What Is It?
2004 Mazdaspeed Miata
What's Special About It?
Its status as the best-selling sports car of all-time hasn't stopped Mazda from continually working to make its diminutive roadster even better and this new Mazdaspeed version is without a doubt the best one yet. Its 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine gets a turbocharger and an air-to-air intercooler that combine to produce 178 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. A beefed-up six-speed transmission and a heavy-duty clutch were also added to cope with the extra punch of the force-fed four-cylinder. The power is ultimately conveyed to the pavement through a Bosch torque-sensing differential and 17-inch Racing Hart aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in Toyo proxes tires that measure 205/40 at all four corners. The entire car sits 7mm lower courtesy of stiffer springs and specially tuned Bilstein dampers while thicker sway bars and a strut tower brace keep body roll to a minimum.
When it comes to cosmetics, all Mazdaspeed Miatas will wear either Velocity Red Mica or Titanium Gray Metallic paint along with smoked headlamps, revised front and rear fascias, a chrome exhaust tip, silver brake calipers and a rear spoiler. The interior is spruced up with black and red cloth seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, handbrake and shifter and silver gauges. The only available option is a Grand Touring package that swaps the vinyl top for a cloth version and adds leather sport seats with red stitching.
Why Should You Care?
If you're one of the thousands of Miata enthusiasts who have been clamoring for a more serious version of everybody's favorite roadster, the folks at Mazdaspeed have finally answered your call. If Mazdaspeed's other creations are any indication, this Miata will be a finely tuned machine that takes advantage of the Miata's unique ride and handling characteristics to the fullest extent. Sales of this hot-rod roadster begin next spring. — Ed Hellwig
2004 Mazdaspeed Miata
What's Special About It?
Its status as the best-selling sports car of all-time hasn't stopped Mazda from continually working to make its diminutive roadster even better and this new Mazdaspeed version is without a doubt the best one yet. Its 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine gets a turbocharger and an air-to-air intercooler that combine to produce 178 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. A beefed-up six-speed transmission and a heavy-duty clutch were also added to cope with the extra punch of the force-fed four-cylinder. The power is ultimately conveyed to the pavement through a Bosch torque-sensing differential and 17-inch Racing Hart aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in Toyo proxes tires that measure 205/40 at all four corners. The entire car sits 7mm lower courtesy of stiffer springs and specially tuned Bilstein dampers while thicker sway bars and a strut tower brace keep body roll to a minimum.
When it comes to cosmetics, all Mazdaspeed Miatas will wear either Velocity Red Mica or Titanium Gray Metallic paint along with smoked headlamps, revised front and rear fascias, a chrome exhaust tip, silver brake calipers and a rear spoiler. The interior is spruced up with black and red cloth seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, handbrake and shifter and silver gauges. The only available option is a Grand Touring package that swaps the vinyl top for a cloth version and adds leather sport seats with red stitching.
Why Should You Care?
If you're one of the thousands of Miata enthusiasts who have been clamoring for a more serious version of everybody's favorite roadster, the folks at Mazdaspeed have finally answered your call. If Mazdaspeed's other creations are any indication, this Miata will be a finely tuned machine that takes advantage of the Miata's unique ride and handling characteristics to the fullest extent. Sales of this hot-rod roadster begin next spring. — Ed Hellwig
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