Archive for the 'MX-5' Category
April 12th, 2012 by admin
IN THE fast moving world of the motorcar, new models are arriving every week, with varying degrees of importance.
Some emerge as official announcements, others are so-called scoops that are snapped during secret testing, and the rest are the subject of the sort of speculation that has a habit of soon becoming fact.
Here is a round-up of recent developments.
SO America is now officially the so-called Fat Capital of the world, with the obese now re-categorised as super-obese.
These are folk who refer to blokes weighing just 20 stones as Slim Jims, whilst they themselves top the scales at over 30.
The private health centres are earning a fortune from it all, with 100,000 operations a year to wire their stomachs so they can not eat too much. One guy boasted that, as a result, he had miraculously lost 15 stones in seven months.
Which begs the question, why didn’t he just eat less himself, without having nine tenths of his stomach stapled, so he was left with nothing more than the size of a golf ball.
It seems to me that there is a parallel with the latest in-car invention announced this week, which will detect when drivers have been drinking and automatically bring the vehicle to a stop.
The drivers will pay handsomely for the equipment to be installed.
It consists of a black box “hidden” beneath the bonnet, controlling a couple of cameras within the car. They monitor the driver’s eye movements and corresponding hand co-ordination, then calculate whether or not there is a time delay.
If there is, the car assumes that the driver’s reactions have been slowed by alcohol and the black box brings the vehicle to a halt via the electronic engine management system.
Surely I cannot be the only person to find it crazy that people are prepared to spend such vast sums of money to persuade them to achieve what they can so easily do themselves.
It’s dead simple. If you intend to drive a car, then don’t drink. It’s hardly rocket science. Only an idiot would need to invest in such a device, and there may even be a case of “intent to commit a crime” by having one installed, because by its very nature the driver is admitting the possibility of drink driving.
Happily, there are still many millions who enjoy the exhilaration of the art of driving for its own sake, without breaking the law.
It does not even involve speeding, simply investing in a nice car and enjoying the performance when conditions allow.
This is epitomised by Mazda’s brilliant little MX-5, which is still so popular after all these years.
With prices from £15,000, it has been given an improved specification and three new colours. There are striking new 16-inch alloy wheels, and a clever new windblocker to keep out the winter chill with the roof down, incorporating a pair of powerful speakers.
Inside, there is a new aluminium centre console and new cloth seat material, plus three new exterior colours of dark aubergine, strato blue and titanium grey.
Indeed, when it comes to sporty cars it seems that we simply cannot get enough of them, as illustrated by this week’s announcement that Mitsubishi’s hugely powerful Lancer Evolution VIII range is to be expanded for 2004.
It will launch the new Lancer Evolution VIII MR in April next year with prices starting at £28,000 for the standard 280 model. Then there will be the FQ-300 and FQ-330 models for those who want supercar power at mainstream prices.
Joining the range in April will also be a new Evolution VIII, expected to cost from £24,000. Called the Lancer Evolution VIII 260. This is the model that will tackle Subaru’s similar Impreza head on, with a sub five-second 0-60mph acceleration time and a top speed nudging 155mph.
In the right hands, driven sensibly, there do not have to be any safety issues here.
February 19th, 2012 by admin
SPORTS cars used to be about fun and driving on the edge – hardly surprising then that in the days before crash safety became an issue, drivers of open-topped two seaters rated high in the road casualty charts.
Today things are very different indeed – while sporty drivers can still enjoy the thrill of open-air, high performance motoring, the cars they drive have to meet rigorous safety regulations and are, in fact, in many cases even safer and stronger than more mundane family cars.
Take the Mazda MX-5 – an iconic sports car which has earned its stripes by not just being tremendous fun to drive but also because of the way in which it protects its driver and front seat passenger in the event of an accident.
First launched in 1989, the MX-5 was put through Euro NCAP’s rigorous crash testing procedures in 2002 and emerged with a highly creditable four star rating.
At the time, the testers observed: ‘The MX-5 has had a recent facelift but the body and chassis remains much as it was when introduced in 1989. That being so, the car still proved safe enough to gain four stars, giving a well balanced performance in the frontal and side impact.’
Although the latest, third generation MX-5 has not yet been tested by Euro NCAP, the Japanese manufacturer will have every confidence that it will exceed the crash-test performance of the original.
