Under the Hood

Tribute buyers get the choice of a four-cylinder or V-6 engine. A manual transmission is standard on the base model, and other models come with a six-speed automatic transmission, which is available on the base model.

* 171-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 171 pounds-feet of torque * 240-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 with 223 pounds-feet of torque * Five-speed manual transmission * Optional six-speed automatic transmission * Front- or all-wheel drive

    See also:

    Automatic Transaxle Fluid (ATF)
    Inspecting Automatic Transaxle Fluid Level The automatic transaxle fluid level should be inspected regularly. Measure it as described below. 5AT CAUTION: Always check the automatic transaxle ...

    Transmissions
    The 2.3-litre MZR petrol comes standard with a new five-speed manual transmission that employs multi-cone synchronizers and a new cable shift system, which reduces shift effort and provides for sh ...

    Driving Sideways and Other Assets
    As always, the MX-5 has rear-wheel drive with excellent front/rear weight distribution. At roughly 52/48 (51/49 with the hardtop), its bias is toward slight understeer, which keeps things safe. An ...