2007 Mazda MX-5 

Driver and Roadster as One

The exceptional soul of the Mazda MX-5 is described by the expression Jinba Ittai: rider and horse as one. This concept of oneness of motion most aptly depicts the relationship between the driver and a Mazda MX-5 roadster.
Mazda used the rider and horse idiom to create a car that would be universally seen as “lots of fun”. Jinba Ittai is the essence of Zoom-Zoom, and it is what makes the Mazda MX-5 so appealing to sports car enthusiasts.
The Mazda MX-5 demonstrates an ideal balance achieved with minimal weight and propelled by a small but spirited engine. Every aspect of design, mechanical function and dynamic response ultimately contribute to complete driving satisfaction.

• Styling (inside and outside)
• Touching (every aspect concerned with the tactile sense)
• Listening (dominated by the engine voice)
• Cornering (handling dynamics)
• Driving (from ride quality to acceleration response)
• Braking

The exterior design of the Mazda MX-5 is approachable and fun, with modern cues that communicate both the simple functionality of a modern lightweight sports car and the athletic solidity of a true sports car.

Simple. Contemporary. Fun. Friendly. These are words that capture the essence of the MX-5.

• Front fascia incorporates a rounded air-intake and front fog lights, while the rear fascia houses distinctive combination taillamps and sporty dual exhaust tips with silver finishers
• Low, flowing shoulder line with wedge-like highlight, crisp surface treatment and smoothly rounded sides convey a sense of forward motion and provide a dynamic profile
• Fender arches are pronounced to accommodate a wide wheel track and provide an aggressive, athletic stance
• Large 17” alloy wheels (all but GX models) enhance the corners of the car
• Easy to use Z-fold design soft-top with one centrally-located latch handle
• New available Power Retractable Hardtop presents an integrated, coupe-like appearance.

The soft top of the MX-5 provides a sporty, classic appearance with a flat upper surface and a long rear contour that flows smoothly into the deck. The new Z-fold design, introduced in 2006, has a centrally-located latch handle that is easy to raise and lower from the driver’s seat. Once the top is down, one easy push locks it into place. The lowered shape blends smoothly with surrounding body contours so well that no separate cover is needed.

A new Power Retractable Hardtop is also available as an option, and is perfect for all-year operation. The unique power convertible hardtop roof replaces the soft-top without sacrificing any trunk cargo space. In the raised position, the hardtop integrates smoothly with the sleek lines of the MX-5's body, providing a clean, coupe-like appearance; with the roof retracted, it regains its dynamic roadster styling. Roof-opening and roof-closing operations each take only 12 seconds (the shortest time taken by any electrically retractable hardtop on the market today), so you can open or close the roof without a long interruption in driving enjoyment. Included with the power retractable hardtop are features that further distinguish this unique offering in the MX-5 line-up: select exterior elements are accented with a chrome finish, including the headlamp bezel, the front grille surround and the outer door handles.

With the standard soft-top or optional hardtop, the MX-5 delivers the responsive performance expected of a lightweight sports car.

The fender arches of the Mazda MX-5 are notably pronounced to accommodate the substantially wide wheel track dimensions and to provide an athletic stance. The wide shoulder area of the body tapers to a narrower sill to give the Mazda MX-5 a sporty, “light-on-its-feet” look.

MX-5 GX models come with 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels with five spokes, while the GS and GT models come with 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels with ten spokes.

The interior environment design themes of the Mazda MX-5 are modern and sporty, with the high-quality materials and superior ergonomics expected from the Mazda brand.

Key highlights include:
• Available leather upholstery and heated seats (GT models)
• Leather-wrapped sport steering wheel and shift knob enhance grip for better driver control
• Extensive functional storage features
• Available air conditioning with micron air filter provides year-round comfort (optional on GX and GS, standard on GT)
• Available 7-speaker Bose® audio system (GT models) engineered to provide optimal listening pleasure for both closed- and open-top driving
• Steering wheel mounted audio and cruise controls standard on all models, with a manual tilt feature for the steering column, providing enhanced driver convenience and comfort
• Intelligent Key passive keyless entry system standard on GT models

Two levels of interior trim are offered: fabric and leather. The fabric interior is an attractive monotone package with black fabric seat upholstery and silver-finished accents on the steering wheel, gauge rings, and inner door handles. The black leather interior provides a more elegant, high-tech look; prominent stitching with heavy thread enhances the appearance of the soft trim. There is also an alternative saddle-tan leather with the feel of expensive footwear, horse saddles, and designer luggage. Areas of the dash and doors are finished with two-tone black and saddle trim. Silver-finished accents are provided for the door handles, door assist grips, and speaker rings.

