MAZDA INTRODUCES MID-YEAR MIATA SPECIAL-EDITION - Limited-Production 2000 Model Includes Numerous Exclusive Features - CHICAGO - The Mazda Miata roadster is such a special automobile that it is hard to imagine making it better. But Mazda has gone and done just that with its new mid-year Miata Special-Edition. Destined for only 3,000 lucky Miata enthusiasts, the limited-production version of the popular roadster is equipped with a host of features not available on any other 2000 Miata. - Slick-Shifting Six-Speed Transmission - The limited-production six-speed transmission has close gear spacing for brisk acceleration yet it also provides quieter, more relaxed highway cruising. With one of the shortest and slickest shifters in the industry, shifting up and down through the Miata's gears is one of life's great driving pleasures. The 2000 Mazda Miata Special-Edition also includes a Torsen® limited-slip differential. - Wood, Leather and Chrome Interior Appointments - Other features include rich Mahogany Mica paint, parchment convertible top, parchment leather-trimmed seats and interior appointments, mahogany-colored NARDI® wood-rimmed steering wheel, shift knob and handbrake lever, white gauge faces, chrome accent rings on the gauges, chrome interior door handles, stainless steel scuff plates and polished 15-inch alloy wheels. The 2000 Mazda Miata Special-Edition also includes a 200-watt BOSE® AM/FM/CD/cassette audio system. - Optional Equipment - Fog lights, an aerodynamic appearance package (front air dam, side sills and rear mud guards), detachable hardtop and ABS brakes are available as options. The 2000 Mazda Miata Special-Edition goes on sale in Mazda dealerships nationwide this spring. Previous limited-production Miata models have sold out in as little as 90 days. - Razor-Sharp Handling - Like all 2000 Miata roadsters, the Special-Edition is powered by a 140-horsepower, 1.8-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine. The Miata's razor-sharp handling is the result of its rigid chassis, innovative Power Plant Frame and four-wheel double-wishbone suspension. Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering and four-wheel disc brakes are also standard on the Miata. Mazda North American Operations is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer parts and service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has over 750 dealerships nationwide and is owned by Mazda Motor Corporation, Hiroshima, Japan. MAZDA UNVEILS MIATA ENDURANCE RACER CONCEPT -- "Mono-Posto" is an Extreme Expression of Miata's "Oneness Between Horse and Rider" Concept -- LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today unveiled the Mazda Miata Mono-Posto Concept at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. A one-off, one-seater throwback to fifties sports racers, the Miata Mono-Posto was inspired by Jaguar D-type and Lotus 11 endurance racers. The Miata Mono-Posto is an extreme expression of the Miata concept, "oneness between horse and rider," with no concessions made to practicality. The Miata Mono-Posto is the first concept based on the second-generation Miata, introduced in 1998 as a 1999 model, and the fourth Miata concept overall. Other concepts have included the 1989 Club Racer, the 1995 M-Speedster and the 1996 M-Coupe. The Miata Mono-Posto sports custom bodywork, including half doors, air intake in the hood, one-piece valence front and rear fascias, cowl-mounted rearview mirror, a minimalist windscreen and aluminum rollbar. Only the headlights, taillights and rear decklid are stock. The paint finish is a custom Red Pearl Mica. Modifications include an HKS turbocharger and intercooler, HKS intake and exhaust manifolds and an HKS stainless steel exhaust, which result in a 36-percent increase in horsepower (to 190 hp @ 6100 rpm) and a 104-percent boost in torque (to 243 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm). Other performance modifications include Racing Hart three-piece, five-spoke, 18-inch wheels (18x8 inch front and 18x9.5 inch rear), Baer Racing four-wheel disc brakes and HKS Hiper Damper Coil Over Suspension. The Miata Mono-Posto's purposeful interior features a Formula One-style Sparco® steering wheel, Sparco® lightweight, one-piece racing seat and custom gauges. "The Miata Mono-Posto is for one who wants to be alone with the road, focused purely on driving," said Tom Matano, Mazda Motor Corporation's executive designer in charge of global advanced design based in Hiroshima, Japan. "The idea of this concept was to take the fun of driving a Miata to the extreme." A SEMA member for 13 years, HKS U.S.A. Inc. of Carson, Calif. assisted MNAO's R&D center in Irvine, Calif. in building the Miata Mono-Posto Concept. The Miata Mono-Posto also communicates Mazda's commitment to Miata endurance racing. Mazda is a sponsor of the annual Miata 4-hour endurance race at the Tsukuba Circuit near Tokyo, which includes Japanese automotive media teams, U.S. and European automotive media teams, the Roadster (Miata) Owners Club of Japan (RCOJ), and Team Mazda. Since it was introduced a decade ago, the Miata has built an impressive racing heritage. Mazda's legendary sports car