Σαν αύριο πριν 25 χρόνια, η Mazda παρουσίαζε στον κόσμο την πρώτη γενιά του ιστορικού πλέον διθέσιου roadster, του MX-5. Σχεδιασμένο εξ αρχής να είναι ελαφρύ, απλό και όσο πιο διασκεδαστικό γίνεται, το MX-5 αποδείχθηκε τεράστια επιτυχία για τη Mazda και έθεσε τα standards για το πώς πρέπει να είναι και το πώς πρέπει να συμπεριφέρεται ένα αυτοκίνητο αυτής της κατηγορίας όχι μόνο τη δεκαετία του ’90 αλλά μέχρι και σήμερα.
Η πρώτη γενιά(NA) λανσαρίστηκε στην Αμερική τον Μάιο του 1989 και κόστιζε 13.800 δολάρια. Κάτω από το καπό, βρισκόταν ένας 1600άρης τετρακύλινδρος κινητήρας με 116 άλογα που συνδυαζόταν με 5-τάχυτο χειροκίνητο κιβώτιο. Η ανάρτηση αποτελούνταν από διπλά ψαλίδια και στους τέσσερις τροχούς ενώ η πέδηση προερχόταν από 4 δισκόφρενα. Με τα 100km/h να έρχονται από στάση σε λιγότερο από 9 δευτερόλεπτα, δεν το έλεγες αργό, αλλά ήταν η οδική του συμπεριφορά και τα 960 κιλά του που έκαναν τον οδηγό να χαμογελά ακόμα και στην πιο απλή διαδρομή.
Η δεύτερη γενιά (NB), ήρθε το 1998. Το λιλιπούτειο Mazda μεγάλωσε και βάρυνε όμως οι βασικές αξίες παρέμειναν οι ίδιες. Την βασική έκδοση κινούσε ένας 1800άρης τετρακύλινδρος με 140 ίππους και έτσι το MX-5 μπορούσε να επιταχύνει στα 100km/h σε μόλις 7.9 δευτερόλεπτα. Η πιο χαρακτηριστική (και αμφιλεγόμενη) αλλαγή όμως ήταν η αντικατάσταση των pop-up φωτιστικών σωμάτων με σταθερά.
Το 2005, η Mazda παρουσίασε την τρίτη γενιά MX-5 (NC). Όπως και στη μετάβαση από την πρώτη στη δεύτερη γενιά, έτσι και τώρα, το μικρό roadster δεν μπόρεσε να αποφύγει την τάση του “supersize me”. Έτσι, ήταν ακόμα μεγαλύτερο και ακόμα βαρύτερο ενώ για τις Η.Π.Α., ο κινητήρας της βασικής έκδοσης αύξησε τη χωρητικότητα του 200 κ.εκ. επιπλέον, φτάνοντας πλέον τα 2 λίτρα. Απέδιδε πλέον 170 άλογα όμως. Αλλαγές υπήρχαν και στην ανάρτηση όπου τα εμπρός ψαλίδια διατήρησαν τη θέση τους αλλά στον πίσω άξονα, αντικαταστάθηκαν από μία διάταξη πολλαπλών συνδέσμων. Για πρώτη φορά επίσης τοποθετήθηκε traction και stability control στο αυτοκίνητο.
Για την επόμενη γενιά του Mazda MX-5 (rendering), θα χρειαστεί να περιμένουμε ακριβώς έναν χρόνο ακόμα. Οι τελευταίες πληροφορίες ανέφεραν πως θα παρουσιαστεί στην έκθεση του Σικάγο το 2015. Σύμφωνα με μηχανικούς της Mazda, δεν θα ζυγίζει παραπάνω από το μοντέλο που θα αντικαταστήσει ενώ όσον αφορά στους κινητήρες, ή θα διατηρηθεί ο δίλιτρος ή θα τοποθετηθεί ένας νέος 1500άρης. Πιθανότατα και τα δύο… στις Η.Π.Α. ο δίλιτρος και στην Ευρώπη και τον υπόλοιπο κόσμο και οι δύο. Τέλος, να θυμίσω πως θα μοιράζεται την πλατφόρμα του με το μικρό roadster της Alfa Romeo.
Θέλοντας να το γιορτάσει, έχει ετοιμάσει και ένα ειδικό site. Χρόνια πολλά Mazda MX-5. Ευχαριστούμε που υπάρχεις!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ip_iK4mfSF4
[Πηγή: Mazda]
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MAZDA MX-5 MIATA CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF EXHILARATION
Celebrate the World’s Best-Selling Two-Seat Roadster on Twitter with hashtag #MX5Turns25
CHICAGO, Feb. 7, 2014 – On February 9, 1989, the world was introduced to the all-new Mazda MX-5 Miata at the Chicago Auto Show. A few months later, it was named as one of the five “World’s Best Cars” by Road & Track and never looked back.
