Mazda MX-5 Miata Roadster (Hardcover)

by Toshihiko Hirai (Author) "From the outset of development, Hirai volunteered to lead this difficult task..." (more)
Key Phrases: low yaw moment, unity between horse, polished treadplates, Brilliant Black, Product Program Manager, Riverside Hotel (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The development story of the world's favourite roadster written by the car's engineers and designers. A unique, behind the scenes look at how the MX-5 Miata was born. Over 400,000 first generation cars were sold. The book follows the progress of the model from original concept through to 1998.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Veloce Publishing (February 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904788297
• ISBN-13: 978-1904788294
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,778 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not enough material, translated from Jap. and reads like it, February 6, 2005

By	Mansoor Ejaz "manejaz" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

I was hoping to get great inside stories about development of miata from the Program Project Manager and his team members in this book. What i got is a bad read, very skimpy, often repetitive (same info is given by many members in thier respective chapters). This book is a joke, the contributors needs to be interviewed by a decent writer who then should write a book with proper flow .... and in English. The book is translated from Japanese and got goofy English translations at places. Not worth the price.
The Plus points includes "mentions" (i can't use the word "details") of the thought and goals behind creating various components like the soft top, bumper, backbone, Power Plant Frame, body etc. as well as photos of early prototypes (clay models) and speciality miatas (Created by M2 division)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good History, March 19, 2007

By	Kirk A. Hanson (NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book covers the development of the original NA type mazda mx5 miata. With each chapter by the person in charge of that part of the project. Some overlap between chapters, but a good history of the development of this car.

5.0 out of 5 stars Attention Motorheads - buy this book!, February 9, 2009

By	Nicholas Gomez "www.bikervoodoo.com" (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is UNBELIEVABLY good. Anyone who's interested in the car industry, sports cars, motoring, must buy this book. Each development head gives some deep insight into the development of the MX-5/Miata from his work perspective.

The main writers are Toshihiko Hirai (Project Head), Masaaki Watanabe (Basic Layout Design), Naoyuki Ikemizu (Vehicle Engineering), Tom Matano (MANA Proposal), Kouichi Hayashi (Design Development), Shunji Tanaka (Product Design), Takao Kijima (Chassis Design), Sadao Isomura (Powertrain Development), Yutaka Imura (Body Development), Youichi Shibuta (Computer Simulation), Sadamu Nishiguchi (Soft-Top Development), Seiichi Omoto (Detachable Hardtop Development), Sumiaki Mizunaga (Lightweight Bumper Development), Hirotaka Tachibana (Testing & M2 Story).

The only other book I've enjoyed as much is Driving Ambition by Doug Nye which covers the development of the McLaren F1. This book is just as good although it lacks the classy pictures because the development story is told by the actual engineers involved in the project. Check out the preview pages here and you'll be convinced.

IMHO books like these should be written on just about every noteworthy motor vehicle which comes to market! I'd buy one!