Happy 20th Birthday to the Mazda MX5
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
MX-5 celebrates 20 years
The world’s best selling sports car, the Mazda MX-5, has been upgraded for 2009 and also celebrates its 20th anniversary. Available in Open Top and Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe model line-up, the car gets an athletic new styling, enhanced specification levels, better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions. There is also a new option for a PowerShift six-speed sequential paddle-shift transmission as well.
Outside the MX-5 gets a new five point lower air intake, new head-lights and tail-lights, rakish front foglamp housings, restyled front and rear bumpers and more prominent side sills. The flagship MX-5 Roadster Coupe enjoys additional items like a new mesh front grille surrounded by chrome look edge trim plus chrome around the headlamps and exterior door handles.
2009 Mazda MX-5
There are four power-trains to choose from, in the new 2009 MX-5 range, namely 126ps 1.8i, the 160ps 2.0i with five speed gearbox, the 160ps 2.0i with revised six-speed gearbox and the new 160ps 2.0i “PowerShift” six-speed sequential paddle-shift transmission with full-auto mode.
CO2 emissions for the MZR 1.8i engine have dropped from 174g/km to 167 g/km with combined fuel economy rising from 38.7 mpg to 40.4 mpg. The MZR 2.0i (with five-speed manual) returns a combined fuel economy of 38.2, up from 36.7 mpg, with emissions dropping from 183g/km to 177 g/km. The MZR 2.0i (with six-speed manual) climbs to 37.2 mpg from 36.7 mpg with CO2 emissions dropping fom 183 g/km to 181 g/km.
Every 2009 Mazda MX-5 now comes with alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake, plus an MP3-compatible audio system with six speakers and a new auxillary (AUX) input jack for MP3 player and iPod connection.
Jeremy Thomson, Mazda UK’s managing director said “The 2009 MX-5 effectively builds on the qualities that have made Mazda’s two seater roadster the best-selling sportscar in the world. The unbridled dynamism and engagement of this 2009 model range can trace a clear and direct line to the 1990 original, a car that single-handledly resuscitated the small and afforbable roadster market”. Mazda car leasing prices are available on the whole range now.