AboutUS By Hotspotorlando #29 | Page 128

"At the Chicago Auto Show in 1989, MX-5 Miata set the bar for sports car performance and driving pleasure. Here we are on its 25th birthday still looking up at that bar." MX-5's success is that it has not strayed from its promise to deliver pure driving enjoyment at an attainable price. Its introduction in 1989 revived the two-seat roadster segment, and it went on to be named to Road & Track's "World's Best Cars" list and was 14-times one of Car and Driver's "10Best". Enthusiasts are encouraged to wish the MX-5 Miata a happy birthday on Twitter using the hashtag #MX5Turns25. 25 Years of Greatness A Look Back Launched in May 1989 with a starting price of $13,800 MSRP, the first-generation MX-5 Miata featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 116 horsepower and 100 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, but a four-speed automatic was available as an option. Suspension was by independent double wishbone on all four wheels, and braking consisted of four wheel-disc brakes with the front ventilated. The engineering team created a three-fold, easy-to-operate soft top