The tendency for curb weight to increase when trying to meet growing market demands is contrary to the Jinba Ittai goal and that extra weight would have a dramatically negative influence on driving, cornering and braking performance. Therefore, Mazda engineers made every gram count. Their "gram strategy" assessed weight in the smallest possible increments and carefully scrutinized weight-trimming opportunities. Advanced technology was applied where practical to achieve a light and rigid unibody using materials that offered higher strength and lighter weight.
In its final form, the new Mazda MX-5 is more powerful, more capable, more comfortable and more useful. As a result of this "gram strategy," curb weight has only increased by approximately 22 pounds compared to the previous generation MX-5.
A double-wishbone front suspension setup complements a multi-link rear suspension system for optimized handling and chassis stability. Stretching the front track by 3.0 inches, rear track by 2.1 inches and overall wheelbase by 2.6 inches while moving the engine back in the chassis by 5.3 inches also helped improve the new MX-5’s handling and balance characteristics. The advanced anti-dive and anti-squat geometry integrated into the suspension controls unwanted steering and pitch motion during acceleration and braking for a predictable driving experience. The end result of the numerous efforts made by Mazda engineers is a chassis that promotes driver-vehicle oneness while offering excellent road feel, predictable handling and a 50:50 weight distribution.
The new MX-5’s power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is tuned to be precise and responsive with only 2.6 turns lock-to-lock, giving the car a keen sense of agility. For braking performance, Mazda engineers selected 11.4-inch ventilated discs in front and 11.0-inch solid discs in back to deliver rapid, controlled stopping. Because the new MX-5 was developed to "feel" right, caliper stiffness was increased by 25 percent, brake hoses are now less resilient and the power booster is one-inch larger than before.
Although Mazda’s engineers placed a premium on vehicle performance, safety continues to assume a high level of importance with the 2006 MX-5. For the first time ever, MX-5 now offers side airbag protection as standard equipment. A two-volume side-impact airbag is positioned inside each seat backrest. A single inflator simultaneously expands the torso portion of the airbag and the larger-volume head-protection airbag. This innovative design is light, compact and highly effective at minimizing occupant injury in a side impact collision.
The interior of the MX-5 received the same careful craftsmanship and attention to detail as the exterior. The design and placement of all switches and controls communicate the care taken to make the cockpit as driver-focused as possible. A highly legible instrument cluster clearly displays all necessary information, including speed, engine rpm and oil and coolant temperature. Coated glass covers the cluster for visibility even in direct sunlight.
Chrome and silver highlights accent the interior, distinguishing the instrument panel and gauge rings, air-vent bezels and outer door handles. The spokes of the three-spoke tilt steering wheel share the silver trim as well. For added safety, steering wheel-mounted audio and speed controls allow the driver to keep both hands on the wheel when not shifting. Both the steering wheel and the seats are adjustable to allow drivers of all sizes to enjoy the pure exhilaration of the newest generation Mazda MX-5.
The high-quality folding soft top is a Z-fold design with one centrally located latch handle, and the top can be raised or lowered easily without undue effort or stretching. In the lowered position, the top fits flush and smooth, without the need for a detachable boot cover. A removable hard top also will be available as an accessory, and is perfect for all-year operation.
To enhance comfort when the top is down, waist-level louver vents direct warm and cool air throughout the cockpit to maintain a comfortable cabin temperature, effectively extending the open-air driving season. A mesh aero-board deflector mounts vertically behind the seats to reduce wind buffeting and top-down turbulence for a comfortable driving experience.
Interior storage accommodation is plentiful. Three separate compartments are built into the back wall of the cockpit, with one compartment readily accessible and lockable with room for 10 CDs, and the other two compartments positioned behind the seat backs. Bottle holders, pockets and additional compartments are placed strategically throughout the rest of the MX-5’s interior. The end result is a comfortable, driver-focused cabin with a surprising amount of functional amenities.
The all-new 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata has inherited its predecessor’s sporty DNA and continues to exemplify Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom philosophy. To convert the subtle imagery of Jinba Ittai into nuts-and-bolts reality with a body shell, drivetrain, and chassis components, Mazda designers wielded a tool called Kansei Engineering.
Like Jinba Ittai, Kansei is difficult to translate into Western terms, although "thoughtful awareness" and "heightened sensitivity" are the expressions that come closest to defining Kansei. It is the realization that the fitness of every constituent part underlies the goodness of the whole, that the aforementioned synergy between driver and car can be honed so that it can be felt by anyone who experiences the vehicle in motion. Another Kansei canon is that every aspect of design, mechanical function and dynamic response ultimately contribute to driving satisfaction.
I was suprised that these weren't already in the Hide-Out. After all, everything looks better in red.
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Originally Posted by Vaigra
