Mazda unveiled the mildly (very mildly) face-lifted new MX-5 Miata at last fall's Paris auto Show. Heck, we've already driven the new Miata. Still, the company has a history of doing Miata reveals at Chicago. So the company rolled a pack of old Miatas and concept-car Miatas to accompany the two new MX-5s on its stand.
Join us after the jump for a full rundown:
A crayon-blue 1990 model that was unveiled at the 1989 Chicago show. It listed for $13,800 and made only 116 horsepower.
A yellow Club Sport concept of the original car. The fixed headlights mounted under clear plastic look a little dated, but the concept shows Mazda's intention to take its new roadster racing -- something Miatas have been doing ever since.
Other things that haven't stood the test of time are the seats on this 1995 M Speedster concept. But we like cut-down windshields on just about any roadster. And the 200-hp supercharged engine was good juice for the day.
Mazda put a hardtop on the Miata in 1996 to make the M Coupe (yes, this was before the BMW of the same name). Even in flat yellow, the M Coupe was one of the prettier Miata concepts in history. It also carried the short-lived Mazda logo referred to by Mazda employees as "the toilet bowl."
The 1999 Mono Posto is probably the most radical Miata-based concept the company has done. The one-seater shares only its head- and taillights with the stock car. Tuner HKS did a 190-hp turbocharged motor for the Mono Posto. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
compliance says:
09:16 AM, 02/12/09
I still love that M coupe. It would have been a classic if it ever made production.
jederino says:
09:25 AM, 02/12/09
I second the M coupe. Looks better, and makes it even lighter, stiffer, safer, and more track ready.
estreka says:
09:37 AM, 02/12/09
Haha, I never heard it called "the toilet bowl" before. Clever.
mozzz77788 says:
09:54 AM, 02/12/09
Yes, a hardtop Miata would be a dream for an enthusiast on a budget. Maybe if the economy turns around they might consider it one day
eclip5e says:
11:17 AM, 02/12/09
I see what you mean about "facelift": http://s5.tinypic.com/f4juy1.jpg
estreka says:
02:40 PM, 02/12/09
^ hahaha
tmanz says:
05:59 PM, 02/12/09
the M coupe would be great. We just don't get that much convertible friendly weather.
I wish they would move away from having their cars look like they have faces. Did they hire animators to do they car designs? They completely killed the Mazda3 for me and I was all set to buy the new one when it came out.
smilez says:
08:02 AM, 02/13/09
Seriously, that 'crayon blue' one looks just like those commercials with the talking cars. It was for one of the gas stations or something a couple years back.
I think there should have been a quote bubble coming out of the grille that had some Mazda slogan in it.
caroftheweek says:
03:19 PM, 02/14/09
Don't forget the Mia and Tia twins from Pixar's Cars! And if you're gonna talk about faces, let's pay homage to one of the original inspirations for the Miata's design, the Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite.
http://www.remarkablecars.com/main/austin-healey/austin-healey-00002.html
I've also read somewhere (now, there's an excellent reference for ya) that research into consumer preferences shows a strong appeal for cars with a "face".
jay_laz says:
08:28 AM, 02/25/09
"Crayon Blue"?
Good one!
Though officially "Mariner Blue", it's more commonly known as "Superman Blue", for obvious reasons.
Besides, EVERYBODY knows it's a LOTS more fun driving (relatively) slow cars fast, than driving fast cars SLOWLY.
"made only 116 horsepower."
It's a safety feature, since 4-wheels-on-the-ground is always safer than airborne in your 500 HP BMWs.
Recall the "My M5 has 500 horsepower" story of "The Short, Deadly Story of a Kid and his M5"
(http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Columns/articleId=124526)
"At 3:30 a.m. on January 26, a 2008 BMW M5 painted Space Gray flew off the raised end of a runway at a private airport just outside Ocala, Florida, sailed 200 feet through the air and stuck a huge tree. The impact with the tree occurred 15 feet off the ground. Five young men, aged 18 to 20, were killed instantly."