Innovation and elegance: The Mazda MX-5 100th Anniversary Special Edition

Mazda, from its modest origins as a cork producer in the 1920s to its first motorized car, the Mazda-Go, has developed a culture of innovation in manufacturing products that satisfy its customers.

Mazda’s timeless history

After World War II, the production expertise of Mazda expanded to provide mobility tools for a developing country. 

This resulted in the production of the Mazda R360 Coupe, the first passenger car. Mazda took on the role of creating, innovating, and defying tradition through the development of a vehicle that used the latest in transmission and engine technology at that particular time.

The Mazda R360 Coupe was very innovative such that it defied market tradition and reinforced the future of Mazda automotive engineering proficiency for passenger vehicles. The car was an embodiment of DNA of Mazda — established in passion, developed with devotion.

In 1967, Mazda introduced the Cosmo Sport 110S, the first mass-produced rotary engine-powered sports car. 

Mazda engineers demonstrated passion, determination, and fortitude in resolving the obstacles that its unconventional motors faced, which became embedded in the company’s principles until today.

Moreover, Mazda won the most coveted 24 hours of Le Mans with the rotary-powered Mazda 787B in 1991. This was after 18 years of being part in the highest level of sports car racing. Mazda carried the title as the only Japanese marque to have won the race for the next 27 years.  

The Mazda MX-5 100th Anniversary Special Edition

The Mazda MX-5 100th Anniversary Special Edition reignites the passion for driving that spawned the very first four-wheel vehicle of the auto brand, the Mazda R360. The blend of red and white is reminiscent of the R360’s two-toned finish. For the next years to come, it continued to become a distinct hallmark of the origin of Mazda vehicle design.

Mazda continues to transform in its vision for the vehicle as the brand welcomes the future. The Kodo: Soul of Motion design concept, which incorporates the energy of vitality, reflects the perspective of Mazda that vehicles play a crucial role in the lives of people.

The Mazda RX-Vision Concept Car brought inspiration to the sophisticated and dynamic future of the Mazda design. Being recognized as the Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year in 2016 at the 31st Festival Automobile International conducted in France, it reflected pure design creativity with the integration of the minimalist approach of genuine Japanese aesthetic. 

The Mazda R360 Coupe has also become an icon of the brand’s resilient challenger spirit. It demonstrates the advancement and culture that Mazda has been known through the years.

During the launch of the Mazda R360 Coupe in the 1960 Japan Auto Show, it featured a special white and red two-tone color theme that resulted in its prominence among other vehicles at that time. This similar retro theme was also adapted in the 100th Anniversary Special Edition to commemorate the vehicle that was believed to have fulfilled the dreams of numerous people in the past.

With an interior lined with red leather trim and a Snowflake White Pearl exterior, every 100th Anniversary Special Edition model aids its owner in reminiscing of the times when a state-of-the-art vehicle transformed the automotive world. 

In celebration of Mazda’s rich heritage, unique 100th Anniversary badges for the Special Edition models serve as an accent to the headrests and wheel center caps of each commemorative vehicle.

The combination of the original “industry” emblem of Toyo Cork Kogyo when it was integrated in the current contemporary Mazda brand symbol bolsters the commitment of the auto company to make a unique global contribution through engineering.

The Mazda MX-5 is regarded as the world’s top-selling and most popular sports car, with over one million units sold in the last three decades. 

Furthermore, the World Car Design of the Year and the World Car of the Year titles were awarded to the fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 in 2016. These served not only as a way of recognizing the vehicle’s engineering and design, but also the ability of the brand to breathe new life into the SkyActiv internal combustion engine of the MX-5. 

Mazda vehicles have gained a solid reputation for the past years as an authentic driver’s car due to the combination of achievements in the refinement of the suspension, chassis, drivetrain, and body design through numerous aspects of its SkyActiv Technology and its current efforts in improving human-focused design. 

In the MX-5, the Mazda i-Activsense involves a host of active safety systems meant to alert the driver for possible road hazards. This specific feature has elevated pedestrian, passenger, and driver safety in the MX-5. 

More exceptional features of the Mazda MX-5 100th Anniversary Edition variants, namely, the Retractable Fastback (SkyActiv-G 2.0L MT), Retractable Fastback (SkyActiv-G 2.0L AT) and the Convertible Soft Top Anniversary Edition, are shown below: 

