1989-2014
The Mazda MX-5 celebrates 25 years of Mazda MX-5. It celebrates 25 years since its launch back in 1989 and still makes the best-selling two-seat roadster of all time, with nearly one million units.
Is the success of Mazda, the best-selling roadster in history and one of the legendary cars of the automobile? The MX- 5 meets these days 25 years of its launch, which took place in February 1989 under the Chicago Auto Show (the 2014 edition is taking place these days).
25 years of the Mazda MX-5
1989-2014
Today, after three generations and nearly one million units sold, the MX-5 remains on the market without losing the philosophy that American-inspired roadster launched 25 years ago. And in the future, the fourth generation model, scheduled for 2015, will write an exciting new chapter in its history as it will be a set of Mazda and Alfa Romeo development.
The first generation came to market with a gasoline engine 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 115 horsepower and a weight of just 955 kilograms. Despite the favourable power / weight ratio, a 1993 animated version with better performance for 1.8 engines with 133 horses were introduced.
The second generation hit the market in 1998 with the same philosophy of modest performance engines, a 1.6 and 1.8 with 110 hp 140. The third batch was introduced in late 2005 with displacements of 1.8 and 2.0 with 126 and 160 horsepower respectively.
In 2006, the range was extended with the Roadster Coupé variant incorporating for the first time an electric retractable hardtop that only took 12 seconds to fold without reducing luggage capacity. In 2009 came the restyling of the third generation with both exterior and interior changes, and improve the efficiency of their engines.
In 2000, the Mazda MX-5 won one of his first major commercial milestones when entering the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling two-seater sports of all time with 531,890 units. And another magic number currently stands: the million deliveries.