has dominated Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Showroom Stock racing. In fact, some observers refer to Showroom Stock B as "Spec Miata" in recognition of this winning tradition. In fact, in this year's SCCA National Championship Showroom Stock B class, Mazda Miatas occupied the top three positions, and captured seven of the top 10 positions. With more than 500,000 units sold worldwide since its introduction, the Miata is now the best-selling two-seat roadster in automotive history. The world's favorite sports car also boasts the largest single marquee car club in the United States, the 30,000-member Miata Club of America. Sold in more than 50 countries, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is an automotive icon responsible for the roadster renaissance. HKS U.S.A. Inc., a Carson, California-based corporation, is widely recognized as a leading manufacturer and distributor of precision HKS-brand, high-performance aftermarket automobile parts and accessories. Established in 1982, HKS U.S.A. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of HKS Company, Ltd. Japan and distributes its products through its worldwide dealer network. Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer parts and service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has more than 750 dealerships nationwide and is owned by Mazda Motor Corporation, Hiroshima, Japan. MAZDA EXCELS AT SCCA RUNOFFS -- More Mazda Vehicles Participate Than Any Other Import Brand - IRVINE, Calif. - There are no guarantees in racing, but it appears that one factor helping many amateur racers get to this year's Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Championship, better known as the Runoffs, was driving a Mazda or Mazda-powered car. Of the 580 vehicles participating in the event, roughly one in six, were Mazdas or vehicles powered by a Mazda engine. The 93 vehicles made Mazda the best-represented import-brand manufacturer, easily eclipsing the next most populous import brand (Nissan, at 51 entries). Mazda vehicles competed in 10 of the 24 classes contested at the Runoffs. Mazda scored class wins in Showroom Stock B, C Sports Racing and Formula Star Mazda, backing those results up with podium (first-, second- or third-place) in E Production, GT3 and GT5 classes. "We are very proud of the showing by Mazda vehicles at the Runoffs," said Richard Beattie, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations. "Racing has played a significant role in Mazda's history, and our performance on the track speaks to the 'Spirited' part of Mazda's 'Stylish, Spirited and Insightful' brand character." In Showroom Stock B, Mazda Miatas occupied the top three positions, and captured seven of the top 10 positions. This is typical of the dominance that Mazda's legendary sports car has held in SCCA Showroom Stock racing since it was introduced a decade ago. In fact, some observers refer to Showroom Stock B as "Spec Miata" in recognition of this winning tradition. At this year's runoffs, David Daughtery of Noblesville, Ind., took the victory in a rain-shortened race, edging out Eric Morehouse of Fountain Valley, Calif., and Bob Schader of Louisville, Colo. Thirty-one of the 45 cars that took the green flag at the start of the race were Miatas. In C Sports Racing, Mazda-powered Beasley B-2 racers took first and third positions. Ben Beasley of Mentor, Ohio, captured first place, while Matias Bonnier of New Albany, Ohio finished third. The Beasley B-2 is powered by Mazda's unique 13B rotary engine. The compact size of the 13B, coupled with its incredible durability and high power output, makes it ideal for streamlined sports racers. The 13B is related to the four-rotor engine that powered the Mazda 787B sports prototype to victory in the 1991 running of the 24-Hours of LeMans, making Mazda the only Japanese manufacturer to ever win this grueling endurance race. It would be next to impossible for a Mazda-powered vehicle not to win the Formula Star Mazda event, as all 19 starters were powered by Mazda rotary engines. Keith Roberts of LaGrange, Ga., was first to the checkered flag, followed by Matthew Beardsley of Breckenridge, Colo., who set fastest lap of the race in his effort to chase down Roberts. Mickey Gilbert of Golden, Colo., placed third. Formula Star Mazda uses open-wheeled chassis powered by Mazda's 13B rotary engine to deliver exciting, highly competitive racing. Mazda has a long and successful history in motorsports, including its victory in the 1991 edition of the 24-Hours of LeMans. The Mazda RX-7 is the most successful model in International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) history, with more than 100 victories and numerous manufacturers' championships. Since its introduction in 1989, the Mazda Miata has dominated SCCA Showroom Stock racing, first in Showroom Stock C and, more recently, in Showroom Stock B. 2000 MAZDA MIATA ADDS STANDARD EQUIPMENT -- World's Best-Selling Roadster Features Simplified Lineup -- IRVINE, Calif. - How do you improve an automotive icon? If you are Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) and the icon in question is the 2000 Miata roadster, the next