Mazda's display at New York Auto Show will feature drop-top cars

At the upcoming New York Auto Show Mazda will attempt to create a buzz around its display with a retrospective on its quarter century of Miata and MX-5 convertibles Rather than only focus on its bread and butter cars like the newish Mazda 3 and popular CX-5 crossover, or on the new concept version of the good looking Mazda 2 called Hazumi, the company will instead try to appeal to attendees' sense of nostalgia. Mazda will have a conventional booth in the main hall showing all its models, but upstairs on level 3 will have booth with just the fun cars for attendees to see.

The special display will feature Miatas and MX-5s from the first generation to the present. The upcoming replacement for the Miata will not be on display. That car will be built with new partner Fiat, who has long history of sporty convertibles. Expected to be a 2016 model, the new MX-5 Miata will be styled by Mazda and likely produced by Mazda with Mazda engines. The Fiat version will be marketed as an Alfa Romeo and will have unique styling and a Fiat engine, but will share the rear-drive, front engine platform with the Mazda to spread costs and risk. Although the current MX-5 was designed and produced during Mazda’s partnership with Ford, the car has a unique engine made by Mazda and the rear-drive platform was not used by any Ford.

Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO commented on Mazda’s hugely popular convertible, saying “MX-5 Miata is the quintessential Mazda, and after 25 years, every vehicle in the lineup continues to feature some characteristic of MX-5: a fluid shifter, lightness on its feet, quickness around a corner, a fun-to-drive DNA. With all the whiz-bang technology and comfort amenities increasingly added to modern vehicles, MX-5’s direct connection between car and driver still remains the standard feature that puts smiles on drivers’ faces.”

The show kicks off on April 18th at the Jacob Javits Center.

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