A visual history of the Mazda MX cars

"Kar Wai Wong" (kingawesome467) 04/04/2020 at 11:14 • Filed to: A visual history of, Mazda, Mazda MX-5, mazda mx-5 miata, mx-5, MX-5 Miata, Miata MX-5, Miata, mazda mx-6, MX-6, Mazda MX-3, MX-3, MX-30, Mazda MX-30

13

13

With the reveal of the Mazda MX-30, that was the point where I figured Mazda have given up on their naming schemes. The CX-30, was unfortunate, and I still don’t know why it wasn’t called the CX-4, when it’s not going to be sold alongside the Chinese CX-4 that already exists but whatever. Here’s a better name, CX-35, which implies the CX-3 is the CX-30 and etc. But now they besmirch the great MX- name?!

Ok, Mazda have never been good at names, their naming scheme for passenger cars is just a single number. The 3. Or more accurately the model is the Mazda3, making it the Mazda Mazda3, but obviously you just say the model name. And before that it was the x 2 x naming scheme, which makes sense in theory, but from the outside it just looks like a bunch of random forgettable numbers. The 323. At least all their other models have much simpler prefixes. And now I’ve derailed into talking about Mazda’s naming scheme (I’ve got more where that came from), but back on topic.

I was interested in looking at what other vehicles have used the MX- name, and turns out, its been used on all sorts of different concepts of different varieties.

1981 Mazda MX-81 Aria Concept

Designed by Bertone.

1983 Mazda MX-02 Concept

I’m guessing the MX-81 Aria retroactively became the Mazda MX-01.

1985 Mazda MX-03 Concept

Has a rotary, yet doesn’t have an RX- name.

1987 Mazda MX-04 Concept

The one with the swappable body panels.

1987-1992 Mazda MX-6

As called in North America and Oceania, known as the 626 coupe or the Capella C2 elsewhere.

1989-1997 Mazda MX-5

As called in Europe, known as the Roadster or Miata elsewhere, this is applied to all future generations until the NC.

1991-1998 Mazda MX-3 / Mazda MX-3 Precidia

1991-1997 Mazda MX-6 / Mazda MX-6 Mystère

The MX-6 Mystère was it’s Canadian name.

1998-2000 Mazda MX-5

2000-2005 Mazda MX-5

2001 Mazda MX Sport Tourer Concept

2002 Mazda MX Sport Runabout Concept

Previewed the 2002 Mazda Demio / Mazda2.

2003 Mazda MX Sportif Concept

Previewed the 2003 Mazda Axela / Mazda3.

2004 Mazda MX-Micro Sport Concept

Previewed the 2004 Mazda Verisa, now with a dash!

2004 Mazda MX-Flexa Concept

Previewed the 2004 Mazda Premacy / Mazda5.

2005 Mazda MX-Crossport Concept

Previewed the 2006 Mazda CX-7.

2005-2008 Mazda MX-5 / Mazda MX-5 Miata

Now named the MX-5 Miata in North America.

2008-2012 Mazda MX-5 / Mazda MX-5 Miata

2012-2015 Mazda MX-5 / Mazda MX-5 Miata

2015- Mazda MX-5 / Mazda MX-5 Miata

2020- Mazda MX-30

Thomas Donohue > Kar Wai Wong 04/04/2020 at 12:02

1

In NA (the continent, not the model!), there was no 1998 model year MX-5 Miata. The NB started with MY 99. Great car, I had one.

Kar Wai Wong > Thomas Donohue 04/04/2020 at 12:16

0

Fixed!

Thomas Donohue > Kar Wai Wong 04/04/2020 at 12:30

1

I was just adding it as a fun fact..... I think they exist in other countries that use registration date and production date as the ‘year’.

RangerSmith > Kar Wai Wong 04/04/2020 at 12:30

1

Supposedly the RX series stands for Rotary Experiment. I just always assumed that the MX series was Mazda Exeriment.

Jim Spanfeller > RangerSmith 04/04/2020 at 12:53

1

Or “Makes X citement”

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Kar Wai Wong 04/04/2020 at 13:40

1

And also ALL of their concept cars are red.

I saw an AZ3/MX3 one time. Confused the crap out of me because I had no idea what it was.

Nick Has an Exocet > Kar Wai Wong 04/04/2020 at 13:51

0

I wonder what happened to the MX-03 concept.

Kar Wai Wong > Thomas Donohue 04/04/2020 at 14:32

0

GAhh idk! Model years are confusing.

Adam > Thomas Donohue 04/04/2020 at 15:10

1

I might be wron g here, but there was only one 98 made and it one straight door from the NA and one curved door from the NB.  I remember reading an article about it, but my Google-fu is failing me at the moment.  

NebraskaStig > Kar Wai Wong 04/04/2020 at 20:31

0

If you’re going to go to the trouble of separating out  NC refreshes you should keep it consistent with the ND model as well.

wafflesnfalafel > Kar Wai Wong 04/04/2020 at 22:01

0

that MX3 hatch with the tiny little v6 was cool...

Kar Wai Wong > NebraskaStig 04/05/2020 at 05:36

0

I didn’t put that there because the 2019 onward NDs have no visual differences to the previous models, so I saw it more as a model year change than a refresh , but upon learning that it is indeed called the ND2, I guess you got a point.

Nauraushaun > Kar Wai Wong 04/05/2020 at 18:13

0

Curious that MX always meant a 2 door coupe, except all the concepts. Sort of kills the idea that the new MX is upsetting some sort of MX purity.

Still sort of mad about it being an SUV though.