evolutionary step is to simplify the lineup and add a distinctive new color - Evolution Orange Mica. The Mazda Miata was totally reworked in 1999, with more muscular and aggressive styling, more power, a stiffer structure and a thoroughly revised interior. For the 2000 model year, two Miata trim levels are available: the cloth-trimmed Miata and the leather-trimmed Miata LS. Every 2000 Mazda Miata now comes equipped with alloy wheels (14-inch on Miata and 15-inch on Miata LS), power steering, leather-wrapped NARDI® steering wheel, power windows, power mirrors and power antenna. There are three option packages available on the 2000 Miata - a Miata Convenience Package, a Miata Suspension Package and a Miata LS Suspension Package. The Miata Convenience Package includes tweeter speakers mounted in the upper door trim, power door locks, cruise control and Mazda's innovative Windblocker panel behind the seats. The Miata Suspension Package includes Torsen® limited-slip differential (LSD), strut tower brace, 15-inch wheels and tires and sport suspension with Bilstein® shock absorbers. The Miata LS Suspension Package includes the strut tower brace and sport suspension (the Torsen® LSD and 15-inch wheels are standard on the Miata LS). In addition, there are several free-standing options available on the Miata, including air conditioning, detachable hardtop, automatic transmission, fog lights, Windblocker and ABS brakes (Miata LS only). The 2000 Mazda Miata remains true to its original concept - a lightweight, affordable, two-seat roadster that delivers the pure enjoyment of wind-in-the-hair driving. With more than 500,000 units sold worldwide since its introduction, the Miata is now the best-selling two-seat roadster in automotive history. The Miata has one of the most instantly recognizable shapes on the road today. This timeless styling ensures that the Miata will look as good in ten years as it does today. The taut, muscular and aggressive look of the Miata says that it is a pure sports car. The Miata is powered by a 140-horsepower (138-hp in Calif.) DOHC 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, mated to a short-throw five-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. Mazda's innovative Power Plant Frame (PPF) ties the powertrain to the differential unit, creating a solid backbone for the car and providing a feeling of instantaneous response. Mazda calls this feeling "a oneness between horse and rider." The Mazda Miata features a race-proven four-wheel double-wishbone suspension design with a lower front roll center, which results in quicker response when cornering and a more secure feel. Unlike many of its competitors, the Miata is a purpose-built driver's car. Miata LS models feature 15-inch alloy wheels with 195/50 R15 Michelin tires, which are also included in the Suspension Package on the Miata. The Miata comes with 14-inch alloy wheels and 185/60 R14 tires. The Miata features four-wheel disc brakes, with ventilated discs in front. A three-channel ABS system is available on Miata LS models. The 2000 Mazda Miata is equipped with dual de-powered air bags. There is a key-operated de-activation switch for the passenger-side air bag on the center console, making the Miata the first car in its class to offer this feature. An AM/FM/CD stereo system with two door-mounted speakers is standard, while a cassette deck is available as an option. Miata LS models include a standard high-performance BOSE® sound system with an AM/FM/CD/cassette head unit; two compact 100-watt amplifiers; two 8-inch low-mass, low-profile door speakers; and two 2-inch wide-range speakers mounted high on the door. The result is impressive sound quality in an open car. The Miata's manually operated convertible top features a glass rear window with a defroster, a feature not found on several convertibles costing substantially more. The top is considered by automotive experts to be the easiest to raise and lower. The Mazda Miata has won numerous awards and accolades in its first decade on the market. Most recently, the Miata was named to Car and Driver's "10Best" list and was one of Automobile's "All-Stars." The Miata is generally credited with having single-handedly revived the two-seat roadster market, prompting manufacturers in Europe, America and Japan to develop roadsters of their own. The Miata has also given rise to the largest single marquee car club in the world, the 25,000 member Miata Club of America. Like every 2000 Mazda model, the Miata comes with a three-year roadside assistance program. With a call to a toll-free number, Miata owners can access roadside assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year throughout the United States and Canada. The 2000 Mazda Miata is covered by a comprehensive three-year/50,000-mile warranty that covers every part on the vehicle except those subject to normal wear. In addition, the Miata is covered by a five-year/unlimited-mileage corrosion warranty. Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer parts and service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has more than 750 dealerships nationwide and is owned by Mazda Motor Corporation, Hiroshima, Japan.