Monday 25th April 2016

Millionth MX-5 heads for Goodwood

Mazda has apparently just built the 1,000,000th MX-5 in Japan

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Your reaction to this piece of news depends entirely on where you fall on the great MX-5 divide. Fans will be delighted to hear it has, after 27 years of production, reached the seven-figure production milestone, with the one-millionth car set to appear at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. Haters will take the opposite view - that this is at least 999,999 too many, maybe going on to wonder how many of the total production run have already oxidized into their component molecules.

Still, regardless of where you stand, it's a significant achievement for a car that was reckoned to be of minority interest when it was first introduced, and which has gone onto be the world's most successful two-seat sports car. It's also vindication of Mazda's decision to keep the faith and keep the same basic recipe for all four generations, a fact referenced by the sticker being worn by the millionth car. This was apparently built in Hiroshima last Friday and - to judge from the picture - is a completely standard right-hooker, although one presumably destined for the company's museum.

Before then it will be at Goodwood and also at various other international events around the globe, with its UK debut alongside the MX-5 Speedster and Spyder concept cars that are making their first appearance outside north America.

[V8RX7]

And long may the numbers keep rising.

[V8RX7]

Arbs said:

1 million is that it? Doesn't seem a lot. With the news last week that the facelift evoque had been released and they have sold 500,000. I would have presumed that Mazda would have been into the millions especially after 4 models.

I'm shocked they've sold 500k Evoques.

I suppose the MX5 success has to be judged against it's rivals how many MR2, Z3/4, MGF, S2000 etc have been sold ?