2016 Miata Already Social Networking; A Mustang Auction
Mazda’s fourth-generation Miata, known as the MX-5, was unveiled simultaneously on Sept. 3 to audiences in Spain, Tokyo, and Monterey, Calif., and before a YouTube audience of approximately 30,000.
It was the quintessential example of a manufacturer reaching out to its targeted audience through social media, hoping to inspire a ripple effect through the Twitterverse and Facebook postings.
Interest was generated, that’s a given, but we won’t go so far as to say it was the Mazda event that was responsible for that night’s international Facebook crash, causing a billion people to have to revert to email or actual face-to-face conversation for an evening.
The 2016 Mazda “reveal’’—it fell far short of a traditional automotive introduction—was a scene reminiscent of a heavyweight title fight weigh-in. There was plenty of hype and promises of what’s to come. But the Big Event comes next year when the car makes the auto show circuit and hits dealer showrooms.
So it was something of a mild disappointment to only get a superficial look at a car that’s been anticipated by the ever-growing group of Miata enthusiasts, not to mention dealers and anyone who follows the automotive industry.
The Miata has singlehandedly carried the flame for the two-seat, rear-wheel-drive roadster that was popularized almost a half century ago by the Austin Healey Sprite, MGB, Triumph TRs, and Spitfires.
It’s a vehicle that has thrived on a seemingly perfect mix of Mazda Zoom-Zoom performance, reliability, and affordability. Because so many Miatas have been “summer cars,’’ they’ve had long and cherished lives, leaving lots of vintage models and legions of fans.
The live crowd in Monterey seemed as eager to see the subsequent live performance by Duran Duran as it was to view the MX-5 Miata, which reflects the short attention span of social media.
For Mazda, the new generation Miata is, as director of design Derek Jenkins says, “slightly bigger than a really big deal.’’
He says it was “a bit of a dream’’ to have the opportunity to be on the Miata design team because they were dealing with “a great car legacy and enthusiast base. The dilemma was to avoid going too modern and losing those enthusiasts, and pushing forward enough to bring a new generation of buyers to the marque.’’
In a quick walk-around of the new Miata, Jenkins pointed out that it was wider and lower. “We managed to get the hood impossibly low,’’ he says.
Also evident is a cab back design with the A pillars (sides of windshield) and side mirrors blacked out.
That styling “flow’’ from front to back accentuates a look of power and strength at the Miata’s hips: the rear fenders and rear wheels.
After a four-minute look, it was time for Duran Duran to entertain. The connection: Both car and band have been going strong since they came on the scene in the 1980s.
Mustang No. 1964
Every charitable endeavor does better when it has a committed sponsor, a situation that has benefitted the Henry Ford Health System’s Heart Institute, which has roots at Ford Motor Company.
Some years, the company has one of its designers build a special car for the health system’s annual auction; this year, it will auction the last production unit (No. 1964) of the 50-year Limited Edition Mustang.
The car—in absentia—will be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas auction on Sept. 25-27.
Why won’t the car be there? Because the winning bidder can have the fastback version of the 2015 special edition Mustang built to his or her specifications. Unlike Henry Ford’s original, “They can have any color as long as it’s black,’’ edict, this winner can have any color as long as it’s either of two iconic Mustang hues, Kona Blue or Wimbledon White.
The winner also can have it basically stock or decked out as a one-of-a-kind pace car replica of the ones Ford will have at NASCAR’s championship weekend (Nov. 14-16) at Homestead, FL. A “free’’ supercharger also is an available choice for the winning bidder.
In an understatement, Ford says, “It’s likely some of the most serious Mustang collectors will be involved in the bidding.’’
The Self-Driving Car (con’t.)
Strategy Analytics, an international consulting and advisory firm with offices in Boston, recently addressed the topic of autonomous driving. Anyone who has followed the development of the self-driving vehicle will know most of the details, but the consultants came up with a great title: “Autonomous Vehicles: Evolutionary Deployment—Revolutionary Outcome?’’
Some of the major points about the autonomous vehicles.
• A need for high performance components such as data chips
• The high cost of complex systems and components
• Consumer concerns about reliability
• Needed legislation for insurance and liability
• As a result, roll-out will be in stages, as upgrades in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, with increasing autonomy.
Etc.
Three events with different approaches are on the docket for today and next Saturday. Today, Harvard (the town, not the university) has a car show as part of its annual Fall Festival, a great family event that runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. … Next Saturday (Sept. 20), the Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich is offering a behind-the-scenes tour of its collection and maintenance program from 11 a.m.-noon. Information is on the museum website. … Next Sunday (Sept. 21), Newton-Wellesley is combining a car show and men’s health fair from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Information is at nwh.org/events. If one reader is helped, it’s a good use of this space.
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