Thirty years of smiles per hour
It’s not practical. It’s not luxurious. It’s not even all that fast. If you’re tall, you’re in for some trouble. You probably wouldn’t be able to use it in winter. And on a rainy day, you’re missing out on half the fun. But none of that really matters, because at the end of the day, every time you get inside, you’re likely going to be smiling from ear to ear. Even if you’re stuck in traffic. Even if it’s 9 degrees Celsius. That’s because no other car on the market has been consistently delivering more smiles per hour for three decades than the Mazda MX-5. It’s the world’s best-selling sports car for a good reason. No matter how experienced, aggressive, tame or casual of a driver you are, it’s virtually guaranteed you’re in for a good time.
To celebrate 30 years, Mazda commissioned a limited run of these special 30th Anniversary Editions. Limited to 3000 units worldwide, the 30th Anniversary model is finished in what Mazda calls Racing Orange. It’s a peculiar choice for such a nostalgia-laden edition, since the original MX-5 was never actually offered to buyers in orange. Mazda say it instead pays homage to the yellow MX-5 Miata Club Racer that debuted at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show and should be treated as an evolution of the colour. It is also worth noting the Miata M Speedster concept was finished in Orange, but it looks a little more metallic than the 30th Anniversary finish. Peep them both in the image below. Racing Orange, according to Mazda, also represents sunrise and anticipation.
Courtesy: Mazda
The Racing Orange motif extends beyond the exterior. In the cabin, you’ll find matching orange door trim, orange stitching and orange piping, among other coloured accents in the interior. For drivers of our stature, the interior is perfectly proportioned. It is a tad snug, but for me, it’s perfect. Everything is easy to reach and for the most part, well laid out. The cupholder placement isn’t ideal, but we’re sure there’s enough snarky purists who would be damned before they bring a beverage into their sports car. Luckily you can relocate one of the cupholders to the passenger footwell.
While the MX-5 was never known for being a sheer performance vehicle, Mazda upped the power on the latest model year from 155 to 181 horsepower. It’s modest increase, but in a car this small and light, it makes quite a difference. Redline also increases from 6,800 to 7,500 RPM. The 30th Anniversary MX-5 comes with adequate stopping power to temper the increase in engagement. You’ll find orange Brembo calipers on the front and orange Nissin units on the rear. Both do an excellent job at tempering the speed and keeping you in check. And the exclusive 17-inch RAYS alloys do a wonderful job of showing off those bright orange stoppers.
Even though it’s been in production 30 years, the idea for the MX-5 actually came about in the 70s when auto writer Bob Hall lamented the death of the classic British roadster to Mazda’s then heads of R&D. In 1981, the wheels were set in motion to create what would become the MX-5. Since its inception, Mazda has followed the same design philosophy of ‘Jinba Itta’ – loosely translated as ‘horse’ and ‘rider.’ I’ve never ridden a horse before, but if it’s anything like this, I can see why so many Tinder women have horse pics on their profiles. Oh god I’m so lonely.
The remarkable thing about the MX-5 is how true its stayed to its original design ethos. Each generation is familiar and accessible no matter what your enthusiasm for diving may be. Clear improvements are made with each new iteration, but they all still retain that fun, easy going spirit that the car was made to embody. The price of the MX-5 has been going up as the years go by. It can still be affordable if luxuries aren’t a necessity for you. But at the same time, cars like the MX-5 are a niche market. There aren’t many small 2-seat roadsters on the market. Let alone in the MX-5’s price point. It’s almost in a world of its own. But we’re glad it’s in our world too. Here’s to 30 years, MX-5. May there be many more to come.
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