Skip to main content

Mazda’s bubbly MX-5 Miata gets an aggressive makeover for 2016

There are many “important” cars, but few are as fun as the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

Like the Ford Mustang or the Toyota Prius, the Miata is a car that defines its segment and its maker’s identity.

So there’s a lot riding on the all-new 2016 Miata.

The fourth-generation Miata is here, and Mazda hopes it will bring this small sports car back to to its roots while still making it fresh and appealing to a new generation of buyers.

That this car is more revolution than evolution is immediately apparent. The 2016 Miata adopts the “Kodo” design language used successfully on the rest of Mazda’s current range, giving it a much more dramatic look than the outgoing version.

While previous Miatas emphasized simplicity, this one sports a bold grille, aggressive slashes for headlights, and sweeping lines.

Related: Mazda MX-5 Miata celebrates 25th anniversary

That front end isn’t the most elegant design, but the Miata’s overall shape is pleasing. With the cabin pushed as far back as possible and a hood line that plunges from the base of the windshield to the pavement, it’s got just the right proportions.

Evaluating that styling is about all there is to do right now, because Mazda still won’t release any technical details.

The 2016 Miata will definitely use one of Mazda’s efficient Skyactiv engines, possibly the 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter four-cylinder units used in other models. There have also been rumors of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder option with just 99 horsepower, but it probably won’t be offered in the U.S.

Also unknown is whether Mazda will continue to offer both soft top and hard-top convertible options.

Whether or not the hard-top option remains, the Miata’s equipment list is likely to grow. A center-stack display screen is visible in the interior shot above, as is Mazda’s rotary infotainment controller.

That should keep techist buyers happy, even if it isn’t really in the spirit of a minimalist sports car.

Expect full details on the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata closer to its launch next year.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
The Apple Car was reportedly dubbed ‘the Bread Loaf’
A man checks his phone in an Apple retail store in Grand Central Terminal.

A 2020 prototype of the so-called "Apple Car" was dubbed "the Bread Loaf" for its looks, according to a Bloomberg report on Wednesday.

In a deep dive into the costly project, which Apple canceled last month, the report described the vehicle as “a white minivan with rounded sides, an all-glass roof, sliding doors, and whitewall tires [that] was designed to comfortably seat four people and inspired by the classic flower-power Volkswagen microbus.”

Read more
The Rivian R2 SUV is up for preorder for only $45,000
Rivian R2

You can now get a Rivian without spending more than $70,000. After months of rumors and leaks, Rivian has finally taken the wraps off of the Rivian R2, its newest SUV, and the first to be built on the new Rivian R2 platform. The R2 is built to be Rivian's "Model 3 moment," or its attempt to build a car that's more accessible to the general public and thus could be sold at a much higher volume than the R1S or R1T ever were.

The R2 certainly cuts some corners to achieve the lower price point, but it actually still has a lot going for it -- especially as an electric SUV in this price range. It goes up against the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Mustang Mach-E, and Kia EV6, but it's much more of an SUV than a crossover-sized car and should appeal to those who want something larger and with Rivian's design sensibility.

Read more
The R3 is Rivian’s surprise electric crossover
Rivian R3

Rivian didn't just announce the R2 platform at its latest launch event -- in a surprise twist, it also announced the R3 crossover. The R3 is Rivian's smallest car yet, offering a size much closer to the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 than the SUVs that came before it.

Of course, not only is the Rivian R3 smaller, but presumably, it's also cheaper. Rivian didn't reveal actual pricing for the car, but it did say that it would be less than the R2's $45,000 price. Also, it may be some time before we start seeing the R3 on the road -- the car will follow the R2, which isn't set to be available until the first half of 2026.

Read more