Mazda 2009 MX-5 Miata User manual

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© 2009 Mazda Motor of America, Inc . • 7755 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618 • 800-639-1000 • MazdaUSA.com • Printed in U.S.A. 6/09 (69M) • Part No. 9999-92-MX5-09-10
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Celebr{ting two dec{des of fl{t
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out fun
The Mazda MX-5 Miata has seen a lot of me-too sports cars come and go since its historic kickoff in
1989. Meanwhile, it thrives as an icon of pure exhilaration, with a track-proven racing heritage that
spans three generations. Mazda MX-5 Miata hangs steady as the hands-down favorite of
enthusiasts who demand nothing shy of total driving truth. This is a 100% pure sports
car. It’s the best-selling two-seat roadster of all time. And the gifted offspring of a
company that designs and builds some of the most fun-to-drive sports
cars on the planet. It’s the embodiment of Zoom-Zoom. Forever.

The True sports c{r just got truer
“JINBA ITTAI, OR ‘RIDER AND HORSE AS ONE,’ was our guiding principle during the MX
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5’s development. The result is a
car so nimble, well balanced and fun to drive that the driver and car achieve true unity.” — Takao Kijima
Program Manager/Mazda MX-5 Miata
The new MX-5 Miata strikes a decisive balance of gutsy design, perceptive engineering and dialed-up
performance.This must-have icon is primed and wired for a must-drive encounter that knows
no equal. The dramatically resculpted exterior includes newly designed grille and side
sills. Expressive new headlights and taillights that inspire. Eye-grabbing alloy
wheels that mesmerize. And a new interior that screams,“Get in, and let’s
find us some S-curves.” Feel the response of the freshly tweaked,
track-tuned suspension. Drop the top, and let it whip up some
wind
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in
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the
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hair freedom and sun
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in
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the
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face exhilaration.
Ignite the oneness between car and driver that
only this,the truest of sports cars,can deliver.
R O A D A M E R I C AR O A D A M E R I C A
To help keep the MX-5 Miata light on its feet and remar kably
agile, many of its key components
—
including its front sus-
pension arms, rear brake calipers, hood and trunk lid (soft
top model)
—
are made from lightweight aluminum alloy.

zero to gone in 12 seconds
* Latch must alsobe d isengaged or engaged.
MX-5 Miata’s available Power Retractable Hard Top
automati call y lowers be hind the seats in a mere 12
seconds
—
where it’s protected under a solid, stylish tonneau
cover. When raised, a single, central latch locks it all securely in place.
Where’d it go? It was just here 12 seconds*ago. That’s how fast the MX-5 Miata Power Retractable Hard Top disappears when you push a button. And we mean
disappears. Because you won’t find it taking up an inch of trunk space. In fact, it stores itself neatly behind the seats under the special hard
tonneau cover. All just-over-80-pounds of it. It’s also got some bragging rights when it goes back up. Another button. Same 12 seconds.
It’s weather-tight. The rear window is real glass with a defroster. And there’s an integrated elegance to the roof line. It’s another example
of leading-edge design that defines the MX-5 Miata as a pure sports car from the ground up. Or in this case, from the top down.

2
13
drivers, st{rt your syn{pses
R O A D AT L A N T A
Dr ivet rain twist wastes power and produces
acceleration lag. To help eliminate it, Mazda
engineers gave the MX-5 Miata a solid structural
“backbone”
—
an ingenious aluminum Power
Plant Frame (PPF) that unites engine, trans-
mission and differential into a single, rigid unit.
Twenty years of competing, revising and enhancing virtually
every aspect of the MX-5 Miata’s engine has paid numerous
dividends. Including a powerplant that’s more responsive, reliable
and actually 43% more powerful than the very first MX-5 Miata.
MX-5 Miata’s powertrain provides an abundance of track-proven engineering advancements. 1Molybdenum-coated pistons help reduce
internal friction and promote the free-revving c haracteristics of th e refine d MZR eng ine. 2A short -throw, close-ratio 6 -speedmanual
gearbox is standard on both the Touring and Grand Touring. A 5-speed is standard on the Sport. A 6-speed Sport AT is also available on
most models. For enhanced control, the Sport AT allows you to shift manually via the console-mounted shifter or steering-wheel-mounted
paddle shifters. 3Variable valve timing, as well as variable induction, help maximize the powerplant’s low-end torque and high-rpm power.
* EPA estimated fuel economy for a 5-spe ed manual transmission. Actual results may vary.
Performancewise, the new MX-5 Miata is definitely engineered to get all the right sensations popping in your head.
Starting with a free-revving 16-valve 2.0-liter DOHC MZR engine that kicks out an assertive 167 hp and
7200-rpm redline. All the while grabbing a pump-taunting 28 mpg highway/22 mpg city.
*It also uses
friction-reducing, molybdenum-coated pistons. Electronically controlled port fuel injection.
Variable valve timing. An electronic throttle. An ultralight flywheel. Block and cylinder heads
cast from a weight-saving aluminum alloy. Plus a choice of three smooth-shifting
gearboxes. From there, an all-aluminum Power Plant Frame (shown) rigidly
unites it all in a dynamic,instant transfer of power to the rear wheels.

