It was about time for Mazda.
After flirting with major awards multiple times in recent years at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and the New York International Auto Show with their Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 models, the automaker finally captured World Car of the Year for the 2016 Mazda MX-5 at NYIAS 2016.
Also: NYIAS 2016: Mazda MX-5 RF Blows Its Top
After celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Miata at NYIAS 2014, Mazda debuted an entirely redesigned and restyled MX-5 at NYIAS 2015. They went away from the smooth pill, rounded look of the original Miata and transitioned their new car into the Kodo or Soul of Motion Design Language.
The result was a new roadster with a lower, hooded grille and sweeping, rising and falling lines from front to back. The core of the little car remained the same — two seats, soft top convertible, rear wheel drive and a manual transmission.
The MX-5 was already the best selling roadster in automotive industry history with the longest continuing production run as of this year. The graceful new look and continued top shelf, driver’s car performance put it over the top this year for the highest honor awarded at NYIAS.
It was already a Miata-centric New York show for Mazda as the company used the event to debut a new hardtop convertible version, the MX-5 RF.
