Japan Receives New Infotainment System for the Mazda Miata

Mazda has announced updates to its Japanese-market Roadster, also known as the MX-5 Miata. These updates suggest a refresh for the American version and at least a couple more years of production for the current ND model. While the changes may not be groundbreaking, they do indicate some quality-of-life improvements that could enhance the driving experience and ownership.

The updated Japanese-market Roadster comes with a new differential for cars equipped with the six-speed manual. Although it is still a two-way, clutch-type unit, it now features a cam mechanism that allows for separate limiting force values for both acceleration and deceleration. This has helped Mazda’s engineers tune out some of the inherent turn-in instability of the Miata and improve its manners both on the track and around town. Additionally, Mazda has updated the steering hardware to reduce friction in the system and improve feedback, resulting in a lighter but more accurate feel.

While the updated 1.5-liter engine may not be relevant to the US market, it has received some tweaks to improve performance with premium fuel, resulting in a slight increase of four horsepower, bringing the total to 133. The 2.0-liter engine offered in the US has also been improved, with Mazda focusing on enhancing response to both acceleration and lift. Additionally, Mazda has introduced a new dedicated “track” mode for manual models that limits electronic intervention to full-on panic situations. There are also a host of smaller interior and feature updates, including an updated infotainment system with a larger 8.8-inch screen, which may vary by region.

While Mazda has not yet announced any updates for the American-market MX-5, we can expect the changes to be implemented within the next model year or two at the most. The improvements made to the Japanese-market Roadster, including the new differential, updated steering hardware, and performance tweaks to the engines, are good indicators of what we can expect to see in the American version.

Photo Source: Mazda Newsroom