ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5 – PRICING AND SPECIFICATION ANNOUNCED

Making its UK debut at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed and Moving Motor Show, this year’s most anticipated sports car will be available in the UK from £18,495. With a superior power to weight ratio, rear-wheel drive, perfect 50:50 weight distribution and more comfort and technology than ever before, the all-new Mazda MX-5 is pure roadster. Offered with a choice of two SKYACTIV-G petrol engines it comes with generous standard equipment and new levels of safety technology.

With a choice of nine models across five trim levels, the all-new Mazda MX-5 promises to reaffirm Mazda’s dominance of the affordable sports car sector. Maintaining the driver-focused ethos that has made the Mazda MX-5 the best-selling two-seater sports car of all time, the latest MX-5 was conceived and developed under the concept of “innovate in order to preserve”. This engineering philosophy has allowed Mazda to maintain the agility, fun and engagement that has always defined the MX-5 while at the same time meeting ever-increasing safety and efficiency requirements, alongside improved refinement.

The lightest MX-5 since the iconic original, the all-new Mazda MX-5 is shorter, lower and wider than the outgoing car, with the smallest overhangs and lowest centre of gravity yet. These dynamic proportions combined with Mazda’s KODO: Soul of Motion design philosophy ensure that the all-new Mazda MX-5’s styling reflects its focus on driving pleasure in an unmistakably contemporary and dynamic way.

Featuring Mazda’s award-winning SKYACTIV technology, the all-new MX-5’s ultra-efficient lightweight petrol engines deliver new levels of performance and economy. Across the range the all-new Mazda MX-5 features alloy wheels, LED headlights, a leather steering wheel, plus a lightweight and sleek fabric hood. SE-L models add LED daytime running lights, climate control air-conditioning, DAB radio, Bluetooth®and cruise control, plus Mazda’s MZD-Connect connectivity and infotainment system with 7-inch Colour touch-screen display and Multimedia Commander.

SE-L models with the 2.0-litre 160ps engine are distinguished by 17-inch Gunmetal alloy wheels and piano black door mirrors, and benefit from a strut tower bar and limited slip differential.

Step up to Sport trim and both the 1.5 and 2.0-litre cars feature rain sensing wipers, rear parking sensors, smart keyless entry, Premium Bose®Surround-Sound and heated leather seats.

With the 1.5-litre engine, Sport trim MX-5’s come with 16-inch Gunmetal alloy wheels and piano black door mirrors. Sport models with the 2.0-litre 160ps engine benefit from a dynamic set-up that includes Sports suspension featuring Bilstein dampers, a limited slip differential and strut tower bar, while visually, they are marked out by their 17-inch Bright alloy wheels and body coloured mirrors.

Versions of the all-new Mazda MX-5 fitted with Mazda’s integrated navigation system come with three-years of free European map upgrades, while the range topping 2.0-litre Sport Nav is available with the optional £350 Safety Pack, which includes High Beam Control and Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Ahead of its arrival in UK showrooms later this summer, the all-new Mazda MX-5 will take centre stage at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Customers pre-ordering an MX-5 at Mazda.co.uk will be entered into a draw to win the opportunity to test drive the all-new MX-5 on the Goodwood Race Circuit and attend the Festival of Speed with a guest on Sunday 28th June. Fifty winners will get the chance to drive on the circuit, while they and a guest can enjoy the Festival of Speed from Mazda’s VIP trackside enclosure*.

Jeremy Thomson, Mazda Motors UK Managing Director “The MX-5 is Mazda’s brand icon and it embodies all that is great about our products. Its fun to drive character has strengthened the bond between Mazda and its customers for 25 years so there’s no better place to showcase the all-new MX-5 than in front the enthusiastic crowd at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

We’re delighted to give early ordering customers the opportunity to win a drive in the all-new MX-5 on the famous Goodwood Racing Circuit, while fans attending the Moving Motor Show will get to see our new sports car make its UK public debut. Our engineers have created an all-new sports car that incorporates our ground-breaking SKYACTIV technology, modern safety and superb efficiency with the driver focused enjoyment for which the MX-5 is loved. When it was launched in 1990 the 115ps Mk1 MX-5 cost £14,249 (equal to £31,687 in today’s money), yet 25 years later with vastly more standard equipment, the all-new Mazda MX-5 costs from £18,495, meaning more than ever the Mazda MX-5 sets the benchmark as the one of the world’s best and most affordable sports cars. “

With its lightweight design, sleek cabin, beautifully engineered mechanicals and balanced handling the all-new MX-5 is ready to cement its place in the hearts of driving enthusiasts. More info.