build the sports c{r.the r{ce c{r will follow.
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Mazda engineers understand that everyday driving can be as rigorous and demanding as racing. And they designed the
MX-5 Miata accordingly. Its front-midship-engine placement and rear-wheel-drive layout enhance balance and
directional control. Its newly revised, track-tuned independent suspension results in handling that borders
on telepathic. And its 4-wheel disc brakes
—
complete with ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and
reinforced brake lines
—
help ensure linear, fade-resistant stops. As any driver worth his adrenaline
will tell you, lighter is better. And generous use of aluminum helps make the MX-5 Miata nearly
400 lb lighter than its closest competitors.
†And about as many miles ahead of them.
* Dynamic Stabili ty Control is not a substitute for safe driving practices. † Based on a comparison of 2009 mo del year roadsters und er $25,000 .
Among the impressiveautomotive technologiesdesigned to help keepthe MX-5 Miat a firmly an chored to p aveme nt: 1A ho llow front sta bili zer
bar, partnering with four gas-charged shock absorbers and a solid rear stabilizer bar to minimize body roll and maximize cornering grip.
2A new ly revised t rac k-tuned suspension delivers superb handling and directional stability by combining a sophisticated, double-wishbone
layout up front wit h an adva nced, multil ink set up in the rear. 3Limited-slip differential and Dynamic Stability Control*with a n in tegral
Traction Contro l System (available on se lect MX-5 Miata m odels) to op timize bo th traction and ha ndling in less than id ea l roa d condi ti ons.
M O S P O R TM O S P O R T
The MX-5 Miata’s near-perfect 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution
(including driver) is crucial to its legendary handling. Mazda’s design
self-discipline in this key area produces handling that’s not only stable
and predictable but also remarkably agile and directionally responsive.

{ breeding ground for goose bu}ps
The interior of the new MX-5 Miata incites visceral anticipation in its most meticulously upholstered form. On the
Grand Touring, for example, both bucket seats are leather-trimmed and heated
—
with five comfort settings.
Automatic climate control and steering-wheel-mounted controls for both the stereo and cruise control
are also standard.The standard audio system is a Bose®7-speaker design featuring patented
AudioPilot®technology that cancels distracting ambient road noise.There’s even an in-dash
6-disc CD changer with MP3 capability. Add the available Premium Package, and
you’ve got Bluetooth®*hands-free phone capability and Advanced Keyless
Entry & Start. In all, this interior is engineered to thrill. So don’t
be surprised if the goose bumps kick in before the gears do.
* Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG , Inc.

{nd in this corner,sheer driving inspir{tion
Welcome to the MX-5 Miata’s redesigned cockpit. Command central for one of the most responsive and fun-to-drive
sports cars ever to honor the twisty road. The MX-5 Miata’s high-bolstered, competition-inspired seat hugs you
into an ideal driving position. Providing optimum support and comfort. Full instrumentation, with a clear line
of sight to the gauge cluster, dials your inner let’s-go meter all the way to ten. And the pedals are
strategically positioned for faster, more efficient heel-and-toe action. MX-5 Miata’s classic three-
spoke, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, its short-throw gearshift and everything else you
touch have b een mi cro manag ed into perfect car a n d driver one ness . The re is
exhilaration to be tapped in this car like never before. And it all starts here.
S E B R I N G
To precisely determine which shifter positions were the most comfortable and
efficient, Mazda engineers used multiple biosensors to study driver interaction
within a wide range of different locations
—
all to help ensure that shifting gears
in an MX-5 Miata is a nearly effortless interaction between man and machine.

there’s “sports c{r”
{nd there’s sports c{r
The one thing that hasn’t changed throughout MX-5 Miata’s first twenty years is Mazda’s commitment
to all who embrace uncompromising sports-car authenticity. MX-5 Miata is and will remain
the real deal. An athletic, agile and purpose-built sports car. A responsive,track-proven
icon of design and deliverer of pure exhilaration. An eye-catching driver’s machine
that has inspired three generations of fast-forward leaps in automotive
engineering. Because if it were anything less, we wouldn’t…we couldn’t…
call it what we know it truly is. A sports car. Zoom-Zoom. Forever.

The fact that MX-5 Miata has been racing for its entire 20 years relates directly to another amazing fact: On any given weekend, more Mazdas and
Mazda-powered cars are road-raced in the U.S. than any other car. Import or domestic. And there’s more: Like the fact that Spec Miata is the
Sports Car Club of America’s (SCCA) largest and most popular amateur racing class. And in terms of pro racing, 2009 marks the fourth
season of the SCCA Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup. Now a 10-race series, the MX-5 Cup attracts many of pro racing’s top up-and-comers.
A true test of talent and technique, where drivers compete in identically prepped stock MX-5 Miatas on many of America’s
legendary race courses
—
including Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. But you don’t need to race your MX-5 Miata to appreciate
20 years of proven reliability and engineering integrity. You’ll feel it every time you leave your own driveway.
M{zd{: {lw{ys the soul of { sports c{r®
M A Z D A R A C E WA Y L A G U N A S E C A
Mazda is the official vehicle of Skip Barber Driving Schools, Racing Schools and Race
Series — the largest, most successful racing/driving schools on the planet. Among its
fleet of 170 race cars, there are no less than 60 Mazda MX-5 Cup Miatas race-engineered
to deliver 200 hp. What better way to learn to be a safer and more skillful driver?