Mazda Engineers Learn How to Better Control the Miata’s Body Roll

Mazda has been busy working on electric vehicles like the MX-30. The Japanese automaker recently signed a partnership agreement with the Cambridge-based company Secondmind with the hopes that this cooperation will allow it to further enhance its hybrid and electric control systems. While Mazda has been committing time and resources to the development of EVs, it has also been careful to consider its gasoline vehicles. Known for its stylish and engaging cars, Mazda wants to continue to offer consumers the best of the best. This means continuing to improve metrics and standards to ensure that Mazda vehicles provide the highest efficiency and quality. This brings us to recent news where Mazda engineers were able to create a solution that utilizes the geometry of the MX-5 Miata’s rear suspension to better control body roll in corners. As the MX-5 is a highly engaging sports car known for its cornering, we’ll explain more and what this means. Just know this is great news for MX-5 fans.

Mazda Engineers Improve MX-5

Mazda engineers have created a solution to better control the body roll of the Mazda MX-5 Miata when cornering. This is evidence of Mazda amping up their overall performance and quality. Lately, the Japanese automaker has been focusing on SUVs and EVs but it seems a focus has also been placed on the MX-5. The Miata is known for its ability to corner, so it’s important that it does it well. Mazda’s engineers focused on the Miata’s steering, suspension geometry, the valving of its dampers, and the thickness of the anti-roll bars. They also focused on the hardness of the various rubber bushings all to ensure the best response when driving. Despite the improvements and precision, the engineers wanted to narrow in even more control.

Mazda’s engineers wanted to enable even greater control in the MX-5 Miata. To do this, they first recognized that the rear suspension control arms swing rearward as they move upward when the suspension compresses. Similarly, when the suspension moves rearward, it also moves upward. What Mazda did was then apply a small amount of brake force to the inside rear wheel when cornering so that the wheel would lift up, thus keeping the vehicle’s body flatter throughout the curve. Mazda calls this Kinematic Posture Control (KCP) and it works automatically and invisibly. Mazda’s Chief Engineer Dave Coleman explained a bit more about the KCP system,

“Although KPC is purely a software solution acting on the existing brake system, its invisibility lets it feel like a mechanical solution, like a limited-slip differential or another hardware component,” Coleman said. “That kind of natural, uncomplicated response is Mazda’s aim for all of its vehicles, but most especially so for the Miata,” Coleman added. 

Mazda MX-5 Miata fans will be happy to know Mazda is improving the handling and capability of the sports car. We’ll have to wait to see how Mazda implements this KCP technology into other vehicles, but for now, it looks like the MX-5 has some special qualities that fans may be eager to test out.

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