Mazda to unveil anniversary edition of MX-5 and new SkyActiv chassis at New York Auto Show
Mazda will be unveiling a 25th anniversary edition of its popular MX-5 model. The car was launched way back in 1989 and is the Guinness World Record holder for the best selling two-seater sports car, selling more than 9,40,000 units till March 2014. Launch date and prices of the silver jubilee edition have not yet been revealed by the company.
Soul red metallic paint is exclusive to this edition
The Anniversary Edition will bring the same amount of fun that the roadster is known for. The car is a roadster coupe model and features an electrically retractable hardtop. Special touches to the exterior include an exclusive soul red metallic paint job with black painted A-pillar, roof and side mirrors. 17-inch alloy wheels done in dark gunmetal conclude the exterior changes.
The hard top roof is electrically retractable
The interiors get off-white leather for the seat upholstery and door trims. Engravings on the headrests differentiate the Anniversary Edition from the standard version. A hand finished dashboard decorative panel adds a touch of class and elegance to the cabin. The engine is a 2.0litre unit capable of 160PS and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission with the option of an automatic.
Mazda MX-5 25th Anniversary Edition interior
Apart from the unveiling of the 25th Anniversary Edition, Mazda will also be showcasing the new SkyActiv chassis with the engine, which will be used in the next generation MX-5 models. The company says that the next generation of the roadster will have the most compact dimensions, but the centre of gravity will be lower than the previous models, due to the closeness of the engine to the centre of the vehicle. Mazda says that the upcoming model will have a more rigid body and will also trim a huge 100kgs from the overall body weight.
New SkyActiv chassis
Mazda's chairman of the board, Takashi Yamanouchi said, "The original concept behind the MX-5 was so simple; to offer the pure joy of a lightweight sportscar that moves precisely as the driver intends. While responding to increasing safety and environmental requirements, over the 25 years since its launch we have had to continually reinvent the MX-5 â" far beyond simple evolution â" in order to stay true to that original ideal. The history of the MX-5 is one of changing everything in order to stay the same. A history of innovating in order to preserve the ideal."
MAZDA REVEALS 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION MX-5 AT NEW YORK AUTO SHOW
| 25th Anniversary Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe celebrates the iconic roadster's initial launch Newly developed SKYACTIV-Chassis revealed for next generation all-new Mazda MX-5 Total production of world's best-selling roadster passes the 940,000 landmark Mazda Motor Corporation will unveil the new Mazda MX-5 Miata (Japanese name: Mazda Roadster) 25th Anniversary Edition sportscar today at the New York International Auto Show. The special edition model was created to celebrate 25 years since the launch of Mazda's iconic roadster, the Mazda MX-5, at the Chicago Auto Show in the USA. Also today, the automaker will reveal a newly-developed SKYACTIV-Chassis that will form the basis of the next generation all-new Mazda MX-5. Over more than two decades, the MX-5 has come to symbolise Mazda's car-making philosophy and the Japanese brand's tireless pursuit of driving pleasure. Since its launch in 1989, the Mazda MX-5 has consistently offered the kind of fun that only a lightweight sportscar can deliver, and has won a huge variety of fans from different countries, cultures and age groups. More than 940,000 units have been produced so far (to end March 2014) and the model continues to hold the Guinness World Record for the best-selling two-seater sportscar. The Mazda MX-5 Miata 25th Anniversary Edition is a special edition model that brings together 25 years' worth of fun shared with fans. Based on the 2.0-litre 160ps Roadster Coupe model with power retractable hard top and either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, it is available exclusively in Soul Red Metallic. Meticulous attention to detail has been paid in every area of the vehicle such as the Brilliant Black-painted roof, A-pillars, and door mirror housings; the off-white leather seat upholstery and door trim, hand-finished dashboard decorative panel in Piano Black and the fitting of Bilstein dampers plus 17-inch Dark Gunmetal alloy wheels. In New York, Mazda will also reveal the newly developed SKYACTIV-Chassis that will be used for the upcoming next-generation, all-new Mazda MX-5. The engine and chassis are exhibited together, and it will be the first time that SKYACTIV technology has been displayed in a front-midship-engine layout and rear-wheel-drive configuration. While the next Mazda MX-5 will feature the most compact configuration of any generation of the MX-5, the engine will be located closer to the vehicle's centre and the vehicle's centre of gravity will be lower than in any previous Mazda MX-5. The upcoming model has been engineered and developed to achieve outstanding body rigidity and crashworthiness, while also reducing the overall weight by more than 100kg. Mazda's Chairman of the Board, Takashi Yamanouchi said, "The original concept behind the MX-5 was so simple; to offer the pure joy of a lightweight sportscar that moves precisely as the driver intends. While responding to increasing safety and environmental requirements, over the 25 years since its launch we have had to continually reinvent the MX-5 â" far beyond simple evolution â" in order to stay true to that original ideal. The history of the MX-5 is one of changing everything in order to stay the same. A history of innovating in order to preserve the ideal." | |
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