20 years of Mazda Miata (Chicago Auto Show 2009)

1990 Mazda Miata

Shown for the first time at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show, the Miata redefined and reestablished the “British” roadster as a player in the sports car market. Because of its attractive starting price ($13,880), demand for the new sports car quickly outstripped supply. With just 116 horses under the hood, the Miata was not particularly fast, but with a double wishbone suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and rear wheel drive, it provided drivers with a balanced chassis and excellent handling; i.e., it was a hoot to drive. The manual soft-top was also quite innovative, with operation easily handled with one hand.

1989 Mazda Miata Club Sport

Alongside the original Miata at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show was a custom version created by Mazda’s California-based design studio. While the Miata had yet to earn the reputation as one of the most raced street cars, the Miata Club Sport showed what a race-ready Miata could look like. Front and rear fenders were widened by two inches with a section of the front fascia lowered for a more aggressive look. The popup headlights were replaced by bulbs under plexiglass for a more aerodynamic design. Larger 8-spoke wheels, competition exhaust, a hard tonneau cover and wide rear wing completed the look.

1995 Mazda Miata M Speedster

Midway through the first generation’s lifetime Mazda unveiled a high-performance Miata concept at the 1994 Monterey Historic Races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. With styling to match its name, the Miata M Speedster sits lower with a wide front fascia, rear wing, large fog lights, custom wheels and a low-cut windshield. Sculpted headrests, leather-covered racing seats with contrasting stitching, 4-point harness belts and storage for two helmets complete the look. Mazda made this the real deal with upgraded brakes, modified suspension and a supercharged engine pumping out more than 200 horsepower.

1996 Mazda Miata M Coupe

Perhaps a glimpse into the future, Mazda pulled the wraps off the Miata M Coupe at the 1996 New York Auto Show. Another creation from Mazda’s California design studio, the coupe featured a double-bubble top which was integrated into the rear end like the one on the Mazda RX-7. While it had the shape of a hatchback with a long rear window, the M Coupe had a typical hinged trunk with additional storage in the form of a shelf behind the rear seat. It would be another 10 years before Mazda offered the MX-5 with a coupe body style, when the retractable hardtop was added.

1999 Mazda Miata Mono Posto

Appropriately revealed at the 1999 SEMA Show, the Miata Mono Posto – which translates to “one seat” – was a completely custom-made creation with the exception of the stock headlights and taillights. The Red Pearl Mica roadster sported half doors, hood-mounted air intake, a tiny windscreen, integrated aluminum roll bar, 18-inch wheels and center-mounted rear exhaust. To match the outrageous looks, the Mono Post boasts an HKS turbocharger and intercooler, boosting power to 190 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque. 

2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT

Mazda introduced the third-generation MX-5 in late 2005 as a 2006 model. Practically everything was changed on the car, which featured bold fender flares, a power bulge in the hood, larger headlights and wide grille opening. It weighed more than past Miatas, but it retained that balanced feel and had additional power to overcome the added heft. The following year Mazda added a power hardtop to the roadster, adding only 77 pounds in the process and without losing any trunk space.

2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Two decades after the first Miata took the stage in Chicago, Mazda introduced a refreshed version of the third-generation roadster. Most notably, the 2009 MX-5 gets exterior changes that Mazda says make it more dynamic and lowers the coefficient of drag. The front bumper and fascia are more aggressive looking, and the grille has a new 5-point shape inspired by the RX-8. Headlights are reshaped and now have integrated white turn signals. Side sills and the rear bumper are also new, and the taillights and rearview mirrors recall the elliptical shape of the first-generation MX-5. Power is up slightly as is fuel economy. So after 20 years, the popular Miata is built on the same ideal as the original.