Mazda celebrates Miata Heritage with 30th anniversary

• The Mazda MX-5 Miata 30th Anniversary release pays homage to the car's heritage.
• Unique and exclusive features include Racing Orange paint and special serial number markings.

Mazda recently released the 30th Anniversary edition of the Miata at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show. After all, it was at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show when the Miata graced the world for the first time. For all the expected amazement that these little guys have been around since the USSR was something special, the Miata is still the best option for you. Speaking of dollars, Mazda also let us know how much the new MX-5 will cost.

Hint: not really.

One small disclaimer

In the interests of fairness, openness, and transparency, let me state on record (again) that I'm totally in favor of the Mazda Miatas. I've owned it for decades and without hesitation and truthfully say it's the best British car I've ever owned. There, now that we've done without it, what do we have with the release of the Mazda MX-5 Miata 30th Anniversary in 2019?

Related: Fabulous and funny: our full review of the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF.

Mazda MX-5 Miata 30th Anniversary Edition on display at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show.

Orange is the new black

The most obvious thing about the 30AE is the color: orange. Now orange is not a bad color, just a tricky color. It's like yellow, hard to get right, easy to get wrong. Mazda, by doing this Racing Orange paint job, is up to the task of celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Miata. It's not bright and not too brownish. If you like orange at all (and I know some of you do), then you don't mind getting a 30th Anniversary Miata because of the color.

The Miata 30th Anniversary comes in both soft top and RF configuration; The RF is that weird but workable retractable hardtop/targa top unit that's astounding and practical. The roof in the Russian Federation corresponds to Racing Orange, and the soft top is made of black fabric. The interior is also orange, with orange interior blinds and orange piping on the heated RECARO sports seats. Oh yes, heated seats. It's like over-the-top hedonism until you put the top down on a busy October morning.

Then you understand that seat heating is a small miracle.

Mazda claims the 17-inch Dark Gunmetal RAYS ZE40 forged alloy wheels mark Miata's racing history. Photo: Mazda North American Operations.

A little more spartan

This is not the bare, minimalist sports car of the past, no, it is not. Standard on the 30th Anniversary Miata are things like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - naturally, as every car seems to come with these these days. Also standard is SiriusXM with a three-month subscription, as well as free subscriptions to SiriusXM Traffic Plus and Travel Link.

Everything seems pretty convenient and enjoyable if you don't mind signing up for one more service in your life.

The special edition Miatas is wrapped in Alcantara leather (nice), which is also found along the door inserts and lower instrument panel (nice as well).

Power Performance: optimal balance

Like all other 4th generation Genat Miatas, the 30AE is powered by a 2.0-liter SKYACTIV-G four-cylinder engine delivering 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft. torque. This is 17 percent more than the previous generation. Considering the Gen 4 Miata only gained about 300 pounds. for the first lap - this means that the scales exceed 2400 pounds. today - 181 ponies.

Or a great start if you're one of those changing fools/good friends of mine.

Related: Could the Miata have beaten one of the best muscle cars ever?

Photo: Mazda North American Operations.

Pricing Availability

Mazda has a tendency to squeeze you out of its special editions, but it's not all that bad this time around. Manually controlled soft tops cost about $35,000 (about $500 for automatics), and RFs range from $37,000 to $38,000, depending on whether you want an automatic or not.

But don't get your hopes up.

Only 3000 are produced worldwide. And last night I read on the Miata forum that they are already sold out. ARGH!

Tony Borroz has been racing vintage and sports cars all his life. He is the author of the bricks Bones: Endearing Legacy and the Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of the Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz. 

Photo Source: Mazda North American Operations.