Orange you glad you can finally see the 30th anniversary Miata?

By Bill Hayward

2019 Mazda MX-5 30th anniversary Miata special edition in its orange splendor
Photo: Inside Mazda Newsroom

After teasing MX-5 devotees nearly a month ago with a manipulated photo featuring a barely visible, ectoplasmic blur of a ghostly coupe shape in an otherwise empty parking garage, Mazda finally let the 30th-anniversary Miata, in all of its orange splendor, out of the closet yesterday.

Following an official unveiling at the Chicago Auto Show, Mazda dropped a news release and photos revealing the features that set the commemorative version apart from the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring, on which the 30th Anniversary MX-5 Miata is based.

Features exclusive to the Mazda MX-5 Miata 30th Anniversary edition include Racing Orange exterior paint color and interior accents, special serial number badging, RAYS 17-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels, and RECARO sports seats with an Alcantara (microfiber simulated suede) seating surface.

Mazda says the orange hue “is meant to represent sunrise and anticipation, while staying true to the characteristics of a pure sports car.”

The 30th anniversary Miata is available in either an RF (retractable fastback) hardtop convertible roof or soft-top configuration, the latter of which sports a black cloth roof. Other dark accents standing in contrast to the vibrant orange finish include a black interior and dark-gunmetal forged alloy wheels.

Under the hood is the strongest powertrain available for the Mazda MX-5 Miata: the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine from the 2019 MX-5 Grand Touring, rated at 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 17 percent over the maximum available potency for the 2018 MX-5 lineup. Both automatic and manual gearboxes are available.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto infotainment technologies are standard in the 30th anniversary Miata, along with a nine-speaker Bose sound system.

Mazda opened pre-ordering at noon U.S. Central time yesterday for the 30th-anniversary orange wonder and says they will limit production to 3,000 units worldwide. Pricing begins at US$34,995 for the soft-top and US$37,595 for the RF.

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