The original Mazda Miata was debuted at the Chicago Auto Show all the way back in 1989, so it seems fitting that Mazda is showing off a new special edition of the current Miata at the 2012 Chicago Auto show.

The Miata special edition will be a hard car to get a hold of with only 450 units coming to the United States, making the special edition Miata that much more alluring.

Black exterior accents such as the retractable hard top convertible roof, mirrors and wheels give the special edition Miata a bold look when combined with either of the two paint packages available on the special edition; Velocity red and Crystal white pearl.

The interior of the car will come outfitted with black leather adorned seats, steering wheel, door trim and parking brake, along with contrasting grey stitching throughout. Other newly blacked out interior features are the steering wheel spokes, dash and the roll bar garnish. A nice shiny set of alloy pedals is included as well.

For performance, the Miata uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 167 hp and 140 lb-ft. of torque. Not bad when you consider that the Miata weighs in at 2,593 lbs. (2,619 lbs. with the automatic transmission). The engine can be paired with either a six-speed manual transmission with short-throw shifter or a six-speed sport automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The automatic transmission will take 9 hp from the engine, only producing 158 hp when paired together. The special edition will ride on Bilstein shocks and incorporate a limited slip differential (LSD) and a sport-tuned suspension.

Other amenities to make the Miata special edition a little more upscale are the inclusion of a Bluetooth hands-free phone, SIRIUS Satellite Radio with a four-month complimentary subscription, xenon headlights, an anti-theft alarm and the Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry System.

The Miata special edition can be yours for $31,225 when equipped with the manual transmission or $31,675 with the automatic. It will hit dealers by the end of February.

GALLERY: Mazda Miata Special Edition

Mazda will debut its 2012 MX-5 Miata Special Edition at the upcoming 2012 Chicago Auto Show, a limited-production model of just 450 units. The special edition MX-5 will feature a black-only power retractable hard top.

Other features exclusive to the special edition model includes two new exterior colors, 17-inch gunmetal wheels, black exterior accents, heated black leather seats and piano black interior finishes. The debut of this Special Edition MX-5 at the Chicago Auto Show also pays tribute to the Miata’s global debut at the same show back in 1989. It’s since gone on to become the world’s best-selling roadster with more than 900,000 produced.

The limited edition model will be available with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed sport automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The special edition model is based on the MX-5 Miata Grand Touring model. Both the Premium and Suspension packages will be standard on the Special Edition which includes Bluetooth, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Bilstein shocks and a sport-tuned suspension.

Mazda will also have their Turbo2, Dempsey Racing No. 40 GRAND-AM Road Racing Race Car, a 1990 Miata and the Star Mazda Championship Open-Wheel Race Car at their booth for the Chicago Auto Show.

GALLERY: 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition

To go with the supposed 1.3L turbocharged powerplant the next-generation MX-5 will be getting, Mazda‘s MX-5 development boss Hirotaka Kanazawa also revealed that the 2014 MX-5 will go to a back-to-basics approach towards being a fun sportscar, just like the 1989 original model.

“We will return to the original. It will be lightweight and the cost will be lightweight too. It will be easy to handle and fun to drive,” he said in an interview with What Car?

The next-generation convertible will also utilize Mazda’s new Skyactiv technologies and as we reported before, it’ll shed some weight – though now it’s a more believable figure of 2,200-lbs. Originally Mazda hoped to get it around 1,780-lbs but now it appears that the next-generation MX5 will be more in line of the original which weight 2,178-lbs.

Mazda is also exploring the idea of multiple models in order to appease all the MX-5 enthusiasts out there. Whether they want power or comfort, they’ll be able to make a choice rather than being alienated. Design boss Ikuo Maeda also hinted that the company’s new Kodo design language could find its way onto the MX-5′s design.

[Source: What Car?]

A while back, we reported that the next-generation Mazda MX-5 would be going on a major diet and could be powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged powerplant rather than the 1.8L or 2.0L naturally aspirated motor used today. Now reports are coming in that the new MX-5 will likely sport a 1.3L turbocharged four-cylinder, with Mazda’s SkyActive technology.

Scheduled to be released sometime in 2014, the 1.3L turbocharged motor will feature variable cam phasing, lighter, low-friction reciprocating parts and possibly a new exhaust manifold to achieve better exhaust gas evacuation. Mazda is also looking to lighten the load in the transmission as well as reducing the friction in order to make each shift short and snappy on the manual. For the automatic fanatics, Mazda will probably offer a paddle-shift, torque-converter auto with a lock-up clutch.