To ensure comfort for a wider range of drivers, the Mazda MX-5 features an adjustable steering wheel and driver’s seat to help drivers fit the cockpit perfectly.

Storage accommodation is plentiful for a vehicle of this size. Three compartments are located on the rear wall: one readily accessible and lockable with room for 10 CDs, and two positioned behind the seat backs. The large glove box can be locked and there’s a small coin box provided for the driver.

Waist-level vents direct warm and cool air throughout the cockpit to help maintain comfortable cabin temperature on cold and hot days, making the open-air-driving season longer. A mesh-type air deflector mounted vertically behind the seats allows air to enter the cockpit through its surface, reducing top-down turbulence.

The switches, gauges and driving controls of the Mazda MX-5 are precisely designed and carefully positioned for optimum functionality.

The arched hood over the T-shaped instrument cluster and four circular vent registers give the MX-5 interior its identity. The instrument dials are each trimmed with a silver-finished ring, while the needles on the speedometer and tachometer have a 6 o’clock starting position, which is perfectly apt for a sports car. Illumination is provided by amber light sources behind the dials. Needles are white for maximum contrast against the black dial faces. They twitch in anticipation of what’s to come when the ignition is switched on.

The small-diameter steering wheel has three thick metal-accented spokes. Audio and cruise-control switches are mounted to the steering wheel, and MX-5 GT models equipped with the six-speed Sport mode automatic transmission are fitted with handy shift paddles.

Audio

The Mazda MX-5 includes an AM/FM radio plus CD player with four speakers and two tweeters on the GX and GS models. The GT comes with a Bose® audio system that includes an AM/FM radio plus CD player with five speakers and two tweeters.

Rear speakers are mounted in the rear trim next to the top-inboard corners of the seats for optimum audio performance, especially with the top down. Full range and tweeter speakers are mounted in the door panels. Bose premium systems also have a full-range speaker mounted atop the dash to enhance audio imaging.

Equalization can be tailored to open or closed driving thanks to a switch that informs the head unit of the car’s configuration. A cabin-mounted microphone allows the Bose AudioPilot® noise compensation technology system on the GT model to compensate for ambient noise. The sound field and phase characteristics are prioritized slightly in the driver’s favor. The standard system has a vehicle-speed-sensitive volume switching feature that is operated manually.

Harmonized Driving Dynamics

A dynamic and fun-to-drive personality has always been a hallmark of the popular Mazda MX-5. The third generation, introduced for the 2006 model year, improved upon these Zoom-Zoom characteristics with even more power and superior handling. 2007 finds the MX-5 continuing to deliver the driving experience that enthusiasts expect from a lightweight two-seater sports car.

MZR family 2.0-litre DOHC 4-cylinder engine with 166 horsepower (163 with automatic transmission) and 140 lb-ft of torque
Optional Sport mode 6-speed automatic transmission (with available paddle shifters on GT models)
Independent front strut/rear multi-link suspension geometry provides stable handling and responsive control
Performance features such as sport suspension tuning, Bilstein shocks and a limited-slip differential are offered (standard on GS and optional on GT models)
Performance-rated tires supply enhanced grip for better handling

Response and Expansion Feel

A light, compact, highly responsive, powerful engine with appropriately sporty intake and exhaust notes assures that the Mazda MX-5 is brisk, nimble, linear in response, and very fun to drive.

Based on the acclaimed MZR engine series installed in other Mazda models, the MX-5 engine is front-midship mounted and adopts the latest technologies developed to boost power appropriately for a lightweight sports car while supporting environmental compatibility with greater fuel-economy and reduced emissions.

The Mazda MX-5 engine focuses on a “responsive” and “expansion feel.” A light flywheel, a quick response, an electric throttle and a stiff drive shaft all help realize the responsive direct feel of the Mazda MX-5.

The engine’s torque curve is held nearly level at high rpm by major reductions in intake and exhaust restriction. The result is an engine champing at the bit as it revs enthusiastically past the point of maximum torque to the redline with superior response and direct feel.