The third-generation MX-5 comes in both soft top and Roadster Coupe models and is the first Mazda roadster to have side airbags as standard. These are installed in the outer section of the seatbacks and protect the head and thorax.
They consist of two chambers. Each chamber is activated at the same time by a common gas generator and a single inflator. This single inflation process delivers a decisive time advantage over conventional dual-stage airbag systems, in which both chambers are filled with gas one after the other.
Furthermore, the upper and slightly larger chamber that protects the head inflates firmer and for a longer time than the lower chamber. In this way, Mazda achieves a similar effect to vehicles with a permanent hard top equipped with curtain airbags.
Other passive safety features include ISOFIX anchors for securing a child safety seat in the passenger seat and the front passenger seat airbag can be deactivated with the ignition key.
Both the steering column and the brake pedals are designed to reduce the risk of lower body injury to the driver in a serious front impact and both seats have three-point seat belts with pretensioners and load-limiters.
In the unlikely event that the MX-5 Roadster Coupe could ever roll over, protection is provided to the passengers by bracing bars integrated into the A-pillars made of ultra-high-strength steel, a massive windshield frame and reinforcements behind the seats. Also, large body shell cross members protect passengers in case of side impact.
Some 58 per cent of the body shell is made of either ultra-high-strength or high-strength steel, both of which are three times stronger than normal types of steel and this allows for an ideal combination of thin, lightweight material that is extremely strong.
The bonnet is made of aluminium and has been optimized for pedestrian protection. Its inner bonnet panel is made of a shock-cone structure that effectively absorbs impact energy applied to the outside of the bonnet from above.
Given all that, Mazda will be hoping that the new, third generation MX-5 could become the first ever sports roadster from any manufacturer to achieve Euro NCAP’s coveted five star rating. Watch this space
Mazda MX-5 Mk 2 EURO CAP RATING
Adult occupant ****
Child occupant N/A
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January 27th, 2012 by admin
Mazda’S stylish MX-5 roadster is the most popular car for women, according to an internet poll.
It came second only to Ford’s Puma, which is no longer on sale, and just ahead of the Nissan 200SX, Hyundai Coupe and Porsche Boxster.
In the survey, by internet consumer guide Ciao.com, Hyundai’s relatively inexpensive Coupe was perhaps the biggest surprise.
One comment on the website reads: “If you are looking for a car which moves, is good looking and a little bit different to the rest of the crowd, but don’t want to spend a fortune, then this is the car for you.”
Another said: “At this price it really is unbeatable value and it turns heads whenever I drive it.”
The UK has proved to be the biggest market for the Hyundai Coupe in Europe, with 6,213 having been bought here since its launch at the end of January 2002.
The Coupe, especially the top of the range 2.7 V6, has been hailed as one of the best value for money sports cars available, providing impressive performance at a sensible price.
The 2.7 V6 sells for £18,495 on the road, is capable of 136 mph and can accelerate to 60mph in eight seconds.
Standard equipment for all Coupes includes driver, passenger and side airbags, anti-lock brakes, six speaker radio/CD player and air conditioning. The SE and V6 are also equipped with leather seats and cruise control.
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December 29th, 2011 by admin
IT was the car which brought affordable open top motoring back for the masses and in the space of just 15 years the Mazda MX-5 roadster has created an enviable track record.
First launched in the spring of 1990 this remarkable rag-top has become the most successful open-top, two-seater sports car of all time. Through two generations and countless special editions more than 716,000 have been sold worldwide and no less than 67,000 examples have found their way on to British driveways.
Its success has hardly diminished with age and the original car changed little over the years, but now the MX-5 has been given a complete engineering makeover and sexy new styling to bring it roaring into the 21st century.
And the success looks set to continue. A Limited Edition run of 400 special launch versions of the newcomer have already been snapped up and the Japanese carmaker is targeting 21,000 sales of the new MX-5 throughout 2006 in a non-premium sports car sector which, surprisingly, grew by some 35 per cent last year.
Blessed with longer and wider dimensions than the outgoing model, the new MX-5 is much more occupant friendly with additional shoulder, hip and elbow room for six-footers while the extra width also provides space for side airbags, albeit a £150 option on some models, which were an important missing link from the original.
The MX-5′s boot has always been decently sized for weekend-away people, clear of intrusion from the weighty mechanics of an electric hood, and an extra six-litres in the newcomer has made it even more so.
