Background
Manufactured at Mazda's Hiroshima plant, the MX-5 debuted in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show and was conceived and executed under a tightly focused design credo: Jinbai ittai, meaning "oneness of horse and rider". With a front mid-engined, rear wheel drive layout and an approximate 50:50 front/rear weight balance, the car has nearly neutral handling. This means inducing oversteer is easy and very controllable, which has made the MX-5 a popular choice for amateur, stock and club racing. Widely noted for its small, light, technologically modern, dynamically balanced and minimally complex design, the MX-5 has frequently been called a spiritual successor to 1950s and '60s Italian and British roadster sports cars. As the best-selling two-seat convertible sports car in history, the MX-5 has been marketed globally, with production exceeding one million, as of early 2016.







