This is what the engine of a late-1990s Mazda MX-5 looks like on the inside

The Mazda MX-5 stays true to the most classic elements of a sports car with its rear-wheel drive and naturally aspirated engine. It still offers this today with its latest generation, but in this article we are going to talk about something fundamental to this car: its engine. Not long ago we told you what the Miata coupé that was never sold outside Japan was like, and today we tell you what the powerplant inside this small sports car was like.

The mechanics of the MX-5 have always been characterised by not being extremely complex, allowing its owners to learn about engines with some ease and repair them on their own. The first two MX-5s came with two engines for the European market, but the fun was guaranteed thanks to its excellent chassis and an almost perfect weight distribution.

There was at least one market – the American one – where the Miata’s engine had less power than the one offered in other parts of the world, but the engine was the same. The first MX-5, generally known as the NA, in its most basic version had a 1.6-litre four-cylinder, 16-valve engine that produced 110 CV. It is true that the figures are not excessive but, as we have already stressed, this is not what makes the small Japanese sports car special.

Its weight of just 950 kg and a good tuning of its chassis made the first MX-5 one of the cars that provided the most fun. This same philosophy has been followed by its other versions and, today, the seventh-generation MX-5 has a very decent power output and a light weight.

Even so, the Japanese engineers thought about their most hardcore customers, who were not satisfied with the 110 CV engine, and so they created another slightly more powerful one. This second engine had 1.8 litres, kept the same number of cylinders but its power rose to 130 CV. In its second generation the same engine layout was presented, but the most powerful one reached 145 CV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77WmGcR3yUA&feature=youtu.be

Today we came across this video which perfectly illustrates what an engine of the Japanese sports car was like. In the short film we can see how the powerplant is dismantled piece by piece, and we can see all of its components in great detail. Without a doubt the MX-5 is one of the few sports cars that offers such good value for money thanks to its well-crafted overall package.

Technical specifications of this car

RoadsterMazda MX-513 versions · from 32,550 €