JAA
JAEN
British Racing Green 1996 Mazda MX-5 (NA) 1.8, front three-quarter view.

MX-5 / Eunos RoadsterNA

V0039

MAKER
MAZDA
YEARS
1989–1997
CODE
NA / NA6CE / NA8C
TYPE
SPORTS CAR
ORIGIN
JAPAN
Photo: Vauxford / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

01 — Overview

Unveiled in Chicago in February 1989 and sold in Japan as the Eunos Roadster, the first MX-5 drew on post-war British sports cars. By 2000 the Roadster line had earned a Guinness record as the most-produced two-seat open sports car.

02 — Historical context

Historicalcontext.

  1. 01

    The MX-5 was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show on 10 February 1989.

    Source: Mazda MX-5 (NA) — Wikipedia (English)
  2. 02

    In Japan it was sold as the Eunos Roadster, the first model of Mazda's Eunos sales channel.

    Source: マツダ・ロードスター — ウィキペディア日本語版
  3. 03

    It was inspired by post-war British sports cars and revived interest in roadsters after models like the MG B and Triumph Spitfire disappeared.

    Source: Mazda MX-5 (NA) — Wikipedia (English)
  4. 04

    Japanese Wikipedia notes a front-midship layout, a 50:50 weight distribution with two occupants, and Mazda's first double-wishbone suspension front and rear.

    Source: マツダ・ロードスター — ウィキペディア日本語版
  5. 05

    In 2000 cumulative Roadster production of 531,890 (all generations to that date) earned a Guinness record as the most-produced two-seat open sports car.

    Source: マツダ・ロードスター — ウィキペディア日本語版

03 — Exterior & interior

Red Mazda MX-5 (NA), front three-quarter view in a parking garage.
KGC626 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

04 — Engineering

Technicalspecifications.

Manufacturer
Mazda
Chassis / model codes
NA / NA6CE / NA8C
Production
1989-04 – 1997
Body styles
2-door convertible
Layout
Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine
B6ZE(RS)Inline-4 · 1,597 cc · Naturally aspirated86 kW @ 6,500 rpmNote: 1.6 L launch engine per English Wikipedia (115 bhp); market not specified
Transmission
5-speed manual / 4-speed automatic
Length × width × height
— × 1,675 × 1,230 mm
Wheelbase
2,265 mm
Units built
431,506
People
Tom Matano / Shunji Tanaka

Figures follow the sources listed below. Values vary by market, variant and year; anything we could not verify is omitted. Power is shown in the unit the source used (PS / hp / kW).

05 — Global legacy

JDM

ユーノス・ロードスター（NA）

Most markets

Mazda MX-5

United States

Mazda MX-5 Miata

06 — Gallery

British Racing Green 1996 Mazda MX-5 (NA) 1.8, front three-quarter view.
Vauxford / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Red Mazda MX-5 (NA), front three-quarter view in a parking garage.
KGC626 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

07 — On film

Onfilm.

DesignOfficial channel

ロードスター ～30年の物語、そして今～：開発編

Successive generations of the Mazda Roadster (MX-5) on display at Automobile Council 2019, with a talk by its developers on 30 years of the car.

Source: Mazda Official · YouTube

HeritageOfficial channel

Mazda MX-5: Since 1989

Mazda UK takes a journey through 30 years of the MX-5 roadster since its 1989 launch.

Source: Mazda UK · YouTube

08 — Related

Relatedmachines.

09 — Sources

  1. 01Mazda MX-5 (NA) – WikipediaWikipedia · reference · accessed 2026-09-26
  2. 02マツダ・ロードスター – Wikipedia (ja)Wikipedia · reference · accessed 2026-09-26
  3. 03Mazda MX-5Wikipedia (English) · reference · accessed 2026-09-26

10 — Photo credits