Mazda at 2008 Paris Motor Show: The Freshened Mazda MX-5
PARIS - October 2, 2008: The facelift MX-5 embodies the purest form of Zoom-Zoom. With evolved sensory qualities, it continues to deliver the unchanging value of "Jinba-Ittai"despite the changing world. Marking its 20th anniversary next year, the new MX-5 offers a "lots of fun" driving experience underpinned by the untiring passion of Mazda’s engineers since 1989.
Introduction: Evolution Focused on Pure Jinba Ittai Enjoyment
At the 2008 Paris Motor Show, Mazda is unveiling the freshened Mazda MX-5
and Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe.* Both versions of the facelifted MX-5 been
refined for an even purer experience of Jinba Ittai—the unique
feeling of oneness between driver and car that has distinguished the MX-5
since its inception.
Since launching the first-generation MX-5 in 1989, Mazda has stuck to the concept that driving enjoyment is the key value offered by the MX-5. Through two full redesigns and countless improvements, we’ve continued to heighten and improve the MX-5’s Jinba Ittai-focused “lots of fun” character. We expanded the MX-5’s appeal to an even broader audience in 2006 with the launch of the MX-5 Roadster Coupe. As demands for safety and environmental compatibility have grown amid major changes in the automotive environment, we’ve continued to incorporate new technologies and innovations without compromising the MX-5’s inherent lightness.
With the latest MX-5 facelift, we set out to combine an enhanced Jinba Ittai feeling with revisions that would further cement the MX-5’s reputation as the most enjoyable lightweight two-seat sports car in the world. With the design, we retained the well-known friendly facial expression while incorporating elements of Mazda’s latest design themes for a dynamic, athletic look that embodies the MX-5’s function and purpose as a sports car. With the Roadster Coupe, we strongly emphasized a premium identity in the look and feel of the body and cabin.
With regard to dynamic performance, we enhanced characteristics that appeal to the emotions yet cannot be expressed in terms of catalogue specifications. For example, we optimized the engine potential for greater enjoyment, created a sportier engine sound that responds more crisply to accelerator inputs, and realized a brisk, high-quality steering feel that gives a more linear response to movements of the steering wheel. And at the same time, we enhanced the MX-5 in terms of comfort, convenience, fuel economy, and safety.
MX-5 Programme Manager Takao Kijima says: “Although the kind of driving experience that people find enjoyable in a lightweight sports car never really changes, maintaining it in a vehicle that must also meet the continually changing demands of society is a daily challenge for Mazda engineers, and a particularly vital mission with the MX-5. Speaking as the engineer in charge of MX-5 development, I’m convinced that the MX-5 is—and will remain—more enjoyable than any competing car. I’m delighted that the new MX-5 and the newly evolved Jinba Ittai fun that it offers will soon be thrilling customers who already embrace the MX-5 philosophy, and those who are about to encounter the MX-5 for the first time.”
*The version with a retractable hard top has various names according to market. In Europe, it’s called the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe. In North America, it’s called the Mazda MX-5 Power Retractable Hard Top. And in Japan, it’s called the Mazda Roadster Power Retractable Hard Top.
Heritage
Worldwide Acclaim and More than 850,000 Units of Production
The MX-5 has enjoyed worldwide popularity since its first-generation debut
in 1989. Indeed, it is recognized by Guinness World Records as the
world’s highest-selling two-seat convertible sports car in history.
Since the launch of the third-generation model, the MX-5 has won more than
175 accolades including the 2005–2006 Japan Car of the Year award;
Wheels magazine’s 2005 Car of the Year award; Top Gear
magazine’s Roadster of the Year 2005 award; a place in Car and Driver
magazine’s 2006 Ten Best Cars list; and selection by Consumer Reports
as the best 2008 car in the “fun to drive” category. Aggregate
MX-5 production stood at 852,682 units at the end of July 2008, which looks
set to be recognized again by Guinness World Records as the highest-ever
production volume for a two-seat convertible sports car.
MX-5’s “Lots of Fun” Character
The
“lots of fun” character conceived by Mazda for the MX-5
encompasses several kinds of fun: the fun of driving it, the fun of seeing
its great styling, the fun of personalizing it, the fun of using it to get
together with friends, and the fun of owning and using the MX-5 on a
day-to-day basis. And underpinning this “lots of fun” character
is the feeling that Mazda calls Jinba Ittai.
An Uncompromising Focus on Lightness
In the third-generation
MX-5’s development, Mazda engineers pursued the ‘gram’
strategy (a programme of weight minimization on a component-by-component
basis), used cutting-edge technologies to make the body light and rigid,
and adopted materials that were stronger and lighter than those used in the
second-generation MX-5. As a result, they were able to limit the overall
weight increase to just 10 kg (22 lb) and enhance performance at the same
time. With the latest facelift, the development team adopted new
mechanicals and equipment throughout the MX-5 but again kept the overall
weight increase to an absolute minimum. The MX-5’s ideal 50:50
front/rear weight distribution and the reduced yaw-inertia moment achieved
by Mazda with the third-generation MX-5 are totally uncompromised.
