Under the Hood

The MX-5's 2.0-liter four-cylinder develops 166 horsepower at 6,700 rpm. The engine has dual overhead camshafts and variable valve timing. Torque output is 140 pounds-feet at 5,000 rpm.

Three transmissions are available: a five-speed manual, six-speed manual and six-speed automatic, all of which drive the rear wheels. The six-speed manual has especially short throws. The engine's output dips by 3 hp when it's teamed with the six-speed automatic, which includes steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles for manual operation.

The roadster has a 50/50 weight distribution (front/rear) and precise rack-and-pinion steering for legendary handling and predictability. The Miata is one of the most fun-to-drive cars around, despite its relatively modest engine power.

    See also:

    Class-leading aerodynamics
    We adopted a new approach, called "airflow management," to optimally control the flow of air. Conventional car designs create a large amount of drag, a loss that adversely affects aerody ...

    Service Publications
    Factory-authorized Mazda service publications are available for owners who wish to do some of their own maintenance and repair. When requesting any of our publications through an Authorized Mazda ...

    Features
    Standard features include three-zone automatic air conditioning with a zone each for the driver and front passenger and another zone for rear passengers, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel with ste ...