The three transmissions used in the Mazda MX-5 invite driver participation, with smooth, precise and responsive shifting that promotes the feeling of oneness between car and driver. These transmissions perform equally well on long, lazy trips with little driver involvement and on spirited drives zipping through winding roads just for fun.

A smooth-shifting 5-speed manual transmission is standard on MX-5 GX models. Triple-cone synchronizers for first and second gear, double-cone synchros for third, and a carbon-type synchro for fourth gear reduce shift effort.

Gear ratios on the 6-speed manual transmission (standard on GS and GT models) are close to enhance the MX-5’s fun and sporty driving character, providing the rapid ‘snick-snick’ shifting that enthusiasts look for. Short throws are achieved by the use of triple-cone synchros on the first four gears, and the third-fourth synchro is located on the counter shaft to reduce inertia, making the MX-5 even more responsive. Reverse is located next to first gear, and accidental engagement is prevented by the need to press down on the shift lever in order to select the reverse gear.

A Sport mode 6-speed automatic transmission (optional on GX and GT models) adds another dimension to the MX-5’s driving personality, allowing responsive clutch-free manual shifting for a more interactive driving experience. While gear ratios are widely spaced in the interest of fuel efficiency, a low first gear provides spirited launch characteristics, and a tall sixth gear is programmed for long trips and quiet highway motoring. Steering wheel mounted paddle shifters are available with this transmission (GT models only); paddles mounted behind the steering wheel control upshifts, while buttons positioned on the spokes command downshifting.

The Mazda MX-5’s double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension system with optimized geometry help extract the best the tires have to offer.

The rear suspension is engineered to enhance dynamic stability by optimizing the positioning of the tires on the road. To curb unwanted steering, pitch motion of the body during acceleration and braking is tightly controlled by the dampers and by anti-dive, anti-squat geometry.

Front and rear stabilizers on the MX-5 help maintain good tire contact with the road, improving stability and cornering while minimizing body roll. The GS and GT models also boast a strut tower bar, which helps to reduce flex and subsequent traction loss during hard cornering. The GS adds a torque-sensing limited-slip differential (optional on GT models), which transfers torque smoothly to the driving wheel with the most traction, or, when traction is stable, distributes power equally between the driving wheels. Standard on GS models and optional on the GT, sport suspension tuning produces more performance-oriented handling characteristics.

Brakes

The 4-wheel disc braking system on the MX-5 is responsive, linear and controllable. Front rotors are ventilated to remain cooler, reducing brake fade and retaining effective stopping power longer; rear rotors are solid as well as being larger in diameter by 4 mm (increasing to 280 mm). The cylinders that activate the rear brake calipers are sizeable in diameter, to shift overall braking balance more toward the rear wheels, where it is most effective on the MX-5.

Due in part to an efficient Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBFD) algorithm, maximum braking performance is achieved from all four wheels, with the front/rear distribution of brake force being optimized for shorter braking distances and less danger of lock-up. An anti-lock braking system (standard on all models) provides additional assurance; the system works by pulsing the brakes at a high rate of speed, while individually monitoring each wheel for lock-up.

Light, Compact and Highly Effective

Mazda engineers keep passenger safety at the forefront of every consideration when designing their vehicles, and the MX-5 is no exception, boasting a comprehensive package of both active and passive safety features. Using the latest technologies to ensure the highest standards are met, while keeping body weight to a minimum to preserve its fun and sporty driving flavour, the Mazda development team has made the MX-5 one of the most safety conscious sports cars in today’s market.

Key highlights:
• Dual front airbags provide supplemental protection to occupants in the event of frontal and near-frontal collisions
• Side airbags (GT models only) provides additional torso and head protection
• Power-assisted steering
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBFD) enhance steering control and stopping power
• Dynamic Stability Control with integrated traction control (standard on GS models and optional on GT)
• Fog lights and available Xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights (GT models only) enhance night-time and low-light visibility
• Rigid unibody design uses the Mazda Advanced Impact Distribution and Absorption System to meet and exceed government collision standards
• Three-point safety belts for both occupants provide lap and shoulder restraints
• Collapsible steering column minimizing the likelihood of head and chest injury
• Crashable brake pedals keep pedals from crushing back into the driver’s feet