| A risky venture in 1989 yet the shrewdest move for | | | | handling. One unusual feature of the '06 Miata is the |
| Mazda, this little Japanese roadster eventually chalked | | | | convertible roof, which, is a manually raised and |
| up 700,000 sales worldwide as it capped the Guinness | | | | lowered metal top. |
| Book of World Records world's best-selling sports car. | | | | A stiffer unibody structure serves as the chassis |
| Mazda is now looking toward the 1 million mark with | | | | foundation, with a double-wishbone suspension in front |
| the third-generation, 2006 MX-5. | | | | and multilink system in the rear. Larger front-brake |
| The 2006 Miata will make its debut in Canada this | | | | rotors and 25-percent-stiffer calipers help extract |
| August, It will be called the MX-5 Miata for a year or | | | | optimal stopping distances from the four-wheel |
| two, but Canadians and Americans can look for the | | | | single-piston-caliper disc system. |
| Miata name to disappear after that, unifying the vehicle | | | | Power is enhanced with its new 2.0-litre engine rated |
| as an MX-5 worldwide. | | | | at around 160 hp and balance will be improved by |
| It will be wider and more muscular in appearance with | | | | moving the engine 135 mm rearward to create 50:50 |
| a prominent front and rear fender arches that recall | | | | front-to-rear weight distribution. |
| the same style on the flashy RX-8; a more smoothly | | | | A newly developed six-speed manual transmission will |
| tapered nose and tail; the inboard placement of the | | | | be available, along with the standard five-speed |
| headlights and taillights; and a particularly appealing | | | | manual. An available six-speed automatic transmission |
| revised grille. | | | | can be manually controlled by the shift lever and by |
| The body structure is now 47 per cent more rigid, and | | | | steering wheel-mounted paddles. |
| has a lower center of gravity that should enhance | | | | |