But when you meet Mazda MX-5 program manager Takao Kijima, he not only seems
astonishingly calm, he even quotes from a Japanese artistic ritual Yabusame,
which seems to highlight his inner tranquility. Yabusame shows a man on
horseback, shooting an arrow into a target. To be successful, they must move as
one, in harmony, and this is known as Jinba Ittai. It is this same sense of
oneness and dynamic harmony – but this time, between man and machine – that was
the overarching philosophy behind the brand new third-generation 2006 Mazda MX-5
Miata. A similar sense of well being, one senses, has helped Mr. Kijima and his
international team keep cool and clear-headed throughout the new car’s
development.
“Jinba Ittai drove all of the development team’s decisions, yielding a car so
nimble and fun to drive that the driver and car achieve true unity,” says
Kijima. “This unified rider and horse concept allowed us to create a new MX-5
that’s true to the spirit of the original: exceptionally lightweight, and lots
of fun to drive.”
Mazda, of course, has a distinguished history of producing great sports cars.
The first Mazda sports car to win worldwide recognition and praise was the
rotary-powered Cosmo Sport launched in 1967. The RX-7, which followed in 1978,
won the hearts of sports car enthusiasts and claimed many important race
victories. The original MX-5 Miata, launched in 1989 as a 1990 model,
revolutionized the affordable two-seat roadster market. Two years ago, Mazda’s
introduction of the RX-8 redefined the boundaries of sports car design by
offering spectacular performance and comfortable accommodation for four adults
in one innovative sports car package.
All of Mazda’s considerable expertise and passion for designing great sports
cars was drawn on for the latest third-generation MX-5 Miata. ...Mazda MX-5 Miata: Page 2