If you need more stowage space, an extra £300 will get you a rear luggage rack with centre brake light, while a locking glovebox, three useful storage compartments, bottle and cup holders provide added practicality to the interior.
Lifting or lowering the high quality soft top is a relatively simple exercise with just one catch to cope with atop the windscreen.
The hood, which now folds in only two places as opposed to five in the outgoing model, can be folded back in around six seconds and sits flush with the boot lid. No tonneau cover is required and the whole operation can be carried out without getting out of the car.
Mazda has retained the simplicity of a neat and tidy look to the cabin with an added touch of quality provided by decorative piano-black embellishments.
The neatly-cowled binnacle houses easy-on-the-eye instruments while an attractive shield-effect centre console is simply designed to cause little confusion for the button-pushers seeking access to temperature adjustment and the sound system controls.
The Mazda designers have succeeded in providing a comfortable driving position from which you are nicely in harmony with the controls. Pedal positions have been changed to improve heel-and-toe operation of the throttle and brake pedals for the enthusiastic, sporty driver.
A brace of petrol engines are available – 1.8-litre 125bhp and 2.0-litre 158bhp – both of which respond swiftly to the electronic throttle, sending power to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.
In fact, while the Mazda technical data lists 9.4 seconds for 0-62mph for the 1.8 and 7.9 seconds for the two-litre, the difference didn’t appear so marked on the road.
Even more precision is available in the 2.0 Sport model which boasts a six-speed manual gearbox with precise flick of the wrist action and an even shorter shift travel.
With either engine in charge, handling is superb. The new MX-5 tucks in and powers out of corners in completely unfazed fashion, providing a composed and grippy performance with total driver involvement and plenty of fun thrown in.
The precise steering has stacks of feel and along with 50:50 weight distribution, a lower centre of gravity and increased torsional rigidity makes the new MX-5 very easy to control.
Topless driving is made more comfortable by the larger, more efficient aero board wind-blocker and additional heating vents at foot level.
Ride quality, too, is good, the additional interior space combines with comfortable and supportive seating to help you reach journey’s end in good order.
Five versions of the new MX-5 are on offer – 1.8i entry level at £15,600, 1.8i with option pack at £16,400, 2.0i at £16,600, 2.0i with option pack £17,400 and the 2.0i Sport which will set you back £18,900.
Although air con is a £560 option on all models, the entry level MX-5 is quite well kitted out and comes with electric front windows, four-speaker sound system with CD, powered and heated door mirrors, remote central locking with deadlocks, Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser and ABS braking. The entry level model comes with a vinyl soft top and you have to notch up a grade for the cloth version.
In addition, items such as Dynamic Stability and Traction Control systems to help keep you on the long and winding roads don’t kick in until further up the range.
Overall, the new MX-5 continues to look the part with subtle changes differentiating it from the outgoing model.
Mazda has done a good job here in further modernising the MX-5 while maintaining the look that makes this legendary roadster instantly recognisable.
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December 13th, 2011 by admin
THE world’s best-selling open top car has just been given a secret weapon – a roof.
Mazda has turned its MX-5 roadster into a car for all seasons by fitting it with the fastest foldaway hard top on the market.
The roadster coupe treatment makes the MX-5 even more user-friendly as a fun two seater.
Priced from £18,210 for a 1.8-litre version to £21,265 for an all-singing-and-dancing two-litre Sport model complete with Bose sound system, the MX-5 takes just 12 seconds to convert from hard top to open top.
Neither does the operation interfere with cargo capacity which remains at 150 litres – very usable for a roadster and ideal for weekend breaks.
The roof folds away into a compartment between the boot and the cockpit – the same as with the rag top MX-5 – so it does not impinge on luggage space.
It also retains the car’s 50/50 weight distribution which gives it such pin sharp handling.
The MX-5 Roadster Coupe is as brisk as its soft-top counterpart. Top speed is a claimed 125mph for the 1.8 while the punchy two-litre can hit a reported 136mph with 0 to 60 acceleration of 9.6 and 8.2 seconds respectively.
Two-litre Sport models are fitted with a six speed manual gearbox resulting in average fuel consumption of 34.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 193g/km. Models with the standard five speed box have slightly better economy and lower emissions.
The roadster coupe is about half an inch taller and slightly heavier than the cloth roofed MX-5 but at a glance and on the road you will never notice the difference.