– AVAILABLE NOW FROM VELOCE –

New! The book of the Mazda MX-5 Miata – The ‘Mk1’ NA-series 1988 to 1997
By Brian Long

This is the definitive history of the first generation Mazda MX-5 – also known as the Miata or Eunos Roadster. A fully revised version of an old favourite, now focussing on the original NA series, this book covers all major markets, and includes stunning contemporary photography gathered from all over the world. More info.

VIVA VELOCE!

Thanks to Davide Di Maggio, an Italian Publisher based in Florence for this photo – showing his copy of the Veloce catalogue. It was a pleasure to meet Davide at the London Book Fair last week and he expressed a keen interest in Veloce's range books on Italian motorcycles.

Browse the online version of the Spring 2015 catalogue on Issuu ...

VELOCE AT THE LONDON BOOK FAIR 2015

We are at The London Book Fair this week (14-16 April 2015). Come & see us on stand 4D69!

FISH & SHIPS 2015

Signed copies of Dorset from the sea by Steve Belasco will be available at Fish & Ships on April 11th & 12th 2015 at Portland Marina in Dorset. Free entry for all!

MEET THE AUTHOR: JON YATES

A chance to meet Jon Yates, the author of The Real Way Round – 1 year, 1 motorcycle, 1 man, 6 continents, 35 countries, 42,000 miles, 9 oil changes, 3 sets of tyres, and loads more ...

The event wil take place at Argyll Hotel Inverarary, Scotland on Friday 24th April 2015. Tickets £6.50 per person. Ticket price includes light finger buffet. All proceeds raised over the cost of the event will be donated to Kirsty's Kids Charity.

A pictorial diary of a once-in-a-lifetime motorbike trip across 35 countries, and a practical guide to motorcycling round the world – what to do first, what to plan for, and how to cope with the unexpected.



Click here for more info about the book.

GOODWOOD FOS TO MARK DEREK BELL'S MAIDEN LE MANS WIN

This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed will mark the 40th anniversary of Derek Bell’s maiden Le Mans 24 Hours victory with an incredible line-up of cars that have played a major part in the sports car legend’s racing career.
Bell made his race debut at Goodwood in 1964 and has remained intrinsically linked with the venue ever since, through a career that has included five wins at the world’s most famous endurance race, as well as World Sports Car titles in 1985 and ’86.

Bell’s success behind the wheel will be celebrated with a Hillclimb class exclusively for cars associated with his career. More than a dozen cars are already confirmed for the June 25- 28 event that celebrates the theme ‘Flat-Out and Fearless: Racing on the Edge’.
Pride of place will go to the Mirage GR8-Cosworth in which he and Jacky Ickx won at Le Mans in 1975 to begin an incredible run of results at La Sarthe for the Sussex racer.
Two Porsches with which Bell is synonymous are also set to feature: a Gulf 917 of the type in which he raced in 1971, and the ‘Rothmans’ 962C in which he scored his final victory at Le Mans in 1987, alongside Al Holbert and Hans-Joachim Stuck.
Bell’s career was both long and varied and this will be represented by the inclusion of an example of the Ferrari 246 single-seater in which he raced in the 1969 Tasman Series , and the Tecno PA123 in which he raced in Formula 1 in 1973.
A BMW ‘Batmobile’ 3.0 CSL similar to the one in which he won the 1973 RAC Tourist Trophy and an example of the Broadspeed Jaguar XJ12C he raced in the European Touring Car Championship are also set to appear.
The latter part of Bell’s career will be represented by the Kremer K8 Spyder he raced at Le Mans in 1994 and by the ‘Harrods’ McLaren F1 GTR in which he finished third in France the following season with his son Justin and Andy Wallace.

Derek Bell, five-time Le Mans winner, said: “Goodwood means an awful lot to me, so for Lord March to celebrate my first Le Mans win in 1975 with the Gulf Mirage, having done a heck of a lot of the testing here, is very special. When I was younger, all I wanted to do was race at Goodwood. I’d be on the farm pitching the hay and I’d hear the Formula 1 BRMs testing with guys like Juan Manuel Fangio and Ken Wharton behind the wheel. I never dreamed I’d go on to race other places and achieve so much success. And it all started here at Goodwood.”

