Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a small, lightweight two-seat sports car with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. The MX-5 was introduced in 1989 and has been built in Hiroshima, Japan since 1992. The third generation MX-5 was introduced in 2006.

The name Miata derives from Old English, meaning reward. Mazda's goals for the MX-5 were to produce a fun-to-drive roadster offering the best possible balance of top-down driving pleasure and reasonable practicality.

The MX-5 is available with a soft-top or a power-retractable hardtop. The soft-top can be manually operated or, on some models, electrically operated. The hardtop is a coupé-convertible with a glass rear window and an electrically operated cloth-covered sliding sunroof.

The MX-5 is powered by a range of inline four-cylinder petrol engines. The first two generations were powered by 1.6-litre and 1.8-litre engines, respectively. The current third generation is powered by a 2.0-litre engine. All engines are fitted with a manual transmission. An automatic transmission is available as an option on some models.

The MX-5 has been very successful, with over a million cars sold as of 2006. It is credited with reviving the roadster segment of the automotive market and inspiring other manufacturers to produce similar models. The MX-5 is also frequently used in motorsport, and has been the basis for a successful racing series.