Twenty-five years later, MX-5 has racked up more than 200 awards and sold more than 920,000 worldwide as of December 2013, making it the Guinness Book of World Records holder for “Best-Selling Two-Seater Sports Car.” Adding to these great achievements, more MX-5s are road-raced on any given weekend than any other model of car.
“The MX-5 Miata has hit a number of milestones over the years and we’re honored to say that 25 years later it’s as much a global success and favorite among enthusiasts as it was on day one,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). “At the Chicago Auto Show in 1989, MX-5 Miata set the bar for sports car performance and driving pleasure. Here we are on its 25th birthday still looking up at that bar.”
MX-5’s success is that it has not strayed from its promise to deliver pure driving enjoyment at an attainable price. Its introduction in 1989 revived the two-seat roadster segment, and it went on to be named to Road & Track’s “World’s Best Cars” list and was 14-times one of Car and Driver’s “10Best”.
Enthusiasts are encouraged to wish the MX-5 Miata a happy birthday on Twitter using the hashtag #MX5Turns25.
25 Years of Greatness – A Look Back
Launched in May 1989 with a starting price of $13,800 MSRP, the first-generation MX-5 Miata featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 116 horsepower and 100 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, but a four-speed automatic was available as an option. Suspension was by independent double wishbone on all four wheels, and braking consisted of four wheel-disc brakes with the front ventilated. The engineering team created a three-fold, easy-to-operate soft top with one-hand operation that was lightweight and offered superior weather protection, and is still the model of simplicity in today’s roadsters. All together, the MX-5 Miata weighed a low 2,116 pounds curb weight and could reach 60 mph in less than nine seconds.
The second-generation MX-5 Miata debuted in 1998 as a 1999 model year, offering a more powerful 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 140 horsepower and 119 lb-ft of torque, and new styling that was most obvious in the front as the first generation car’s distinctive pop-up headlights were replaced with a faired-in design. In addition, the plastic rear window in the MX-5’s soft top was replaced with a heated glass window. Features such as a straight intake port, a variable-inertia exhaust system and a dual exhaust manifold were incorporated to aid the sporty feel. The base model could reach 60 mph in 7.9 seconds, with a top speed of 122 mph.
A special limited edition model was introduced in 1999 to celebrate MX-5’s 10-year anniversary. This model ramped up performance by use of a new six-speed manual transmission, Torsen® limited-slip differential and sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein® shock absorbers. A special Sapphire Blue Mica paint with blue soft top also was offered on the special edition model.
In 2005, the third generation MX-5 was introduced with a new 16-valve, 2.0-liter MZR I-4 engine, producing 170 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque, coupled to either a five-speed or a six-speed manual transmission or 166 horsepower with the optional six-speed automatic transmission. Every component on the car was either all-new or extensively revised, with the only part shared with the earlier generations being the side-repeater turn signal lamp on non-U.S. models. A front wishbone/rear multilink suspension was used beginning with the 2006 MX-5 to increase ride quality and handling. Technologies like traction control and stability control also were added.
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through more than 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
Mazda Launches Mazda MX-5 25th Anniversary Website
HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation launched the Mazda MX-5 25th Anniversary website at 0:00 (Japan Standard Time) on Monday, February 10, 2014.
Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the debut of the Mazda MX-5 (known as Roadster in Japan), the website aims to deepen the bond between Mazda and its customers all over the world and express gratitude for the support the model has received over the years. The website will be gradually updated to provide information on the past, present and future of the Mazda MX-5, including a look back over the model’s 25-year history, messages from the engineers behind its development, and event notices and reports.
During the 1960s and 1970s, numerous lightweight and fun-to-drive sports cars offered nimble handling and free-spirited open-air motoring. In the 1980s, Mazda decided to resurrect this spirit with a new roadster for the modern age. Using the latest engineering techniques of the time, Mazda developed the MX-5 and announced it at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1989 as a reminder that driving could still be fun despite ever-stricter safety and quality standards. Through a variety of product improvements and full-redesigns in 1998 and 2005, the body has been kept lightweight and weight distribution optimized in order to enhance driving, safety and environmental performance, while preserving the pure driving fun that is unique to a lightweight open-top sports car.
Total production volume of the Mazda MX-5 exceeded 920,000 units in December 2013, and the model continues to hold the Guinness World Record for the world’s best-selling two-seater sports car. To date the model has received more than 200 awards from around the world, including Car of the Year Japan 2005-2006.
Popular the world over and passionately adored by a zealous fan base, the Mazda MX-5 is a car that has truly made history. Inheriting the spirit that has remained unchanged since the first generation, the car will continue to offer drivers all around the globe a unique fun-to-drive experience well into the future.
Mazda MX-5 25th Anniversary website:
http://www.mazda.com/mazdaspirit/craftmanship/mx-5/mx-5_25th/
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