Design
A Newly Evolved Look that’s Functional and Instantly
Recognizable
Design and craftsmanship, which are encompassed,
respectively, by the “styling” and “touching”
categories in the fishbone chart, are particularly crucial to a sports car
since they’re the main source of the car’s “fun to
own” and “fun to use” characteristics. They must
complement and underpin the car’s functionality. With the latest MX-5
facelift, the development team incorporated elements of Mazda’s
newest design themes while carefully carrying forward the simple and
instantly recognizable personality that Mazda established with the
first-generation MX-5. The updated exterior styling reflects an evolution
toward greater dynamism and athleticism, and it contributes to superior
aerodynamic performance. The updated interior design realizes significantly
enhanced quality and a more functional, driver-friendly sports-car
cockpit.
Exterior Design: A Fusion of New Mazda Elements and an Unmistakable
MX-5 Look
The front grille has been enlarged and changed from an
oval shape to the five-point grille that forms part of the well-known Mazda
family face. Combined with tautly styled headlights and flowing fog-lamp
bezels, the new grille creates a refined and athletic expression. To
preserve the character that has always been a hallmark of the MX-5, the
five points of the grille are slightly rounded. Also, the new shape of the
front bumper, with corners that extend downwards, enhances the dynamic look
and improves the aerodynamics.
Viewed from the side, newly designed side sills form a character line that flows to the rear bumper in a way that emphasizes speed and stability. The reshaped side sills deflect air away from the rear wheels, and thereby contribute to superior aerodynamic performance. The rear bumper has a new design that makes the rear look wider, sportier, and more integrated into the body. The rear combination lamps inherit the traditional MX-5 elliptical motif, and protrude further outboard for greater aerodynamic efficiency.
The Roadster Coupe’s more Upscale Identity
The MX-5
Roadster Coupe, which features a groundbreaking powered roof system, also
incorporates several design changes that further emphasize its more upscale
identity and distinguish it from the soft-top version.
New Wheel Designs
The MX-5 is available with 16-inch and
17-inch aluminium wheels. The 16-inch wheels have five sets of twin spokes
for a lightweight look. The 17-inch wheels have 10 twisted spokes for a
stronger impression of power and dynamism.
Interior Design: Higher Than Ever Quality and Driver-Friendliness The interior design delivers the MX-5’s traditional combination of comfortable snugness below shoulder level and openness above shoulder level. It also reflects customer feedback in the form of enhanced quality and driver-friendly features. The decorative surfaces on the instrument panel have been changed from glossy piano black to dark silver, which has a subtler, higher-quality look befitting a sports car. The meters have new graphics for higher legibility. The climate-control dials on the centre stack have each been given a silver-coloured ring for a higher-quality look. A protrusion has been eliminated from the outer surface of each door pocket to create more leg space. And the door and centre-console armrests have each been given a soft pad for a better feel. Recaro seats designed exclusively for the MX-5 are available in certain regions. They are upholstered in leather and perforated Alcantara for a sporty look, and they combine excellent support with easy ingress and egress.
Colour Variations
The MX-5 for Europe has a lineup of seven
body colours including two new choices: Aluminium Metallic (a mix of
sportiness and refinement) and Metropolitan Grey Mica. The soft top is
black. Non-Recaro seats in the MX-5 for Europe are upholstered with black
fabric or with black or Dune Beige (not available in Europe) leather
depending on grade. The leather and perforated Alcantara on the Recaro
seats have a black-based two-tone colour scheme. The full lineup of body
colours is as follows:
Aluminium Metallic (new)
Metropolitan Grey Mica (new)
Sunflower
Yellow (new; not available in Europe)
Copper Red Mica
Stormy Blue
Mica
True Red
Brilliant Black
Marble White (soft-top version
only)
Dynamic Performance
Evolved Jinba Ittai for Enhanced Fun-To-Drive
The Jinba Ittai
feeling on which Mazda has always focused with the MX-5 defines the kind of
spontaneous car-and-driver interaction that anyone can experience whether
they’re driving the MX-5 in town, on twisty roads, or on an open
highway. With the latest facelift, Mazda engineers evolved the attributes
in the “driving”, “cornering”,
“braking”, and “listening” categories in the
fishbone chart to realize performance that lets drivers enjoy the feeling
of oneness with the car to an even greater degree.
A 500 rpm Higher Rev Limit Maximizes Engine Potential for Greater
Enjoyment
The powertrain has been enhanced to enable the driver to
enjoy the full potential of the engine’s performance (a key
“fun to drive” aspect of the MX-5). Specifically, the speed at
which the engine delivers maximum power has been raised from 6,700 rpm to
7,000 rpm (2.0-litre M/T version) and the rev limit has been raised from
7,000 rpm to 7,500 rpm (all 2.0-litre versions). Without these
enhancements, the engine feels smooth and linear right up to the rev limit,
even with the throttle wide open. With them, however, the driver can really
experience the sensation of extracting every single horsepower out of the
engine (the enhancements described here apply to the 2.0-litre grades with
a manual transmission). The crucial 500 rpm increase in the rev limit is
enabled by greater precision in the engine, namely: a forged crankshaft
(this ensures the required rigidity at high engine speeds), fully floating
pistons and newly designed valve springs.
