Latest news with #MX-5
The Drive
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Mazda Exec Says Sports Cars Still ‘Critical,' and Not Just Miata
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is just a few hours old, and if the previous generation is any indication, this redesigned model will sell like hotcakes for years to come. While that's good news for the Japanese automaker's balance sheet, what enthusiasts really want to know is what the future holds for Mazda sports cars. In conversation with Stefan Meisterfeld, VP of Strategic Planning for North America, The Drive learned that Mazda still considers sporty, fun-to-drive cars 'critical' to its business—and from the sounds of it, there may be room in the lineup for a sports car other than the venerable MX-5 Miata. 'We want to serve different customers with different solutions, with different wallets and functional needs, and emotional needs,' Meisterfeld told The Drive . 'So the MX-5 and then sports cars in general will remain a critical component of this. 'The Miata is very near and dear to all of us. Our engineers will never give up on this heritage, and clearly, this is very important. We will continue to offer the Miata, and we will continue to look into new interpretations. The sports car heritage that we have as a brand is very, very important for us,' added Meisterfeld. Blue Fish Productions for Mazda While Meisterfeld isn't exactly hinting, let alone promising a new sports car, it's worth highlighting that he precisely referenced 'MX-5 and then sports cars in general' as two different buckets, per se. Like most brands out there, Mazda has to think hard about where to invest its capital, and creating new or refreshing existing crossovers and SUVs will always be the safest bet. The current CX-30, CX-50, CX-70, and CX-90 are big players in the most important (and competitive) passenger vehicle segments. However, the sedan and hatchback versions of the 3 don't quite replace the void left by the old RX-8 and Mazdaspeed variants. 'The business is mostly around the crossovers, but all of these crossovers also have some elements of our core driving DNA that is basically embodied by the MX-5,' said Meisterfeld. At the end of the day, Meisterfeld isn't wrong about the brand's SUVs possessing that Mazda driving DNA that makes them some of the most entertaining to drive, but if sports cars are truly critical to Mazda, then hopefully we'll have news on that front soon. Got a tip? Email us at tips@
Hamilton Spectator
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Iconic roadster delivers plenty of smiles per hour
As I approach the Hamlet of Belfountain by heading north on Mississauga Road, I pull over to retract the MX-5's soft top before I embark on one of my favourite Ontario driving routes: Forks of the Credit Scenic Road. As I cruise the road's curves, the warm summer breeze sifts through my hair, the sunlight fills the cosy cabin and the tunes reverberate from the speakers into the open air around me. Now, this is what driving should be about! I step on the clutch firmly, I pull straight down from third to fourth gear, and release the clutch, then settle in for an enjoyable, exciting drive in Mazda's smallest and most exhilarating machine. Happy 35th birthday, Mazda MX-5 Miata! From its origins as a cute, 'smiling' car with pop-up headlights to it's current sleek, stylish design, its original goal of being a driver's car still holds true. In my career, I've been fortunate to test drive one every year since 2013 and as long as my body can, regardless of grace, slide itself in and out of this low-slung vehicle, I'll keep the tradition alive. This 35th anniversary trim sits both atop the soft top lineup and also atop a stunning and exclusive-to-this-trim Artisan Red Metallic paint job paired with a beige roof and tan interior. Only 230 are slotted for Canada and they only come with a six-speed manual gearbox. More power to the manuals! With limited production runs, serialized badging usually appears inside. Here, Mazda's put this in front of the driver's side rear wheel. Inside, the headrests sport an embossed '35 Anniversary' logo. With no mechanical changes for 2025, the MX-5 is still a delight to drive overall. It's quick, agile, athletic and performs well at both low and high speeds. By modern metrics, the power is 'low,' but considering it's small footprint and lightness, the naturally aspirated engine suits the MX-5 exceptionally well. The do-it-yourself gear changes are smooth and precise, giving the driver a truly engaging driving experience that's fun, fast and fabulous. With a starting price at the mid-$30,000 point, this is one of the few affordable convertible sports cars remaining that features such engaging and exciting driving dynamics. Whether it's a straightaway, gradual twists or tight turns, the MX-5 performs well. Yes, you'll still feel plenty of road imperfections, there's a slightly intrusive rumbling when idling and the cabin can get a bit loud at higher speeds. These things are easily accepted in exchange for the driving joy this convertible roadster offers. Most new vehicles employ a large digital presence for the instrument cluster. Not here. The large tachometer (middle) and speedometer (right) are analog dials and the temperature and fuel gauge, along with a few other items, use a digital layout. The blending of old and new school continues with: large dials for the climate controls; a sensibly sized, 8.8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; a long list of standard safety system, highlighted by blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assistance and adaptive cruise control. The soft top is so easy to operate it can be opened and closed with one hand. Both seats are adjusted manually and three of the four trims feature heated seats. Trunk space is minimal, but you can squeeze in two soft-sided bags for a weekend getaway and … one lucky person. All of this is to say that, if your lifestyle allows for a two-seater, the MX-5 can certainly be a well-balanced year-round vehicle, not just a car for summer fun. As one of the last manual vehicles available, the current generation is in year 10 and there'll likely be a new generation in the next few years. This mini Mazda is still fun to drive, affordable, attainable and has earned the title of biggest-selling roadster of all time, rightfully so. The Subaru BRZ, Toyota GR 86 and Ford Mustang have similar offerings and are impressive in their own right but there truly is nothing like the Mazda MX-5, especially with a manual transmission. Here's to another 35 years of driving enjoyment from absolutely amazing to 'Zoom Zoom,' complete with the top down and changing your own gears! Type: Two-door, front-engine, rear-wheel drive Engine: Two-litre, four-cylinder; 181 horsepower, 151 pounds-feet of torque (motive force) Transmission: Six-speed manual Fuel: Nine litres/100 km in the city; seven l/100 km on the highway; 8.1 l/100 km combined Cargo: 130 litres Price: $35,450
Toronto Star
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Toronto Star
Iconic roadster delivers plenty of smiles per hour
As I approach the Hamlet of Belfountain by heading north on Mississauga Road, I pull over to retract the MX-5's soft top before I embark on one of my favourite Ontario driving routes: Forks of the Credit Scenic Road. As I cruise the road's curves, the warm summer breeze sifts through my hair, the sunlight fills the cosy cabin and the tunes reverberate from the speakers into the open air around me. Now, this is what driving should be about! I step on the clutch firmly, I pull straight down from third to fourth gear, and release the clutch, then settle in for an enjoyable, exciting drive in Mazda's smallest and most exhilarating machine.
Cision Canada
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Cision Canada
MAZDA CANADA REPORTS SALES FOR JUNE 2025
RICHMOND HILL, ON, Jul. 2, 2025 /CNW/ - Mazda Canada Inc. (MCI) today reported June sales of 6,951 vehicles, representing an increase of 6.4 percent versus June 2024. Sales for the first half of 2025 are 39,781, which is an increase of 20.5 percent compared to the same period in 2024. JUNE AND Q2 2025 HIGHLIGHTS: CX-70 and CX-90 both set new benchmarks for June sales, and were up 27.3 percent and 51.6 percent, respectively. In Q2, sales of CX-70 and CX-90 rose by 105.7 percent and 34.2 percent compared to 2024. CX-30 sales for the quarter were up by 16.6 percent compared to Q2 2024. Mazda3 had a good showing in June and Q2, finishing the month up 63.5 percent versus June 2024, and gained on the quarter, up 23.0 percent vs Q2 2024. MX-5 sales in June came through with a 100.8 percent YOY gain, besting June sales for the past 33 years. Mazda's full-line sales in Q2 were up 19.9 percent and are the best combined Q2 results in the last 15 years. Mazda Canada Inc. is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer service and parts support of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Mazda Canada has a nationwide network of 163 dealerships. For additional information, visit Mazda Canada's media website at
Auto Blog
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
A Decade Of Driving Joy: How Mazda Perfected The ND Miata
View post: I Drove the 2025 Mazda CX90 & 2025 Ford Explorer, Which One is Best? Here's My Brutally Honest Review View post: Walmart is selling a 'handy' $66 171-piece tool kit for just $30, and it has 'pretty much everything you need' Like other Miatas before it, the ND is aging like fine wine It's been exactly a decade since the ND generation of the Mazda MX-5 Miata first landed on American soil, as confirmed by Mazda in a new post on social media. Not many cars have been in production for a full decade and remained as timeless and competitive as the ND, which is still a stellar sports car. The next-gen MX-5 is still a few years away, and we have no doubt Mazda will keep refining the ND to stay fresh until then. By model year, here's a look back at how the Japanese marque has maintained interest in the ND over the last decade by improving its performance, safety, and technologies. Oops! We're unable to load this content right now. View directly on Facebook 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata The ND arrived for the 2016 model year originally, replacing the NC. Mazda incorporated more angular, edgy styling when compared to the rounded NC, and the previous hardtop roof was replaced by a lighter fabric one for the ND. When launched, Mazda pointed out the fact that the ND was around 148 pounds lighter than the NC, and the height dropped by almost half an inch. Shorter overhangs and a shorter wheelbase all ensured it was even more of a compact, lightweight driver's car, despite interior space increasing. The new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produced 155 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque, and was paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. Essentially, Mazda immediately addressed criticisms that the NC became too large and heavy, slimming down the ND in all the right ways. 