Road TestCar reviews - Mazda - MX-5 - Roadster 1.5LMazda modelsOverviewMazda goes back to the future with the instantly loveable ND MX-59 Dec 2015 By TIM ROBSON THE original MX-5, released in 1989, was a revelation – and a big risk for a small Japanese car company. Back then, power equalled performance...and a 60kw four-cylinder two-seater soft-top did not fit the bill. Its inspiration came from the era of classic British two-seat sportsters cars like the Lotus Elan and the MG Roadster, and it followed a similar ethos – minimal weight, rear-wheel-drive and nothing in the way of luxury to blunt the meagre output. Over the ensuing 27 years and three generations, though, the MX-5 grew up...and not in a good way. It gained weight, both through safety and through customer expectations, and while it never strayed from its rear-drive four-cylinder two-seater genus, the steel-roofed NC had become...not so much a shadow of its former self, but quite the opposite. Again, Mazda took a punt on a lightweight, two-seat, rear drive sports car, despite many obstacles, including a downturn in its home economy, the GFC and a shelving of the plan. But program manager Nobuhiro Yamamoto stayed true to the course and brought the ND MX-5 back to the future. Click here for the full review... GalleryClick to see larger images Model release date: 1 August 2015 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen |
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