Having been introduced in 1990 the Miata roadster soon became one of the most successful selling sports car in the world. Despite having been born in Japan, the MX-5 represented a revival of the classic British sports car that had faded away from sight in the 1980s.
Since its origin, the MX-5 has gained more than just power; it also gained weight, having been made safer than its main rivals. The 1999 MX-5 was a re-designed version of the previous model, but shared the basic underpinnings of the of it’s younger sister. This year Mazda introduced more power, larger interior space, exposed headlamps and aggressive styling. On the engineering side it was given a a stiffened chassis and sharpened reflexes.
The 2006 MX-5 Miata has an unenviable position to fill. This year to do so, Mazda performed a major overhaul of the previous design without taking away any of its core principles that made it so popular. This year’s version is much heavier, with larger dimensions both inside and out – with a lot more added extras.
All of these additions risked the MX-5s famous handling and performance, but they didn’t. The MX-5 will still change directions with ease, the driver remains in contact with the road through clear communication between the road and both the seat and the steering wheel. The in-line 170 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder power plant growls to perfection as the driver shifts through the gate of the five- or six-speed manual transmission with ease and accuracy. A six-speed automatic is available but this drops the horsepower output to 166.
The original Mazda MX-5 offered one engine, one transmission and three colors. The 2006 MX-5 offer five levels to choose from.
This Mazda roadster is about having fun behind the wheel – pure and simple – unadulterated fun. Take off the roof and feel the wind ruffle your toupee.
