Mazda Celebrates 25 Years of the MX-5 Miata

25 years ago this past February, the Mazda MX-5 Miata made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show. In just a few short months, it was already gaining recognition from drivers and industry experts, being named one of Road & Track‘s five “World’s Best Cars.” Since then, the Mazda MX-5 Miata has hit a variety of milestones and has earned a wide range of awards, such as making the list of Car and Driver‘s “10 Best” vehicles list a whopping 14 times. Let’s take a closer look at how the MX-5 Miata has grown into the wild success that it is today, both here in Elgin and around the country.

History of the Mazda MX-5 Miata

The sporty two-seater was officially launched in May of 1989. The first generation of the model was equipped with a 1.6L four-cylinder engine that produced 116 hp and 100 lb-ft of torque. With its powerful engine and lightweight 2,116-pound frame, the MX-5 Miata could go from zero to 60 mph in under nine seconds.

In 1998, the second generation of the Mazda MX-5 Miata was introduced as a 1999 model. This vehicle had an upgraded 1.8L four-cylinder engine that boosted horsepower and torque figures to 140 hp and 119 lb-ft of torque. In addition to this enhanced engine, the MX-5 Miata also underwent design changes such as swapping out the iconic pop-up headlights for a faired-in alternative.

To celebrate this vehicle’s 10th anniversary, there was also a special edition model released in 1999. Some of the highlights of this limited-edition Mazda MX-5 Miata included:

• A new six-speed manual transmission
• Sport-tuned suspension plus Blinstein shock absorbers
• Torsen limited-slip differential
• Available special edition Sapphire Blue Mica paint plus blue soft top

The third generation of the Mazda MX-5 Miata was introduced in 2005. It was outfitted with the new 16-valve, 2.0L MZR four-cylinder engine that delivered 170 hp in addition to 140 lb-ft of torque when mated with the six-speed manual transmission. With the six-speed automatic transmission, the vehicle offered 166 hp.

Experience the MX-5 Miata at Biggers Mazda

If you are looking for a sporty, performance-inspired vehicle with an affordable price tag, be sure to consider the 2014 Mazda MX-5 Miata. You can take this stunning roadster for a spin right here at Biggers Mazda in Elgin. Head on over to the dealership today to set up your test drive!