Chicago 2012: Mazda Brings A Special Edition MX-5 Miata

William Maley

Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

February 3, 2012

Back in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show, Mazda pulled the covers off the first generation Miata roadster. Since then, Chicago has become the showplace for Mazda to show off special version of Miata and this year will be no different.

Mazda will show off the new 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition next week at Chicago. The special edition brings takes the top of the line Grand Touring model further with a new black-only power retractable hard top, 17-inch gunmetal wheels, black exterior accents, black heated leather seats and piano black interior trim. Two new exterior colors – a special white and red, will be offered.

Mazda doesn't say whether the powertrain will see an upgrade for special edition, but a six-speed manual and automatic will be offered. The special edition will also come with Premium and Suspension packages will come as standard equipment. That means buyers will get Bluetooth, Sirius satellite radio, Bilstein shocks and a sport-tuned suspension.

Only 450 Special Edtion MX-5 Miatas will be built.

Press Release is on Page 2

IRVINE, Calif. (February 2, 2012) - Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) will unveil its 2012 MX-5 Miata [4] Special Edition at the upcoming 2012 Chicago Auto Show. The limited-run model features a black-only Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT) - the first time a non-body-colored hard top is available in North America - as well as other exclusivities such as two new exterior colors, new 17-inch black gunmetal alloy wheels, black exterior accents, black heated leather seats and piano black interior finishes.

The MX-5 Miata is the world's best-selling two-seat roadster with more than 900,000 produced, and made its global debut at the Chicago Auto Show in 1989. The MX-5 Special Edition continues the sports car's history of being a dynamically-engineered, enthusiast-approved roadster whose price doesn't discriminate and whose luxuries are not stripped.

Available with either the six-speed manual transmission with short-throw shifter or six-speed Sport automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, the Special Edition model is based off the Grand Touring model. Both Premium and Suspension packages will be standard on the MX-5 Special Edition and include features such as a Bluetooth® hands-free phone system, SIRIUS® Satellite Radio, Bilstein shocks and a sport-tuned suspension.

Also on display at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show will be:

• Turbo2 - Unveiled at the SEMA Show held in Las Vegas this past November, this concept is the brainchild of The Autobarn, which owns two Mazda dealerships in the Greater Chicago area. Here, a "Zoom-Zoom Concentrated" Mazda2 is outfitted with an extra-strength component in the form of a MAZDASPEED3 MZR 2.3-liter Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) turbo engine. Consider the Turbo2 a subcompact cat that doesn't purr - it growls.
  
• Dempsey Racing No. 40 GRAND-AM Road Racing Race Car - Most recently seen Zoom-Zoom-ing across the SPEED Channel's live coverage of the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona last month, the No. 40 car - piloted by Patrick Dempsey, Joe Foster, Charles Espenlaub, Tom Long and Charlie Putman - made its third consecutive Top 10 finish in the annual 24-hour race, besting competitors in a 46-car field which included BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford and Porsche.
  
• 1990 Miata - A first-generation Mazda Miata, which made its debut in Chicago in 1989. This vehicle has 3,688 original miles and is the 15th Miata off the line.
  
• Star Mazda Championship Open-Wheel Race Car - The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is a major part of the Mazda Road to Indy. Rising motorsports stars from around the world compete for prizes valued at $1.5 million, including a scholarship to move up and compete in the 2013 Firestone Indy Lights series.