In redesigning the iconic Mazda MX-5 Miata, engineers concentrated on stiffening the body structure, optimizing weight distribution, reducing the yaw moment of inertia, and maintaining a low center of gravity to create a car that truly delivers on the promise of jinba ittai.

Completely new from the tires to the top, the 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata benefits from a 22-percent improvement in body flex and a 47-percent bump in torsional rigidity, which alone could substantially boost the Miata's light, lithe, and lively feel from behind the wheel. But Mazda also slid the engine 5.3 inches further back in the chassis, putting it well behind the front axle to achieve a perfect 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution and a reduced yaw moment of inertia, which contributes to more stable and higher handling limits. And with a height bump of less than an inch, the new MX-5 Miata's center of gravity remains among the lowest on the market.

Longer and wider, the 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata's wheelbase is stretched 2.6 inches, length is bumped less than an inch, width increases 1.6 inches, and height is nearly unchanged. The classic Miata "Coke-bottle" body shape that tucked inward between the wheels is traded for a wider cockpit and space for a new side-impact airbag system that protects both the torso and the head.

At both ends, the body tapers for a taut look, but the wheel flares are exaggerated to accommodate the 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata's wider track, larger wheels, and to provide a familial link to the RX-8 sports car. Raised to meet new European pedestrian compatibility standards, the taller and flatter hood features grooved detail to mimic the old car's bubbled bonnet. At the back, the new MX-5 Miata sports twin exhaust outlets for a performance-oriented appearance.