MIATA REDUX— A SPIRITUAL KINSHIP

I WAS delighted to sample the Mazda Miata’s fourth generation as part of a Ride-and-Drive at the Orange County, California, International Auto Show, just up the road at the Anaheim Convention Center.

The show runs October 15 – 18, 2015, and offers some fine tire-kicking. This includes opportunities for Ride-and-Drives of more than 100 new vehicles from Acura, Chevrolet, Fiat-Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Kia, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkwagen.

Given my continuing love affair with the family Miata #00348 and drives of its subsequent iterations, this brief Ride-and-Drive put the new Miata in perspective. In a few words, it’s a car of the 21st century yet has spiritual kinship with the original.

This 2016 Miata is similar to the one I drove at the Orange County International Auto Show; its 1990 Mariner Blue sibling is a match to #00348. Image from fiorisima.com.

The 2016 Miata feels larger than earlier Miatas, but actually its dimensions have been a mixed bag of small changes since the car’s 1990 introduction. Compared with my Miata, the new one’s wheelbase is 1.7 in. larger (90.9 vs 89.2 in., respectively); its overall length is 0.3 in. less (154.1 versus 154.4 in.); its height is 0.4 in. greater (48.6 versus 48.2 in.) and its width is 2.4 in. greater (68.3 versus 65.9 in., respectively).

It takes a real Miata buff to fill in the ups and downs of the two intermediate generations. However, the new one’s evolution of image is one of increased muscularity. The original Miata has been likened to the 1962 Lotus Elan, mistakenly to my eye. In fact, the English roadster is decidedly smaller and rather slab-sided compared with any Miata. In turn, the new Miata is more shapely, more aggressive than the previous three versions.

Noteworthy features: an infotainment/navigational display, backflow windscreen, hard-surface convertible top cover—and increased elbow room vis-à-vis earlier Miatas.

The extra width is well employed in providing more elbow room. Another improvement is in headroom, both when seated and getting in or out with the top up (but why ever put it up?).

A key dimension for taller or long-torso types. The new Miata passes my test in this regard.

Over the years, Mazda designers have incorporated more storage space. The center console cubby is still there, but so is a fair-size storage between the seats and an individual pocket behind each one.

Storage galore. The flip-panel above the center cubby releases the convertible top from its storage. Pockets behind the seats could hold small cameras or the like.

U.S. Miatas get Mazda’s 2.0-liter 155-hp double-overhead-cam 16-valve inline-four, mated to either a Miata-slick six-speed manual or an automatic with computerized slap-shifting for the inept. Alas, Mazda’s Ride-and-Drive cars were all automatics. I suspect there’d be too many burned-out clutches otherwise.

Like other Mazdas, the Miata is rich in the company’s SkyActiv Technology. SkyActiv was named because engineers were apparently told “the sky’s the limit.” The technology stresses high fuel economy, low emissions and rorty performance. (“Rorty” is my own description of Mazda’s satisfaction to enthusiasts.)

Mazda’s SkyActiv Technology shines in the Miata’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder powerplant.

Noteworthy in its engine optimization are direct fuel injection, a 4-2-1 exhaust system and, unique among gasoline engines running Regular-grade fuel, a highly efficient 13:1 compression ratio.

The 2016 Miata comes in three levels, Sport ($24,915), Club ($28,600) and Grand Touring ($30,065). The Mazda website describes full details. My brief drive was of a Grand Touring model with all its bells and whistles.

The new Miata’s extra 42 hp (155 versus my car’s 113) is evident, even with the Ride-and-Drive automatic. And, despite all its 21st-century infotainment, comfort, safety, etc., etc., SkyActiv body and chassis refinements keep the weight increase down to a mere 5 percent (a 2016 gross weight of 2745 lb. versus the 1990’s 2623).

Would that I could have experienced the same over this time period. ds

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2015