Any Changes Will Be Slight, Officials Insist

It is almost a rule that any new car that succeeds because it is priced low and looks attractive will be modified over a very short period into a costlier, much different vehicle.

So fans of Mazda’s Miata might be concerned about the Japanese auto maker’s plans for the sprightly two-seat convertible. Well, Mazda executives are adamant that the basic design of the car won’t change anytime soon.

While the basic wedge shape on which most of today’s car design is based needs to be updated about once every four years, the Miata’s softer oval shape is good for 10 years, said George McCabe, vice president of operations at Irvine-based Mazda Motor of North America.

However, other changes are being discussed. There is now a debate between Mazda’s design and engineering purists and marketing forces over whether an automatic transmission should be introduced as an option in the United States.

The auto maker also will soon offer the Miata in a fourth color. So far, cars earmarked for the U.S. market come in one of three colors: red, white and blue. A solid silver, already available in Japan, is scheduled to be added. The choice of interiors, however, will remain limited to black cloth--at least for now.

Mazda officials hotly deny a rumor that they are planning a coupe version of the Miata--which made its mark largely because it is a convertible.

“The plan is to keep it this way. We are the only company in the sports car segment at both ends,” said McCabe. “We have the RX-7 for the sophisticated higher-end performance buyer, and the Miata is in the line as a pure fun car, an affordable sports car.”

Only about 50,000 Miatas are being made in the first year, with 40,000 planned for the U.S. market. Mazda officials said that the huge demand for the car in the early months won’t cause the company to increase its production.