A Sportier Engine Sound that Responds More Crisply to Accelerator
Inputs
The engine sound (a key element in the
“listening” category of the MX-5 fishbone chart) is a big part
of the sports car experience. With the latest facelift, Mazda engineers
made the great MX-5 engine sound even better without causing aural
discomfort for people outside the car. Notably, they increased the rigidity
of the plastic surge tank in the intake manifold. The optimized surge tank
combines with the new forged crankshaft to realize a clearer engine sound
throughout the rev range. In vehicles with the six-speed manual
transmission, the engineers also adopted a newly developed device called an
Induction Sound Enhancer (ISE). This amplifies the pulses that occur when
an accelerator input opens the throttle valve to increase air flow into the
engine, thereby delivering a more exciting sound to the cockpit. The intake
sound created by the ISE feels synchronized with the driver’s
accelerator inputs, so the driver enjoys a crisp, thrilling engine sound
even when using the accelerator pedal gently to adjust the revs for a
downshift.
Newly Evolved and Refined Transmissions
With the six-speed
manual transmission, the meshing surfaces of the 1st–4th triple-cone
synchronizers are now carbon coated, and the 3rd–4th synchronizer
diameter has been increased. These improvements enable smoother shifts up
to the engine’s heightened rev limit of 7,500 rpm.
A six-speed Activematic automatic transmission that’s newly available with the MX-5 for Europe incorporates two new control technologies. One is Direct Activematic (DAM), which allows the driver to quickly change gears using paddles on the steering wheel while still driving in the “D” range. It was developed to enable quick downshifts for three common situations: decelerating using engine braking on a downhill road; accelerating after decelerating into a corner; and overtaking another vehicle. (The driver does not need to select the “M” range before shifting down.) Since Direct Activematic enables engine braking and acceleration more quickly and easily, it makes driving easier and more fun. The other new technology is Active Adaptive Shift (AAS), by means of which the transmission control system evaluates the driving situation from factors such as the road’s gradient and twistiness and the accelerator and brake inputs. When the system recognizes enthusiastic driving, it actively promotes upshifts and downshifts to realize a linear and sporty response that matches the driver’s intentions.
Handling that Further Heightens the Jinba Ittai Feeling
The
MX-5 development team also heightened the Jinba Ittai feeling by
comprehensively refining attributes in the category that’s called
“cornering” on the fishbone chart. A key refinement was made to
the front suspension knuckles. The ball joints’ vertical pivot
position was changed to reduce the height of the front roll centre by 26
mm. This decreased fluctuations in the vertical loading on the outer wheel
during cornering manoeuvres. Consequently, roll movements caused by
steering inputs feel more natural and the car’s response to steering
inputs is more linear. In combination with newly tuned suspension
components, the revision improves the Jinba Ittai steering feel whereby the
driver can precisely trace desired lines. It also realizes a higher-quality
ride by making the yaw and roll feel more natural.
An Athletic Design that Heightens Aerodynamic Performance
To
improve handling stability, quietness, and high-speed fuel economy, the
MX-5 development team drew on Mazda’s expertise in incorporating
aerodynamic improvements into styling that’s faithful to a design
theme. The main aerodynamic improvements are as follows:
As a result of these improvements, both the soft-top version and Roadster Coupe have top class aerodynamics for their class.
Comfort and Utility
A Quieter Ride in the Roadster Coupe
Given the Roadster
Coupe’s more upscale positioning, the development team produced a
quieter ride by reducing wheel resonance and adding damping and
sound-insulating materials, such as urethane filling in the front
suspension crossmember and damping material in the front part of the roof.
Thanks to these improvements, road noise in the cockpit on a coarse road
surface with the roof closed is 2.1dB lower than before. Quietness is
further promoted in the Roadster Coupe and soft-top version by stiffer door
modules and by newly added reinforcements on the No. 2 crossmember.
New Equipment for Comfort and Convenience
Ecology and Safety
Enhanced Environmental Performance for Greater Enjoyment
Mazda regards efforts to reduce fuel economy and exhaust emissions not only
as a vital way to protect the environment but also as a way to make sports
cars more fun to drive. With the latest MX-5 facelift, Mazda engineers
addressed fuel economy by reducing the rolling resistance of the tyres,
reducing engine friction, and revising the transmission gear ratios. Lower
exhaust emissions were achieved through upgraded precious metals in the
catalytic converter. The MX-5’s improved emission performance
complies with Japan’s SU-LEV standard, the European Union’s
Stage 4 standard, and the United States’ ULEV2 standard.
To promote eco-driving, the digital display on the instrument panel can show the average fuel consumption (The display can be toggled between average fuel consumption, a double tripmeter, and the outside air temperature.)
Rigorous Attention to Safety
Improved active safety on the
European MX-5 is realized by expanded availability of a tyre pressure
monitoring system and by more models featuring Dynamic Stability Control as
standard equipment.
The MX-5 facelift will be introduced on the European market in early spring 2009.