2000 Mazda Miata Mono Posto Concept

(from Mazda Press Release)  MAZDA UNVEILS MIATA ENDURANCE RACER CONCEPT

-- "Mono-Posto" is an Extreme Expression of
Miata's "Oneness Between Horse and Rider" Concept --

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today unveiled the Mazda Miata Mono-Posto Concept at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. A one-off, one-seater throwback to fifties sports racers, the Miata Mono-Posto was inspired by Jaguar D-type and Lotus 11 endurance racers. The Miata Mono-Posto is an extreme expression of the Miata concept, "oneness between horse and rider," with no concessions made to practicality. The Miata Mono-Posto is the first concept based on the second-generation Miata, introduced in 1998 as a 1999 model, and the fourth Miata concept overall. Other concepts have included the 1989 Club Racer, the 1995 M-Speedster and the 1996 M-Coupe. The Miata Mono-Posto sports custom bodywork, including half doors, air intake in the hood, one-piece valence front and rear fascias, cowl-mounted rearview mirror, a minimalist windscreen and aluminum rollbar. Only the headlights, taillights and rear decklid are stock. The paint finish is a custom Red Pearl Mica.

Modifications include an HKS turbocharger and intercooler, HKS intake and exhaust manifolds and an HKS stainless steel exhaust, which result in a 36-percent increase in horsepower (to 190 hp @ 6100 rpm) and a 104-percent boost in torque (to 243 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm). Other performance modifications include Racing Hart three-piece, five-spoke, 18-inch wheels (18x8 inch front and 18x9.5 inch rear), Baer Racing four-wheel disc brakes and HKS Hiper Damper Coil Over Suspension. The Miata Mono-Posto's purposeful interior features a Formula One-style Sparco® steering wheel, Sparco® lightweight, one-piece racing seat and custom gauges. "The Miata Mono-Posto is for one who wants to be alone with the road, focused purely on driving," said Tom Matano, Mazda Motor Corporation's executive designer in charge of global advanced design based in Hiroshima, Japan. "The idea of this concept was to take the fun of driving a Miata to the extreme." A SEMA member for 13 years, HKS U.S.A. Inc. of Carson, Calif. assisted MNAO's R&D center in Irvine, Calif. in building the Miata Mono-Posto Concept. The Miata Mono-Posto also communicates Mazda's commitment to Miata endurance racing. Mazda is a sponsor of the annual Miata 4-hour endurance race at the Tsukuba Circuit near Tokyo, which includes Japanese automotive media teams, U.S. and European automotive media teams, the Roadster (Miata) Owners Club of Japan (RCOJ), and Team Mazda.

Since it was introduced a decade ago, the Miata has built an impressive racing heritage. Mazda's legendary sports car has dominated Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Showroom Stock racing. In fact, some observers refer to Showroom Stock B as "Spec Miata" in recognition of this winning tradition. In fact, in this year's SCCA National Championship Showroom Stock B class, Mazda Miatas occupied the top three positions, and captured seven of the top 10 positions. With more than 500,000 units sold worldwide since its introduction, the Miata is now the best-selling two-seat roadster in automotive history. The world's favorite sports car also boasts the largest single marquee car club in the United States, the 30,000-member Miata Club of America. Sold in more than 50 countries, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is an automotive icon responsible for the roadster renaissance. HKS U.S.A. Inc., a Carson, California-based corporation, is widely recognized as a leading manufacturer and distributor of precision HKS-brand, high-performance aftermarket automobile parts and accessories. Established in 1982, HKS U.S.A. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of HKS Company, Ltd. Japan and distributes its products through its worldwide dealer network. Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer parts and service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has more than 750 dealerships nationwide and is owned by Mazda Motor Corporation, Hiroshima, Japan.