Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
What made the original MX-5 Miata such an instant hit, other than its obvious nod to the ’62-’73 Lotus Elan that few have ever seen in its composite flesh yet everyone seems to love vicariously due to being the chosen steed of Diana Rigg’s Emma Peel in the British spy-fi TV series The Avengers, was said sporty styling as well as rear-drive, lightweight, ideally balanced, brilliantly nimble yet relatively cheap
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The same holds true for the entirely redesigned 2016 MX-5, my reason for taking you back 26 years only a stage setting preamble to help you appreciate that this radically
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
How
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Less weight meant that Mazda didn’t need to add more output to its direct injected 2.0-litre four-cylinder, although they did change it up a bit. Now it makes a max of 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 148 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm, whereas
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Mazda
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
It might be a bit firmly sprung for some, but the MX-5 is no poseur, so let those who’d be happier in a pre-owned BMW Z4 remain in their overweight boulevardier. Then again the little Mazda is a luxury sled compared to a Lotus Elise, but rather than criticize I praise Mazda for finding the right balance of comfort and sport, the MX-5 a fully livable day-to-day commuter endowed with the extra ability
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Yep, get some momentum pushing its backside and it’ll whip through a set of tight S-curves like there’s no tomorrow, and when those combination corners result in an abrupt 90-degree twist or yet more radical hairpin just point it at a right angle, let its tail hang out in seemingly wild abandon while flinging the wheel around for some opposite lock and get back on the throttle, the MX-5 will follow in dutiful obligation with hardly a sound of disagreement other than a little chirping from the rubber below. It’s otherworldly. I wouldn’t recommend
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
I did all this with the top down, by the way, only lifting it for testing purposes; it’s quieter, but not all that much. If I sound like I’m complaining, I’m not. I happen to like the MX-5’s rawness, one of my favourite cars of modern time being that aforementioned Lotus Elise. This Mazda provides close to the same visceral experience in a much less expensive yet much more refined daily driver. Stowing that top couldn’t be quicker or easier, requiring the release of a single handle under the windshield frame and a light tug backward before clicking it into place. I didn’t need to leave my seat and the procedure
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Like the exterior design the new MX-5’s interior is an altogether more modern affair, but don’t fret one iota as it hasn’t lost any charm. The body-colour retro bits are still there, although on the door uppers instead of the dash and more curvaceously bent to form around the HVAC vents, while the instrument panel gets a nice leather-like semi-soft bolster with red stitching in GS trim to match the same treatment on the more padded door panels, as well as on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, shifter knob and boot, plus the handbrake lever and skirt (both of which are still present and accounted for thank goodness, unlike Porsche that’s ditched these wonderful mechanical bits for an electromechanical unit that has no place in a sports car), while the red thread on my GS tester’s sport seats gets
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
They’re comfortable and wonderfully supportive, especially laterally so you won’t get tossed about while performing hero-defining feats of driving skill, while they sit lower than in previous generations, not a problem for we shorter jockeys as the hood has also been lowered thanks to an engine that was dropped further on its mountings, all of this lowness resulting in a ground-hugging centre of gravity as well as better pedestrian safety.
It’s a simply laid out cabin, but nevertheless miles more advanced than any previous mid-grade MX-5. There’s lots of nice satin-silver trim
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
And
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Speaking of light, don’t look to an MX-5 if you want a roadster loaded up with all the latest convenience, comfort and tech features, but for $33,815 all-in (that means freight, PDI, air conditioning tax, government fees and levies) it’s still nicely done out. Certainly the windows and locks are powered and even include proximity sensing access in top-line trim as well as a still-cool switchblade-style remote key fob and pushbutton ignition in standard GX trim, but as noted that base model requires you to manually fold the fabric roof, although the rear window
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Move up to my mid-grade $37,215 GS model and the wheels grow to 17s (a sweet looking set to boot), while additional features include auto on/off headlights, LED daytime running lights, a mirror-finish glossy black roll bar, rain-sensing wipers, plus the body-colour interior trim, satin-silver detailing, red stitching and leather-wrapped shift knob and parking brake handle mentioned earlier, as well as the seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system atop the dash with a very utile navigation
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
I’ll get into details available with the top-line $40k-plus GT later, as Mazda has promised me one to test, but suffice to say that along with its adaptive cornering headlamps with auto high beams, heatable leather upholstery, auto HVAC, nine-speaker Bose audio, suite of electronic active safety goodies and more, its sound absorbing roofliner should make it a much more upscale ride, although the price
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
That model wouldn’t be my choice, however. I like the way Mazda has outfitted this GS model, and especially appreciate that its curb weight hasn’t increased over the base car. I don’t know about you, but the new 2016 MX-5 speaks to my soul’s inner purist. The classic curves have been replaced by an edgy, angled design that better suits the times and the Japanese brand’s more upscale, high-tech image, styling that I happen to like a lot. And yes, even with those squinting headlamps and Ferrari meets Jaguar F-Type taillights it’s a helluvalot more unique than the aforementioned Elan-inspired original that rekindled our modern-day roadster love affair, but more than just styling, Mazda’s unusual yet welcome decision to reduce size and weight while maintaining similar engine output for better performance and much improved fuel economy has made for a more enjoyable sports car, and joy at the wheel has always been a Miata attribute. Yes, the big news is that soul in motion is alive and not only well, but better than ever in the new MX-5.
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