Three Red Roadsters to Compare...

[JohnD]

Caught three separate cars at the Car and Coffee show in Irvine on March 8th. Thought it was interesting to look at the photos of the three and compare.

First, here is a classic two-seat roadster. This is a Lotus Elan, the car that was said to be the inspiration for the Miata...

[JohnD]

Now, here is a VERY early Mazda Miata. Notice that it still has the "double-circle" logo, before they changed it to the "seagull-M" Logo...

[JohnD]

Now here is a more recent MX-5. Notice how they really have not done much at all to keep the styling current - other than going with larger tires and rims... Still the same bar of soap that it has always been.

Might have worked for a Lotus Elan 30 years ago...

[TBlueMax]

Originally Posted by JohnD

Now here is a more recent MX-5. Notice how they really have not done much at all to keep the styling current - other than going with larger tires and rims... Still the same bar of soap that it has always been.

Might have worked for a Lotus Elan 30 years ago...

I would almost agree with you about the bar of soap styling except the generation between the two that you have pictured actually had some shape to it (albeit in a "carved bar of soap" sort of way).



I thought the current generation, when it was initially released, was something of a return to the original car's styling and not an evolution of the second generation styling. Unfortunate given that a third gen based on the styling of the second gen would likely have appeared even more sculpted and likely more shapely.

Oh well, styling aside, they're still pretty decent cars. Would be great if the Sky had the same weight and ergonomics (ease of convertible top usage and trunk) of the Miata while retaining the styling and [RL] drivetrain.

[JohnD]

Originally Posted by TBlueMax

Oh well, styling aside, they're still pretty decent cars. Would be great if the Sky had the same weight and ergonomics (ease of convertible top usage and trunk) of the Miata while retaining the styling and [RL] drivetrain.

Or, stated a different way, "it would be great if the Miata kept its ergonomics and actually had some influence from a design and styling studio..."

I think the biggest difference between the Miata/MX-5 and the Solstice/SKY are that the Mazda engineers were willing to sacrifice style for ergonomics, and the GM engieers were willing to sacrifice ergonimics for style.

We all have our priorities...