Too Good To Spoil
Every generation of the Mazda MX-5 Miata matters because loyalists and car fans alike have expectations. Basically, the recipe has stayed the same over the generations: a lightweight, compact two-door roadster platform, great communicative handling, and just the right amount of power. The current generation ND has been around for a while now, but that doesn’t take away how beloved it still is.
Over in Japan, an exclusive special edition model was unveiled last June: the Pure Sport (PS). It promises a more focused, fun version of the MX-5 Miata, and insight into its performance has just been published.
Mazda
Lighter, Tighter, and Quieter
Japanese publication Kuruma News has just published its exclusive test-drive report on the Mazda MX-5 Miata Pure Sport. The PS is a special-edition model designed to enhance the car’s sporty driving performance. It achieves this through a few upgrades, including a newly tuned suspension, silver-painted 4-piston Brembo calipers, and lighter forged RAYS rims that reduce overall weight by around 44 pounds.
According to the test drive report, one of the most obvious upgrades is the steering feel, which has improved from a system already lauded by critics. Complementing the new steering feel are quieter road tires, mandated to help the PS meet new, stricter noise regulations. Mazda revised the power steering system, so tire feedback is more pronounced, giving the driver more feel through the steering wheel.
Mazda
Purity Above All
In the report, the writer noted that the PS is geared more toward advanced drivers, with handling tuned to let the chassis manage higher speeds through corners. It was also noted that the PS’s ride is better than the lower models, likely due to its lighter body, and the interior has also been praised for being very driver-centric.
This model stands out for its 6-speed manual transmission, the very essence of pure driving control. Sadly, the PS is only a Japan-exclusive model so far, and costs only 3,663,000 yen ($23,000 converted). It’s already getting the praise any driver-focused MX-5 Miata would get; now it just needs a wider global release.
Mazda
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