2009 Mazda MX-5 Debuts

Twenty years ago, Mazda brought back the classic English sports car. The Japanese automaker called the cheeky little roadster the MX-5 Miata, and its precise handling and unmatched road feel made it an instant sensation. Nearly 900,000 sales later, the 2-seater, which is now referred to only as the MX-5, is still going strong and is as fun to drive as ever. At the 2009 Chicago Auto Show, Mazda unveiled a freshened 2009 Mazda MX-5 with a more aggressive look, sportier handling, slightly more power and fuel economy, and a revised interior.

 

Most notably, the 2009 Mazda MX-5 gets exterior changes that Mazda says make it more dynamic and lower the coefficient of drag. The front bumper and fascia are more aggressive, and the grille has a new 5-point shape inspired by the RX-8 sports car. The headlights are reshaped and now have integrated white turn signals. The front fog-light bezels are triangular instead of round, and are much more prominent. The side sills and rear bumper are also new, and the taillights and rearview mirrors recall the elliptical shape of the first-generation MX-5. The ragtop and power-retractable hardtop are unchanged, but the cloth top is now offered in beige.

 

Mazda says it made interior changes that focus on areas that the driver touches. The seat shape has been sculpted for better lower-body comfort, and the cupholders in the doors, which in the past had pressed against the occupants’ legs, have been incorporated into the armrests and moved forward to remedy that problem. The door armrests and center console are now padded to make them more comfortable. Additionally, Mazda says the meter graphics have been revised for better readability and the trip meter has a new LCD display backlit in red. New interior colors consist of Dune Beige Leather and Havana Brown Leather.

 

Under the hood, the changes are minor. Thanks to a new forged steel crankshaft, forged steel connecting rods, revised pistons, stiffer valve springs and an engine cooler, horsepower is up one to 167 at 7000 rpm (versus 166 at 6700 rpm) and redline increases by 500 to 7200 rpm in cars equipped with either the 5- or 6-speed manual transmission. Models with the 6-speed manual also get an Induction Sound Enhancer to deliver engine sound just in front of the windshield, so drivers hear a sporty engine note that isn’t too loud. Mazda also says the 6-speed manual has been revised to give it a quicker, lighter and more direct shift feel. Engine and aerodynamic tweaks improve highway fuel economy by one mpg with the 5-speed manual, and city and highway mileage by one mpg with the automatic.

 

The MX-5 has always been a great-handling car, and Mazda has made a few tweaks to make it even better for 2009. The front roll center has been lowered about one inch, the damping on the base and sport suspensions has been retuned, and the traction control and electronic stability control systems have been tuned to be less intrusive. Mazda says these changes make the car react more precisely to driver inputs and provide more linear response.

 

SV, Sport, Touring and Grand Touring models return. New standard features include an auxiliary audio input jack and a CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability. Touring models add an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a universal garage-door opener, a premium finish on the instrument panel and a trip computer. The Grand Touring model adds automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped hand brake and 5-way adjustable seat heaters.

 

The 2009 Mazda MX-5 is on sale now with a starting price of $21,750.