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata Source: 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF The one major change for this model year was the introduction of the new Miata RF with its folding hardtop. At the press of a button, the roof could be lowered in only 13 seconds, and it also has a more distinctive profile than the normal Miata. This year, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert also became standard on the Club derivative. 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Source: Mazda Once again, Mazda added more equipment to the Club trim of the MX-5. It received a new Brembo/BBS Recaro Package which, when optioned, added heated Recaro seats with heating, BBS wheels, and more powerful Brembo brakes. A seven-inch infotainment interface made its way into the base Sport, and all models received advanced keyless entry. 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata This was quite a significant model year for the ND as the 2.0L engine received a healthy boost in power, from 155 hp to 181 hp, becoming the most powerful MX-5 ever. Additionally, the redline was raised to 7,500 rpm, allowing drivers to push the tiny sports car even harder. Torque went up to 151 lb-ft, a smaller improvement from the 148 previously. A standard rearview camera and a telescoping steering column were added, while new GT-S and 30th Anniversary packages became available for Grand Touring variants. The former included a sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shocks. 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata Source: Mazda While still a no-frills sports car, Mazda continued updating the tech and safety suite for the Miata ND to keep up with modern trends. For the Club and Sport, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard equipment. All models now got the i-Activesense safety suite, which includes forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. For Grand Touring variants, the sport suspension and limited-slip rear differential were added, features previously reserved for the Club. Other smaller updates included a new keyfob and new colors, inside and out. 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata Source: Mazda Not much changed for this model year, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto did become standard. A new white Nappa leather upholstery option became available, adding a touch of class to the roadster. 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Source: Mazda For this model year, the six-speed automatic was restricted to the Grand Touring variant, not that this would bother most MX-5 buyers. And, as if it wasn't already great to drive, Mazda added a new Kinematic Posture Control system to improve handling; this setup gently adds braking to the inner rear wheel when cornering. After last year's striking white Nappa leather, this year introduced the option of Terracotta Nappa leather, but only on Grand Touring models. 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata Source: Mazda Zircon Sand was added as a new exterior color choice for the Miata. Other than this, 2023 models are identical to those from 2022. 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Source: Mazda For this model year, the ND underwent a mild facelift, with minor changes to the exterior lights and grille, along with new wheels. Inside, a larger 8.8-inch display replaced the smaller seven-inch unit used previously. A limited-slip differential was included for all manual models, and Mazda implemented further refinements to the suspension and steering. 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata This is the current MX-5 Miata model year. No major changes were announced, besides the launch of a 35th Anniversary Edition of the sports car. These are all to be finished in Artisan Red Metallic over tan Nappa leather. They are also based on the well-specified Grand Touring trim. There's Still A Lot Of Life Left In The ND Source: Mazda Mazda has done a brilliant job of keeping the ND fresh, so much so that it doesn't feel like we're in dire need of an all-new MX-5, even ten years later. Compared with the original ND that arrived in 2015, the current one is more powerful, handles better, and includes far more safety and tech features than before. Crucially, the satisfying manual gearbox is still a key part of the Miata experience. Whenever it arrives, the next MX-5 has a tough job on its hands replacing the ND, which has remained faithful to the nameplate's lightweight philosophy. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