Roof up and the cockpit is nice, quiet and cosy. It’s also quiet homely with the roof down and even at speed the amount of wind noise and buffeting is minimal. And on chilly days there is plenty of warmth on tap from the standard fit climate control.
Trim design is the same as on the conventional MX-5 which is modern, functional and well put together.
The roadster coupe is some £1,200 more expensive that the standard soft top but comes with added goodies such as alloy wheels, air conditioning and iPod connectivity – not to mention a roof which guarantees plenty of fun year in, year out.
December 13th, 2011 by admin
Mazda created an instant classic back in 1989 when it launched the MX-5 and introduced a whole new generation to the thrills of topless motoring.
The pretty and more importantly reliable two-seater roadster put the fun back into driving and has been so successful that it now has its own entry in the Guinness Book of Records.
Designed by Scotsman Moray Callum, the MX5, which is known as the Miata in the USA and Eunos in other parts of the world, has sold a staggering 850,000 units and is officially the world’s best-selling sports car.
It is still going strong and its popularity continues to grow and to mark its 20 years of success, Mazda has given the current MK3 version a midlife makeover to improve its looks even further, increase refinement and lower emisssions.
I was lucky enough to drive the first version back in 1989 and 10 years later I was on a launch to celebrate its first decade of success. Now I have been lucky enough to test the latest MK3 in the West Highlands in glorious weather and to get the chance to sample some 20-year-old original versions that Mazda had brought north for the birthday celebrations.
The origianal cars were not museum examples, they had all been purchased from individual owners or auctions and the only work the Mazda team had carried out was a good clean, replacement brakes and tyres.
They were all worth between £1,500 and £2,000 and what fun they still provide for that type of cash.
Nimble, pretty and almost dainty compared to the new model, they had motoring hacks grinning from ear to ear and fighting for the keys.
Their simple mechanicals and lack of luxuries only seemed to increase the driving pleasure. The pop-up lights, electric windows and central locking were standard but that was it. The current models are almost limo like by comparison.
On the open road the original 116 bhp 1,600cc engine delivers adequate performance and keeps up with modern traffic because it is so light. The rear-wheel-drive chassis is perfectly balanced and the-five speed gearbox is a delight to use with changes only needing a flick of the wrist.
It only showed its age when it came to braking. It lacked the stopping power of modern machines and most of the early cars did not have ABS as it was then a very expensive option.
It can’t match the new car for pace or refinement but it is probably even more fun.
Parked next to the original you can see how the MX-5 has grown in two decades. The new MK3 looks significantly bigger, although you can clearly see it is an evolution of the original design.
Its sharp new look is a good one and there is a revised silver-trimmed grille, chrome finish door handles and the range-topping SportTech model gets new 17-inch alloy wheels.
There are no drastic changes to the cabin but the Bose stereo controls have been improved and there are some new trim colour combinations. The dashboard and other plastics have also been upgraded.
There is plenty of room for two, the driving position remains near perfect and leather-trimmed seats, air-conditioning and cruise control all help to distance this car from the basic original
Obviously it has put on a few pounds over the years but there is now a choice of 1.8litre and 2.0litre power trains to deal with it.
The MX-5 can now also be purchased with the usual folding fabric roof or in Roadster Coupe form with its electrically operated folding hard-top which operates at the touch of the button.
It gives the car more refinement when it is in place and looks neater when folded than the regular fabric hood. It also doesn’t restrict luggage space with a handy 150 litres being available. The original models only offered 125 litres.
The smooth 158 bhp 2.0litre model I sampled over some fantastic roads, took just 7.6 seconds to sprint to 60mph and has a top speed of 132mph.
A combined economy figure of 37.2mpg is claimed by the manufacturer but I think you will get slightly less than that in real life conditions.
There is a nice sporty soundtrack from the exhaust when you give it some revs and the new car still retains all the agility and accuracy of the original.
You can fly round corners thanks to the superb balance although the steering does not have the sharpness of the MK1.
After two decades in production the MX5 has wiped the competition off the map and it now has even fewer rivals.
The entry level soft-top can be had for £16,345 and prices rise to £21,695 for the Roadster Coupe SportTech.
Still a bit of a bargain then, when you consider that the first models cost £14,249 back in 1989. And remember it is possible to buy one and put a huge smile on your face for less than two grand.
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