SPECIFICATIONS	Mazda MX-5 Retractable Fastback (SkyActiv-G 2.0L MT)	Mazda MX-5 Retractable Fastback (SkyActiv-G 2.0L AT)	Mazda MX-5 Convertible Soft Top Anniversary Edition
Overall Length (mm)	3,915	3,915	3,915
Overall Width (mm)	1,735	1,735	1,735
Overall Height (mm)	1,235	1,235	1,230
Tread (mm)	(Front) 1,495 (Rear) 1,505	(Front) 1,495 (Rear) 1,505	(Front) 1,495 (Rear) 1,505
Wheelbase (mm)	2,310	2,310	2,310
Minimum turning radius (m)	4.7	4.7	4.7
Minimum curb weight (kg)	1,125	1,125	1,070
Displacement (cc)	1,998	1,998	1,998
Engine	SKYACTIV-G 2.0L In-line 4-Cylinder DOHC, 16 Valves	SKYACTIV-G 2.0L In-line 4-Cylinder DOHC, 16 Valves	SKYACTIV-G 2.0L In-line 4-Cylinder DOHC, 16 Valves
Transmission type	SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-speed Manual	SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-speed Automatic	SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-speed Automatic
Compression ratio	13:1	13:1	13:1
Fuel system	Electronically Controlled Fuel Injection	Electronically Controlled Fuel Injection	Electronically Controlled Fuel Injection
Recommended Fuel	Minimum RON 95 Premium Unleaded	Minimum RON 95 Premium Unleaded	Minimum RON 95 Premium Unleaded
Fuel tank capacity (liters)	45	45	45
Maximum output (hp)	181	181	181
Maximum torque (Nm)	205	205	205
Steering type	Rack and Pinion	Rack and Pinion	Rack and Pinion
Steering material	Leather-wrapped	Leather-wrapped	Leather-wrapped
Steering control switch	Audio and Bluetooth	Audio and Bluetooth	Audio and Bluetooth
Steering wheel cruise control	With	With	With
Steering wheel paddle shifters	Without	With	With
Tilt and Telescopic	With	With	With
Suspension	(Front) Double Wishbone (Rear) Multi-Link	(Front) Double Wishbone (Rear) Multi-Link	(Front) Double Wishbone (Rear) Multi-Link
Brakes	(Front) Ventilated Discs (Rear) Solid Discs	(Front) Ventilated Discs (Rear) Solid Discs	(Front) Ventilated Discs (Rear) Solid Discs
Wheels	Silver Metallic 17-inch Aluminum Alloy Wheels with 100th Anniversary Center Cap	Silver Metallic 17-inch Aluminum Alloy Wheels with 100th Anniversary Center Cap	Silver Metallic 17-inch Aluminum Alloy Wheels with 100th Anniversary Center Cap
Tires	205/45 R17	205/45 R17	205/45 R17
Headlamps	Adaptive LED	Adaptive LED	Adaptive LED
Running Lamp	LED	LED	LED
100th Anniversary Badge	With	With	With
Wipers	Rain-sensing	Rain-sensing	Rain-sensing
Exhaust Tail Pipe	Dual type	Dual type	Dual type
Seat and Trim Upholstery Material	Red Nappa Leather with 100th Anniversary Embossed Logo	Red Nappa Leather with 100th Anniversary Embossed Logo	Red Nappa Leather with 100th Anniversary Embossed Logo
Floor Mats	Red Carpet with 100th Anniversary Logo	Red Carpet with 100th Anniversary Logo	Red Carpet with 100th Anniversary Logo
Shift Knob and Parking Lever Knob	Leather-Wrapped	Leather-Wrapped	Leather-Wrapped
Audio System Type	Mazda Connect	Mazda Connect	Mazda Connect
Phone Connectivity	USB, Bluetooth and Smartphone Mirroring	USB, Bluetooth and Smartphone Mirroring	USB, Bluetooth and Smartphone Mirroring
Speakers	9-speaker BOSE Sound System	9-speaker BOSE Sound System	9-speaker BOSE Sound System
DVD	With	With	With
Climate Control	Automatic Single Zone	Automatic Single Zone	Automatic Single Zone
Push Start/Stop Button	With	With	With
Bluetooth Hands-free System	With	With	With
Rear view Mirror	Auto-Dimming	Auto-Dimming	Auto-Dimming
Power Windows	One-touch Down (Driver and Passenger)	One-touch Down (Driver and Passenger)	One-touch Down (Driver and Passenger)
Airbags	Dual Front and Side Airbags	Dual Front and Side Airbags	Dual Front and Side Airbags
Anti-lock Braking System	With Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)	With Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)	With Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)	With	With	With
Smart Keyless Entry System	With	With	With
Rear Parking Sensor	With	With	With
Rear View Camera	With	With	With
Seatbelt Warning Lamp	With	With	With
I-Activsense Smart City Brake Support Lane Departure Warning	With With	With With	With With
i-STOP Engine Idling Stop System	With	With	With
i-ELOOP Regenerative Braking System	With	With	With
Roof Color	Black	Snowflake White Pearl	Red
Available Colors	Arctic White, Ceramic, Jet Black, Soul Red, Snowflake White Pearl, Machine Grey, Eternal Blue	Arctic White, Ceramic, Jet Black, Soul Red, Snowflake White Pearl, Machine Grey, Eternal Blue	Soul Red, Arctic White, Ceramic, Jet Black, Snowflake White Pearl, Machine Grey, Eternal Blue
Price	P1,980,000	P2,190,000	P2,335,000

 

Photos from Mazda Philippines