A Quick History of Mazda's MX-5 Miata Sports Car, from 1989 to Now

Despite three full redesigns and a span of 30 years, Mazda's MX-5 Miata spiritually hasn't changed much since it debuted at the 1989 Chicago auto show. The plucky roadster remains tiny, lightweight, and rear-wheel drive. An inline-four lives in its nose, two seats live between its axles, and its top goes down. It is a simple, fun, affordable sports car-a key driver behind it becoming the best-selling roadster of all time some years ago. There's a good chance someone you know has one, has had one, or wants one. Where did that magic come from? Follow along our full history of the MX-5 for a hint, and discover a few of the model's desirable special editions and offshoots

After soliciting design proposals from its Japanese and American operations, Mazda picks the American option, which becomes the production MX-5 Miata. Unlike the Tokyo proposal, which was mid-engine, rear-drive like Toyota's contemporary MR2, and the front-drive sketch from Hiroshima, the product of Mazda's American design studio boasts a classic British sports-car layout: It is rear-drive, with its engine in front.

The original Miata, which comes to be known as the NA generation, is officially released as a 1990 model and vaguely resembles a '60s-era Lotus Elan remastered for the 20th century. Its features are endearing, including pop-up headlights that, when opened, give the MX-5 the appearance of a happy, wide-eyed thing-especially in conjunction with the rounded "mouth" in the bumper

At launch, the MX-5 Miata is powered by a 116-hp 1.6-liter engine and is available solely with a five-speed manual transmission. Niceties such as power windows and aluminum wheels are optional, and no matter how it's equipped, the Miata is extremely lightweight by modern standards. Only three colors are offered initially: blue, red, and white; later, Mazda adds a Silver Stone metallic.

Although snug, the Miata's two-seat cabin limits intrusions on passenger space. For example, the armrests are thin and stuck onto essentially flat door panels, the center console is narrow, and the footwells are surprisingly boxy and roomy. Taller drivers find that the tops of their heads stick up above the windshield header, and there is barely enough trunk space for a weekend getaway for two people (using soft-sided luggage). None of this matters, as the sprightly Miata causes a sensation at dealerships across the country

Just two model years into the Miata's existence, Mazda takes the roadster's British-sports-car theme to its natural zenith with a British Racing Green special edition. The color was Great Britain's gran prix color before sponsors were all the rage, and it looks great on the little Mazda. Just 4000 of these so-called BRG Miatas are made for the U.S. in 1991, and beyond the sweet green paint, they get tan leather seats, a tan tonneau cover (but still a black roof), a Nardi-branded wood shift knob and a wood handbrake grip, and a special badge for the center console commemorating its rarity.

In other 1991 Miata news, Mazda adds an automatic transmission and anti-lock brakes to the sports car’s option sheet for the first time

For 1992, Mazda expands the Miata's initially quite limited color palette to include a striking Sunburst Yellow hue. Only 1500 MX-5s are painted as such, and the color is only available for only one year, making Sunburst Yellow examples quite rare.

Mazda's special-edition MX-5 Miata for 1993 is dubbed the LE, for Limited Edition. That unoriginal name stands in stark contrast to the rather original collection of features that made the LE stand out, namely its blood-red leather interior and black paint job. Also included? A neat set of BBS aluminum wheels, Bilstein dampers, a subtle body kit, red seatbelts, polished aluminum grilles for the door speakers, and the Mazda Sensory Sound System (a hi-fi audio system). Like the Sunburst Yellow and British Racing Green Miatas that came before it, the LE is offered only for a single year

In a bid to enhance the Miata's safety, Mazda adds a cross-body brace behind the seats, anti-intrusion beams in the doors, and a passenger-side airbag to the roadster. The engine also gets a big upgrade from the original Miata's 1.6-liter to a new 1.8-liter four-banger making 128 horsepower (a ten-percent bump). Larger brake rotors are also part of the deal, and the optional limited-slip differential goes from a viscous unit to a more durable Torsen diff. Mazda also ditches the "Mazda" sticker on the Miata's front bumper in favor of its then-new corporate badge, which is affixed to the sports car's nose. It is affectionately known as the "toilet-bowl badge," given its resemblance to, well, the inside of a toilet bowl as viewed from above.

Next to the Miata's general freshening for 1994, Mazda adopts a new nomenclature for its special-edition models: the M Edition. This naming convention would hold through 1997. The 1994 M Edition wears Montego Blue Mica paint and comes fully loaded by Miata standards with every available option package included, plus polished aluminum wheels, a wooden Nardi shift knob, and special floor mats and badging. Mazda also adds an R package to the Miata's options sheet (pictured here), which includes Bilstein dampers, a lower ride height, a subtle body kit, lightweight aluminum wheels, and the Torsen limited-slip differential.

