Mazda MX-5 Performance Portfolio 1998-2005

Mazda really created a storm in the international sports car market when it released the original MX-5, also known as the Miata. It really did re-awaken people's interest in sports car wind-in-the-hair motoring. There were fears expressed by the media that the replacement would not keep the faith, so to speak. But we are glad to report that Mazda did not stray from the straight and narrow and with the second edition MX-5 presented a sports car that further enhanced the driving experience while at the same time keeping that particular look that denotes the model all over the world.

In true Japanese tradition, the MX-5 is an extremely user friendly sports car that caters for a wide range of driving temperaments from those who simply enjoy the car's great looks and don't care about performance to those who have to tinker and make it go faster and handle better. In its off the showroom floor form it is suitably rapid and handles with a great deal of surety. In outright performance terms it mirrors its great rival, the MG TF, insofar as it sprints from 0-60 mph in around 8 seconds with a top speed of 120 mph. The aftermarket people quickly saw the potential for a higher performance variant of the MX-5 and were soon offering turbocharged editions that were lightning quick. Mazda took a while to come to the party and through Mazdaspeed offered a turbocharged edition that pumped out 178 bhp at 6000 rpm in the American market. Its 0-60 mph time was reduced to 6.8 seconds although top speed was still under 130 mph, it just got there much sooner!

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is an icon sports car and one the company can be very proud of. And as Mazda enthusiasts you will enjoy reading the reviews presented here. Included are road & comparison tests & long term reports.

Models covered: 1.6i, 1.8i, Sport, Turbocharged, 10th Anniversary, LS, SP & SVT

Softbound 128 pages with 64 pages in colour, over 300 illustrations