at the Paris Auto Show in 2008.

Although specifics on how the engine achieves such high mileage have not yet been released by the automaker, it is reported that the engine achieved these figures in a natually aspirated form, and was between 1.3 and 1.5-liters.

Toyota has also reportedly approached Mazda about the SKY-G engine.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the MX-5 has been re-imagined with a darker, edgier attitude in the MX5 Super20. It's a purposeful combination of street-tough style and motorsports-inspired attributes. This third generation vehicle acknowledges the iconic first-gen iteration with modifications such as a supercharged Cosworth engine, small diameter wheels, more substantial tire profile and wider fenders.

A hardtop has replaced the soft-top and the interior stripped down and fitted with a roll-bar lending a GT-inspired look and feel. The seats have suede seat inserts and channel stitching, providing improved grip for the driver. Orange contrast stitching highlights the sporty seat profile as well as providing a polished look throughout, coordinating with the exterior graphic treatment which plays off the black and Storm Gray exterior.

Additional modifications include a DPTune reflashed ECU, Racing Beat 304-stainless steel header and exhaust, ACT organic street clutch, MAZDASPEED coil overs, Racing Beat hollow front and rear anti-roll bars, MAZDASPEED shock tower brace, Power Slot slotted brake rotors, StopTech DOT-compliant stainless steel brake lines and street performance brake pads, SpeedSource front brake ducts, 16x9 Enkei RPF1 wheels wrapped with 245/45-R16 Toyo Proxes RA-1 R-compound tires, 20mm H&R Trak+ hubcentric bolt-on wheel spacers in the rear and 15mm Sparco hubcentric wheel spacers up front.