The next generation MX-5 has been confirmed to be built on a new rear-wheel-drive SkyActive platform called the S-platform, and Mazda engineers continue to work towards their goal of making the sports car weigh in at a scant 1,765-lbs or so.

[Source: Autocar]

Any change from its simple 2-seater RWD template is subject to the ire of the masses, so this next Miata has been speculated on with the fervor only dedicated fans can muster. Will it sport a rotary? Will it have a turbocharger, standard? Will it weigh less than 1700 lbs? Will Mazda bring back headrest speakers? While some of those things aren’t clear, the patent drawing leaked by a Japanese publication—intercepted on their way to the Tokyo Patent Office—shows us the most accurate view of its front end yet.

Mazda is ditching the “Nagare” styling theme (read: silly grins) on the rest of its lineup and going retro—all the way back to 1989, when big-haired women blasted “Like A Prayer” in their “hairdresser’s cars.” It gets vaguely Kabuki-esque stretched headlights that frame a big oval intake, which isn’t too much of a stretch from past and current Miatas. Sadly, pop-up headlights are still sequestered (by various governments, anyway) in the realm of lawn darts and asbestos, and won’t be making a comeback.

The next Miata will bow out as a concept car next year, before Mazda plans to debut the production version at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Expect plenty more fun, bizarre speculation (and plenty of loud opinions) for the next year and a half!

[Source: Motor Trend]

Nissan has plans to launch its own small sports car that will rival the Mazda MX-5. Nissan’s newcomer will have a rear-wheel drive system and will be powered by the Leaf’s electric drivetrain. At one point, Nissan wanted to revive the legendary rear-wheel drive 200SX but that was put on the back burner in 2008.

However, the project has been resurrected, and it will be part of Nissan’s ambitious plan to launch 52 new cars by 2016. Before the SX was shelved, the plan was for the car to sit on the 370Z platform, and would share the turbocharged 1.6-liter Juke engine that produces 188-hp. However, plans have changed again, and the car will likely have an entirely different name, using an all-new chassis. Last March, Daimler signed and agreement with Nissan to supply mid-size platforms to the Japanese automaker. The platform can accommodate anything from a four-banger to a V8, but nothing has officially been announced as of yet.

This will not be the same project as the MX-5 rival, and Nissan has not made a decision on what will power the new sports car, but a tuned version of the Leaf’s drivetrain and a hybrid set-up are under consideration. The ESFLOW concept which debuted at the Geneva auto show in March, firmly secured Nissan’s interest in an all-electric rear-wheel drive sports car. Sources have also revealed that Lotus is on-board to ensure sharp handling, a nimble chasis and lightweight construction. The electric power sports car will likely arrive in 2013, and will cost around £20,000 ($32,500).

[Source: Auto Express]

The barter system is alive and well, it seems, with the offer of a free goat (the animal kind, not the Pontiac kind). But it’s not what you think—on many different levels.

The company in question is Flyin’ Miata, which is well-known in the Miata world for their go-fast products. And if you buy a FMII Hydra turbo kit—good for a cool 265 rwhp—or spend at least $5,000 otherwise, the company will donate a goat to charity Heifer International, which supplies third-world nations with farm animals to ensure that communities there become self-sustaining.

For a small village, a goat can provide food, milk and fertilizer for crops. Goats can survive in extreme conditions and can be sold to provide educational resources, and can provide farmers with offspring to continue the cycle of escaping poverty. It’s not exactly lawn decoration for a Miata owner, though some of these animals are provided to rural families within the United States as well.

And as a fellow Miata owner, if you needed an excuse to hop up your car through the miracle of forced induction—now’s a good excuse. Go fast for charity!

[Source: Flyin' Miata]

There’s a whole lot of head-scratchers out there in the world of automotive customizing and this one may rank towards the top. Mazda‘s Miata is similar to BMW‘s Z3 in that they’re both convertibles.

At quick glance, this 1995 Mazda Miata plays the part well, and it wouldn’t surprise us one bit of the common non-automotive enthusiast would think it’s an actual BMW, rather than a cheesy replica. But really anyone that has a clue is probably laughing on the inside. The eBay auction is starting at $4,200 and currently has no bids (surprise, surprise).

We’re just hoping it’s the only Miata out there like this!

