Friday, September 5, 2014

Mazda unveils 2016 MX-5 Miata roadster

By Brendan McAleer

MONTEREY, Calif. – On one hand, an ambling seaside stroll along Cannery Row. On the other, dropping blind through the four-storey Corkscrew before realizing that the tricky corner actually comes right after the more-famous one.

There’s one car that’ll do both with ease, not to mention making the winding country route between the two a joyous experience. Clip the apex or slow your roll, it doesn’t matter: the answer is always Miata.

Er, that is, the answer is always MX-5. For a full quarter century people have had to endure enthusiasts waxing poetic about this modestly-powered, deceptively simply little car. The thing is, it really is that good. It’s inexpensive, they seem to last forever, the insurance and fuel to keep it going aren’t particularly expensive, and it might just be the most fun you can have on four wheels. Other cars are faster, more capable, grippier. Better? Perhaps not.

Now, here comes the new one. The fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 will be revealed this evening at a ceremony featuring owners and enthusiasts who have travelled from all corners. Sister ceremonies will be happening across the globe in Barcelona, and Toyko. Duran Duran will even be here in California, for some reason.

You can see the new MX-5 bow on Mazda’s YouTube channel at a live-streaming event (above) and follow @Drivingdotca along as we tweet live from the reveal with more details and impressions immediately after the press conference.

Then, tomorrow, we’ll have a special piece celebrating the past twenty-five years of Miata/MX-5, including driving with the Skip Barber school at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and piloting some of Mazda’s heritage Miatas, including two of the cars that were on stage at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show debut.

Even if there isn’t room in your garage for an MX-5 quite yet, this car is the spearpoint for Mazda’s engineering philosophy, and a roadmap for the future. This new one has really big shoes to fill; we can’t wait to fling it through the Corkscrew before too long, and see what’s what.

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