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Facelifted Mazda MX-5 makes Japanese debut

 
13 33,192 views Dec 9, 2008

2010 mazda mx5 facelift 018

New range will go on sale in Europe by Spring 2009 with North American sales to follow shortly after

New range will go on sale in Europe by Spring 2009 with North American sales to follow shortly after

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Following a number of leaks of images and details, Mazda finally released official information for its facelifted MX-5 (Miata) range in October, when the car made its world debut at the Paris Motor Show. For the facelift, both the exterior and interior has been given a revamp, as has the car’s engine lineup, which now has a 500rpm higher rev limit. Today Mazda released the car, known in its home market as the Roadster, for sale in Japan, the first market to get the updated car.

The 2010 model lineup can be distinguished by a new front-end design, revised side sills, and a new rear bumper. The character hump in the hood remains, as does the fender flares that give the barest of nods to the RX8’s design. A tweaked mesh grille is also more reminiscent of the Mazdaspeed3 (MPS) than previous designs, as is the new lower intake. Inside, the car's design is very much like the current model's with only minor stylistic updates such as the dark silver trim, new instrument panel, and new Recaro seats on select models.

The car is also available with newly designed 16in and 17in aluminum wheels. The 16in wheels have five sets of twin spokes, while the 17in wheels have 10 twisted spokes. New exterior color options include Aluminum, Metropolitan Grey and Sunflower Yellow.

Changes to the car’s powerplant range include the introduction of a forged crankshaft, fully floating pistons and newly designed valve springs. The rev limit for the 2.0L manual model now registers at 7,500rpm, with peak output of 160hp (118kW) 188Nm coming at 7,000rpm. The six-speed manual gearbox has also been upgraded with new carbon-coated synchronizer for improved shift-feel.

A lower front roll center and retuned suspension make the car’s response to steering inputs more linear and enable the driver to precisely trace desired lines. A key refinement was made to the front suspension knuckles. The ball joints’ vertical pivot position was changed to reduce the height of the front roll center by 26mm. This decreased fluctuations in the vertical loading on the outer wheel during cornering maneuvres.

The new range will go on sale in Europe in the first half of next year and is expected to arrive in North America shortly after for the 2010 model year.
2010 Mazda MX-5 facelift

HI-RES GALLERY: 2010 mazda mx5 facelift 018




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Comments (13)

  1. By 94 Taurus owner Posted: 9/3/2008 4:31pm PDT

    I like the current and the new model unfortunately I'm over 6 feet tall so unless I order a mutated streched Miata I'll just stare and gawk at it,Or I'll just buy one and leave it in the garage and just look at it.
     
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  2. By NoNameDenton Posted: 9/3/2008 4:37pm PDT

    I dunno Taurus owner, when I sold Mazdas I sold an MX-5 to a 6 ft tall guy and he said it was fine, but all people are different. My only issue is I wish the MX-5 would get a GDI and turbo engine.
     
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  3. By Jim Posted: 9/4/2008 9:08am PDT

    Sort of has a slack-jawed catfish kind of look about it. Likely to look dated at the end of the production run.
     
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  4. ma_gus avatar Gus Chyba Posted: 10/10/2008 4:05pm PDT

    Still such a girlie car. A great car, but only one step less feminine than a Beetle...
    Why don't they make an S2000 competitor instead?
     
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  5. ma_iluvamericancarz avatar iluvamericancarz Posted: 12/9/2008 1:12pm PST

    its sleek and sexy. awesome little car. id buy it.
     
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  6. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 12/9/2008 2:34pm PST

    Maybe because the MX-5 handles better then the S200, and costs less Gus.
     
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  7. ma_Ken avatar Ken Posted: 12/9/2008 3:11pm PST

    The MX-5 handles better than an S2000?! By what measure? Because the Miata has less overall grip or more body roll? Ha! That gave me quite a laugh.

    I have nothing against the MX-5; it's a neat little car and it spawned the modern era of lightweight convertibles. But I'd be happy to demonstrate how much better my S2000 handles anytime, on any road. Of course, it'd be somewhat difficult to slow down enough to do so. It would require great restraint to drive an S2000 hard without hitting VTEC and accidentally leaving the Miata far behind...

    I do wish they'd stick the Mazdaspeed 3's turbo motor in the MX-5, though. With commensurate chassis upgrades, that'd be a great ride and a very strong value too.
     
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  8. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 12/9/2008 5:31pm PST

    Ken are you high, people who work in the car industry says the MX-5 is one of the best handling cars in the world, The S2000 is too firm
     
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  9. ma_mburleigh8 avatar mburleigh8 Posted: 12/9/2008 6:17pm PST

    Still looks like a week girly car.
     
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  10. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 12/10/2008 8:44pm PST

    Yeah and the BMW Z4 is so manly and th Pontiac Solstice.
     
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  11. ma_azlan avatar azlan Posted: 12/11/2008 4:07am PST

    yea i dont car if this car drives amazing waay too girly its annoying.... i just wouldnt buy a small convertible anyway
     
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  12. ma_rptureman avatar rptureman Posted: 7/16/2009 6:02pm PDT

    I don't understand why people complain about interior size. I am 6"2", at 250 lbs, and 62 years of age. I have a 1990 with 170,000 miles on it and I absolutely love the car. The perfect Miata would be mine with an S2000 motor in it. This would keep the essence of the car, but give it the power it deserves. Any rich folks out there, I am accepting donations for an engine swap! As for a girls car, I know that they love it. I get comments all the time, but who cares what you think about the car, as long as I am having a blast driving it all over the place, that's what counts in my book.
     
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  13. By Brian Posted: 12/10/2010 8:58pm PST

    Ok, I've owned a 2006 s2000 and currently own a 2010 MX-5 Miata... it is not even a comparison. The s2000 is definitely a MUCH better handling car and also faster in every respect than the Miata. But, the. Miata is much more comfortable and has a lot more choices for modifying than the s2000. Although the s2000 does have an extensive array of available mods available to it. It is also cheaper to modify the Miata. I would have to say that the s2000 is a far better performance car while the MX-5 is more comfortable and A LOT quieter inside. So, modify the suspension chases and brakes of the MX-5 and then do a motor swap or major internal work with the possibility of a positive displacement power adder and it would be better than Tue MX-5. If they still sold new s2000's, I probably would have bought one instead. Because I absolutely loved the handling of that car! BTW, both cars are in reality pretty slow cars, quick at best. So, either car would definitely need modest work in the power department. The MX-5 obviously needing even more than the s2000. I will finish this by saying that regardless of either cars deficiencies; I love driving both cars. So, no matter what decision you make, you can rest assured you are choosing a really nice/fun car!
     
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