The second MX-5 Miata M Edition differs drastically from the 1994 model, thanks largely to its 15-inch BBS wheels and Merlot Mica paint. Its interior is tan and seats leather, and it still comes with a Nardi shift knob (this time in leather), a fancier audio system, special doorsill kick plates, and M Edition badges on its fenders and floor mats. Little changes for the regular MX-5 Miata outside of tweaks to its option groupings

Mazda once again ups the MX-5 Miata's horsepower for 1996, this time to 133 ponies. The 1.8-liter four also switches from OBD-I to OBD-II controls (per the federal mandate), the computer standard still used industrywide.

Mazda again offers the M Edition, this time wearing Starlight Mica (blue) paint. It gets remote keyless entry, Mazda's upgraded audio system with a CD player and speakers in the headrests, M badging throughout, and a Nardi wood shift knob

For the first-generation MX-5 Miata's final year before its redesign, Mazda goes all-in on special-edition models, generating two: the STO and another M Edition (pictured here). The former, which stands for "Special Touring Option," has Twilight Blue paint, 15-inch five-spoke Enkei wheels, a tan interior and top, and STO badging. Only 1500 are produced for 1997. As for the latter, the M Edition, it gets Marina Green Mica paint, polished six-spoke wheels, a tan interior and top, Mazda's upgraded audio system with headrest speakers in the seats, and a Nardi wood shift knob

Sporting all-new bodywork and a fresh interior over largely carryover structural bits, the 1999 MX-5 Miata takes the breed into its second generation. Code-named NB, the roadster no longer features flip-up headlights or looks as dainty. Instead, it wears fixed, wide-eyed headlights, and the body is curvier and more substantial-looking.

Updates to the 1.8-liter engine bring output up seven horsepower to 140. The transmission choices remain a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic; a six-speed stick is reserved for top-level models. Changes to the interior are evolutionary, with a few new curves and softer edges throughout. Every MX-5 save for the base model receives the three-spoke Nardi-branded steering wheel you see here; for 1999 only, the base Miata receives an odd four-spoke steering wheel borrowed from mainstream Mazda models.

The same year Mazda redesigns the MX-5 for the first time, it introduces the 10th Anniversary Edition. Celebrating the Miata's decade of existence, the special edition comes only in Sapphire Blue Mica with eye-catching polished wheels and an aggressive body kit. The interior is no less flashy, with a bold two-tone blue-and-black color scheme. Mazda also gives the 10th Anniversary model a six-speed manual transmission (a feature that would come to define nicer versions of the NB-generation Miata), a Bose audio system, stainless-steel doorsill plates, and a Nardi three-spoke steering wheel.

Ten years after it introduced the first MX-5 Miata BRG model, Mazda again offers a limited-edition Miata with British Racing Green paint. The 2001 special edition gets the same equipment as the uplevel Miata LS trim, as well as polished 16-inch aluminum wheels, a wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel, a six-speed manual transmission, chrome gauge trim, and a tan interior and top

Also in 2001, Mazda freshens the MX-5 Miata's headlights and taillights, adds variable intake-valve timing for the 1.8-liter (bringing horsepower up to 155 ponies), and makes 15-inch wheels standard

Next to a handful of minor equipment changes, the 2002 MX-5 Miata lineup sees its special edition arrive with the rare (by Mazda standards) choice of two colors: Blazing Yellow Mica and Titanium Gray metallic. Both offer essentially the same equipment-a Torsen limited-slip differential, a six-speed manual transmission, white-faced gauges, and special Enkei-branded 16-inch wheels-but receive their own interior colors. The yellow car has a black interior, while the gray model wears a classy brown hue.

Mazda goes bonkers with special-edition MX-5 Miatas for 2003, introducing three: the Special Edition, the Shinsen Version, and the Club Sport package. The first two are pictured above (the blue model is the SE, and the gray one is the Shinsen). Special five-spoke 16-inch wheels, Strato Blue Mica paint, and a gray interior and top distinguish the SE, while the Shinsen is styled the opposite, with Titanium Gray metallic paint and a blue top and interior. The Club Sport package is extremely rare: Only 50 cars are made, all of them intended for racing. None comes with a radio, air conditioning, or power steering; a hardtop is available.

For the first time, the Mazda MX-5 Miata gets forced induction from the factory. (Third parties for years had been offering turbocharging and supercharging kits for the Miata-as well as V-8 engine conversions.) Mazda's performance arm, Mazdaspeed, installs a turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 178 horsepower, a torque-sensing limited-slip differential, 17-inch Racing Hart wheels with performance tires, and a stiffer and lowered suspension. It is notably quicker than regular Miatas, reaching 60 mph in our testing in 6.7 seconds

Meet the NC MX-5, which at first doesn't officially carry the "Miata" name. That is corrected in due time. Meanwhile, the NC takes a decisive leap into modernity with an all-new unibody and running gear. It grows larger and slightly heavier in the process, which Mazda offsets with a new 2.0-liter inline-four with 170 horsepower-only 8 ponies shy of the previous year's turbocharged engine in the now-dead Mazdaspeed version.