Available from Veloce!
Gulf-Mirage 1967 to 1982
Ed McDonough

Details the origin and history of the Mirage sports cars, designed by the British-based John Wyer Automotive firm to contest the various versions of the World Sports Car Championship.

More info.

THE GOODWOOD 73RD MEMBERS’ MEETINGBy John Mayhead

For a few years now, some people have criticised the Goodwood Revival for being too much of a fancy dress party and less of a race meeting. Then last year the Members’ Meeting arrived on the scene- the critics are now well and truly silenced.

The 2015 Members’ Meeting- entitled the ‘73rd’ to carry on the tradition of the BARC meetings that took place from 1949 to 1966- took place last weekend and provided something for pretty much everyone who likes cars. With his finger ever on the pulse, Lord March has given the public two things they want: accessibility and special cars, lots of them.

The accessibility is superb. There are very few restricted areas and no VIP enclosures. Drivers, mechanics and the public mingle freely and all the paddocks are open- with the single exception of the modern Mercedes F1 car. Whether that says more about the nature of modern F1 or the fragility of the car, I’ll let you decide.

Then the cars themselves will cater to almost every taste: pre-war single seaters, ‘60s GT cars, ‘70s and ‘80s touring cars and my own favourite, the high air-box F1 cars of the Hunt/ Lauda/ Peterson era.

With so much to report on, we have chosen a few of our favourites from the weekend. First, we spoke to Anthony Reid, ex- British Touring Car ace and captain of the winning Methuen house. “It is a real privilege to be appointed by Lord March as one of only four House Captains for this unique event. The idea of having four Houses competing for honours is a great way of engaging all the members of the Club their families and friends whether they are Racers or Spectators.”

Reid’s own on-track contribution to the event was by driving a Triumph Dolomite Sprint in the Gerry Marshall Trophy. “It was really competitive through the field with very close racing and a bit of paint trading just like in the day.” With a field containing names such as Rob Huff, Emanuele Pirro and Tiff Needell, the scene was set for an epic battle, but it was the Mini of Nick Swift and David Clark’s Chevrolet Camaro that set the pace, with the latter coming out on top.

The Aldington Trophy, for pre- ’67 Porsche 911s and 901s was a highlight for many. Although BTCC’s Andrew Jordan took an easy win, the battle for second between Mark Bates and Phil Hindley was epic and thoroughly enjoyed by all watching.

Well known VSCC racer Julian Majzub was a pre- race favourite to win the Earl Howe Trophy for pre- 1935 Formula Libre cars. Unfortunately a recurring ignition problem plagued his 1927 Bugatti 35B, and despite dashing up to fourth place by the end of the start/ finish straight, the issue re-emerged and Julian sadly had to limp home.

The high speed demonstrations were also superb. The high air-box F1 cars included Lauda’s championship-winning 1975 Ferrari 312T, Hunt’s Hesketh 308C from the same era, a brace of Lotus 72s and Fittipaldi’s 1974 McLaren M23, to name just a few. As they screamed through the chicane and along the start/ finish straight, I was transported back to my childhood. My ears bled from the noise, but I savoured every second. Later, the biggest ever gathering of McLaren F1 GTRs took to the track, and then Mercedes let us see what their ex- Lewis Hamilton F1 car could do in the hands of Anthony Davidson.

In the car parks, we ran the first Hagerty UK Car Park Concours. We’ve noticed how many lovely cars are parked in the public areas of classic car events, and decided to acknowledge them. We took photos of our favourites from both days, then posted our shortlist on our social media. Our followers then decided which won best in show: a superb AC Aceca was judged to be the winner. Look out for our teams at shows later in the year!

Being Goodwood, there is still a ‘fancy dress’ element to the Members’ Meeting- on the Saturday night the place transforms into a street party, complete with circus performers and a fun fair. A huge hangar had been transformed into a communal meeting hall and lavishly decorated in the manner of a Hogwarts-esque public school. This won’t appeal to everyone, but it’s not central to the event- that is firmly left to the cars and racing. If you can afford the £80 day ticket cost, this is a superb meeting where you really can get closer to the action than pretty much anywhere else.

Text and pictures courtesy of Hagerty Classic Car Insurance. If you enjoyed this, there's more at www.hagertyinsurance.co.uk/Articles-and-Resources.