The Mazda Miata / MX-5 turns 25 this year, so Jay Leno thought it fitting to pay tribute to the little Japanese roadster, especially since he owns a 1996 model.
Jay invited Miata designer Tom Matano and Bob Hall, former product planner at Mazda North America Operations, to talk about the creation and evolution of Mazda’s iconic sports car.
Launched in February 1989, the MX-5 is now in its third generation, but the recipe has remained the same: it’s an affordable, lightweight, rear-wheel drive, open-top sports car that offers nimble handling. Probably the best description of the Miata is that it offers the most smiles per gallon, as Bob Hall says in the video.
In December 2013, total production volume of the Miata exceeded 920,000 units, with the model continuing to hold the Guinness World Record for the world’s best-selling two-seater sports car.
Scroll down to hear some interesting stories about the car’s genesis and to understand why it has remained so successful 25 years after its birth.
By Dan Mihalascu
VIDEO