Styling cues, such as the shapes of the headlights and taillights, the little bulge in the center of the hood, and the windshield surround, draw clear inspiration from the original Miata, helping to keep the car familiar. Inside, the MX-5 takes a big leap forward with a slightly roomier cabin with upscale aspirations.

To satiate potential MX-5 customers not keen on driving a cloth-roof roadster year-round, Mazda introduces the clever Power Retractable Hardtop (PRHT) model for 2007. This power-folding hardtop is a feat of engineering. Both lightweight (it adds about 100 pounds over the softtop model) and able to acrobatically fold itself into roughly the same space needed for the soft top when lowered, it proves an immediate hit. Soon, a good share of new Miatas are sold with the PRHT. The Miata's 2.0-liter engine sees its output drop to 166 horsepower, though it is just a change in the number due to a new engine-testing standard.

Three years into the NC-generation Miata's life cycle, Mazda gives it a sharper new face with the company's jackal-like smile and pointy intake elements in the bumper. Revisions to the suspension, as well as a sport-suspension package, balance out the Miata's understeering characteristics. Tail-out antics in the third-generation MX-5 are now easier. Engine revisions bring horsepower up by 1, to 167.

For 2013, Mazda drops the mid-level Touring trim in favor of a new, sportier Club spec that lives in the same space, between the base Sport model and the luxurious Grand Touring. The Club wears dark-finished 17-inch wheels, rocker-panel stripes, black headlight trim, a black roof (on both the softtops and the Power Retractable Hardtop models), a subtle front air dam, red contrast stitching for the seats, body-color interior trim, and three-leaf-clover fender badges. On manual-transmission Club versions, Mazda includes a sixth gear, a limited-slip diff, a front shock-tower brace, and a sport suspension with Bilstein dampers.

To celebrate the MX-5 Miata's 25th anniversary, Mazda gins up a special edition wearing Soul Red paint, a black-painted windshield surround, black door mirrors, and dark-finished wheels. The seats and door panels wear almond-colored leather, and a satin-metal-like trim adorns the dashboard. Although the 25th Anniversary models aren't officially any more powerful than their regular brethren, Mazda claims to have handpicked each one's engine components to ensure the internals were the lightest and most balanced possible.

The Miata never quite "got away" from its tiny, lightweight beginnings, but the third-generation car was larger and heavier than those that came before it. So Mazda made the fourth-generation, ND-coded Miata smaller and lighter-even managing to make the new roadster shorter in length than the original and nearly as lightweight. This, in spite of the ND Miata's spate of modern safety gear-front and side airbags-and compliance with today's stringent crash-safety requirements.

For the first time in its history, the Miata looks sexy. Previous iterations vacillated between cute and functional, but the ND Miata looks expensive and aggressive

Living under the MX-5's long hood is a 2.0-liter inline-four making 155 horsepower. Thanks to the Miata's feather weight, that power is enough to make the ND the quickest Miata yet-it's quicker than even the turbocharged (more powerful) NB-generation Mazdaspeed Miata. Behind the engine sits a six-speed manual transmission (a six-speed automatic is optional) and a cozy cabin stripped of all frippery. Only the basics are there: a steering wheel, gauges, knobs for the climate controls, and a screen perched above the dashboard for displaying infotainment functions. Base models get an old-school audio head unit in place of the screen

Mazda debuts the Power Retractable Hardtop model's spiritual successor for 2017: the MX-5 Miata RF. Short for "Retractable Fastback," the RF resembles a Miata coupe but is really a power-operated targa-either way, it's gorgeous. At the press of a button on the console, the roof panel immediately above the passenger compartment flips up and retracts into a well beneath the rear deck. This dance requires the pair of roof buttresses stretching to the rear quarter-panels to lift up and back, a mesmerizing sequence. With the roof raised, the Miata is somewhat quieter inside than the softtop models and does a convincing impression of a fixed-roof coupe.

Mazda for the first time installs a telescoping steering wheel in an MX-5. While a small victory for the short- or long-limbed MX-5 lovers, the captivating news is that Mazda revises the MX-5 Miata's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for 2019 but leaves the rest of the sports car alone. The engine upgrades are more than enough: Horsepower rises from 155 to 181 (a 17 percent increase!), and the redline is marked 700 rpm higher than before, at 7500. In our testing, the new engine shaves 0.1 second from the ND Miata's best zero-to-60-mph time but subjectively makes a stronger impression, revving more freely and spinning with improved refinement.

Coming full circle, Mazda unveils a limited run of 30th Anniversary Edition MX-5 Miatas at the 2019 Chicago auto show-30 years after debuting the original Miata at the very same show. Available in both roadster and RF forms, the special Miata wears a zesty Racing Orange paint job, Rays 17-inch wheels, orange-colored interior accents, and a numbered plaque denoting its place in the 3000-car production run. Mazda slates only 500 of the Anniversary Edition cars for the U.S. market, and they sell out immediately.