MX-5 turns 20

2009 marks an important milestone for the Mazda MX-5 in Australia. The tiny, rear-wheel drive sports car has been on sale continuously for 20 years, usually accounting for a sizeable share of the VFACTS sports car segment.

Three generations of the MX-5 have been sold here since 1989 and Mazda plans to introduce the latest facelifted model at the Melbourne International Motor Show late this month.

When the MX-5 was originally introduced to the market (as the MX-5 Miata in the US), the rear-wheel drive two-seater revived interest all around the world in minimalist sports cars of the kind that were so successful for British manufacturers from the 1940s to the 1970s.

Once the Mazda had established itself as a critical and commercial success, it prompted other companies to develop similar offerings -- vehicles such as the Honda S2000 and BMW Z3.

To date, Mazda has sold 850,000 units of the sports car around the world.

Takao Kijima is the program manager for the MX-5 and has been involved with the project since the car was approved for production in 1986.

"I was honoured to succeed Toshihiko Hirai as MX-5 programme manager in 1995 and lead the team on the second and third generation MX-5," says Kijima.

"For me, there is no greater joy than to look back on 23 years with the Mazda MX-5 and I look forward to 23 more."

The original car, priced from $29,550, was launched at the then Sydney Motor Show in 1989, but the latest facelift model will make its Australian debut at the Melbourne International Motor Show at the end of February, powered by a 118kW engine driving through six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic transmission.