Motoring Articles - Mazda Miata
Mazda’s Miata Starts Off Empire
Car enthusiasts are always on the lookout for an affordable
sports car. Over the years, many companies have tried
to fill that niche, with varying success. Indeed, it takes
a brave and intelligent manufacturer to come up with an
attractive, pleasurable and cost-conscious sports vehicle.
Luckily, Mazda was able to do just that.
Plans for a unique open two-seater began around 1981.
With a team based in both California and Japan, a design
focused on a compact, streamlined, easy-to-handle, and
overall unassuming sports car began to take shape. Around
1989, to the delight of millions worldwide, the Mazda
Miata was born.
The very first Miata was extremely small in size and the
complete effect was certainly remarkable. Take the wheelbase,
which was just 89.2 inches and stretched to a total of
155.2 inches. The highly engineered steering combined
with the smaller disk brakes worked like a charm. The
interior amenities were minimal, but sufficient.
The idea was to keep the design simple and clean-looking.
The very early models did come enhanced with air conditioning
and a good sound system. All in all, it was a durable
sports car equipped with the necessities.
The car’s light weight was a huge advantage when
considering the engine options. Just over 2,000 pounds,
the Mazda Miata did not need a big engine to produce the
speed and excitement of a large sports car. At first,
the Miata included a 1.6 liter, 116 horsepower engine
and it revved from 0 to 60 mph in less than nine seconds.
Obviously, by today’s standards this doesn’t
seem all that incredible, but at the time it was a notable
achievement that guaranteed a good time.
Indeed, the popularity of the Mazda Miata extends across
the globe. This is evidenced by an increasing number of
Mazda Miata clubs in places like Sweden, England, and
New Zealand. Come see what all the fuss is about for yourself.
Looking for a new or used Mazda? Check out www.Mazda.us.com
for Mazda reviews, free quotes and articles. |
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