Mazda MX-5 Takes on the Competition

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The Mazda MX-5 created a sensation when it was announced in 1989. Earlier in the decade, the traditional roadster had withered and died as manufacturers fought shy of committing money to products they feared would become unsaleable under new American legislation. But that legislation never became reality and Mazda was first in the field with a re-creation of the traditional roadster. However, the MX-5 was more than a simple re-creation. It was more of a re-interpretation, which seized on the core values of earlier cars and brought them up to date. The result was a car with enormous character, which at the same time was wholly usable for everyday transport. It was no surprise that many road tests pitted the Mazda against older machines like the MGB and Lotus Elan. For a time, there was little else available in the same class, and so comparisons with contemporary machinery tended to focus on the fun quotient rather than on outright performance. Then along came competitors from Honda (the Civic Del Sol), Alfa Romeo (the Spider), Fiat (the Barchetta), BMW (the Z3) and MG (the MGF). As the competition hotted up, so the comparisons became more interesting, as the material in this book makes clear. For fans of the MX-5 who want to see their favourite car in its proper context, this book is a must. For potential buyers, its articles will help in the formation of a balanced opinion. For every motoring enthusiast, it will make a damned good read. 140 pages, 400 illus. SB. SKU: MAZ5PY ISBN: 9781855204218