GALLERY: Mazda Miata With BMW Z3 Front End

[Source: eBay via Jalopnik]

Mazda‘s European division has given die-hard Miata fans something to celebrate about. The Karai Special Edition Miata MX-5 has been adorned with plenty aesthetic accessories, interior race-inspired upgrades and comes with a special Sinn timepiece. Unfortunately only 165 of the Karai Miatas will be produced and sold only in Germany with a price around $43,500.

Karai, which means “sharp” in Japanese, defines this Miata’s styling accessories that sets it apart from your run-of-the-mill Miata. The eye-catchy lime green shade is called “Metal Green Metallic” and is contrasted by a glossy black retractable top, glossy black mirrors and 17-inch wheels.

For the interior, the Karai Special Edition gets some race-inspired pieces from Recaro, with sport seats in a black leather trim and Alcantara, accented with white stitching. The leather steering wheel receives white stitching to match while other pieces of the interior has been refinished in glossy black to contrast.

GALLERY: Mazda Miata MX-5 Karai Special Edition

BMW is getting ready to launch a more affordable sports car for 2014 called the Z2. The Z4 was a fabulous roadster however it has moved upmarket and BMW is hoping to produce a simpler successor to the original Z3.

It has been reported that BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer is not exactly a fan of the Z2 but, the board understands the brand cannot surrender this segment to be monopolized by the Mazda Mx-5.

Plans are leading us to believe that the Z2 will be a soft-top roadster and it is unlikely to be front-wheel drive. It is still up in the air as to whether the new roadster will be RWD or AWD.

Plans to launch a front wheel drive UKL1 platform for future BMWs and Minis was met by significant public outcry, convincing BMW to utilize a 4wd system if production commences affecting the Z2 as well.

There would be both positive and negative aspects of using an all-wheel drive system. Benefits include better traction as well as a broader appeal to consumers. On the other hand, weight, space and cost are all affected by the awd possibility.

Three different turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder engines would be used producing between 170- 272-h There may also be a 2.0-liter turbodiesel alternative in works, producing 184-hp or 204-hp.

[Source: Car]

Bad news for Mazda rotary engine enthusiasts – the company has no plans to build the RX-9 hybrid sports car, contrary to recent rumors. Even worse, minimal sales of the RX8 may jeopardize the Mazda rotary engine all together.

Production of the Mazda RX-8 is drawing to a close, with U.S sales of just 291 units from January to April of this year. With production halting on the RX-8, there won’t be a Mazda vehicle to utilize the Wankel 1.3-liter engine. However there is discussion of reviving the RX-7 as a replacement. There is no official go ahead with the RX-7, however it would most likely utilize the next-generation MX-5 platform.

The death of the RX-8 is sad, most notably for its stellar chassis and steering, however issues like horrible fuel consumption, burning oil and a lack of torque were always sore points.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Mazda announced today they have reached a production milestone of three million Mazda3 units as of April 26, 2011. The car is built in three factories (Japan, China, Thailand) and sold in roughly 90 countries and regions. In North America alone, over 1.1 million Mazda3s have been sold, becoming the fastest-selling model in Mazda’s current lineup of passenger vehicles.

Mazda has explained the success of this car through three factors: its distinctive design, its functionality, and its responsive handling. The wide range of models has also been a successful factor. Pricing has also been very competitive in the U.S starting at just over $16,000. The high performance Mazdaspeed3, has also been favorable to auto enthusiasts around the world.

It is quite an achievement for Mazda, considering it took nearly 22 years to hit 900,000 MX-5 Miatas. The Mazda3 three tripled that number in less than eight years.

Mazda’s senior managing executive officer, Hirotaka Kanazawa said, “Its sustained global success has seen it grow into Mazda’s mainstay model, and it now comprises a third of all Mazda vehicle sales.”

Hit the jump to see a list of the top 10 Best Selling Cars of All Time

The Top 10 Best Selling Cars of All Time include:

1 Toyota Corolla (1966- Present) 32 million units

2 Ford F-Series (1948-Present) 30.0 million units

3  VW Golf (1974-Present) 25.0 million units

4 VW Beetle (1938-1979) 2.3 million units

5 Ford Escort (1967- 2003) 20 million units

6 Honda Civic (1972-Present) 17.7 million units

7 Ford Model T (1908-1927) 16.5 million units

8 Honda Accord (1976- Present) 15.8 million units

9 VW Passat (1973- Present) 14.1 million units

10 Chevy Impala (1958- Present) 14 million units

[Source: WYO Tech]