A staff member breaks down the 2011 Mazda MX-5 Special Edition in his latest car review for Bullz-Eye.com.

The 2011 Mazda MX-5 Special Edition PRHT (power retractable hardtop) is a great looking car, whether you’re inside the cockpit or watching her drive by. Our sparkling black mica test model was as much fun as we could handle in this pleasant, late-summer midwest weather.

Exterior
Mazda rolled out this special edition with just 750 copies being produced for the 2011 model year. The exterior has an upscale sporty look that boasts 17-inch alloy wheels with 205/45R17 high performance tires, body-colored front and rear bumpers, dual power remote door mirrors, aluminum hood, dual exhaust silver outlets and body \-colored power retractable hard top. Other notable exterior features include a chrome grille, Xenon headlights, glass rear window with defogger, silver seatback bar trim, fog lights and chrome outer door handles and front headlamp bezels. The retractable hard top gives the MX-5 Special Edition a stronger and more complete look that makes it stand out from rag top models.

Check out the full review.

It’s been an up and down week for car enthusiasts. On the one hand, a new Porsche 911 and the upcoming debuts of the Frankfurt Auto Show looks to carry fun cars into the future. On the other hand, the death of the RX-8 (and possibly the rotary engine itself) and the rise of a slightly warmed over Camry, point to the fact that it is still a very harsh market for enthusiast cars to survive in.

However, for your afternoon break, enjoy “Depth of Speed’s” JDM Legends Restored. This video shows us that there will always be a place for enthusiast cars in the marketplace because of the emotional bonds people create with them. You won’t see videos like this expounding a person’s love of their Toyota Camry no matter how many roll off the showroom floors.

Source: Vimeo

Bullz-Eye is truly enjoying driving and testing a 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition in some fabulous Midwest weather. The Sparkling Black Mica Miata has a hard top that drops in seconds and is one fun car to drive. Check back for our full review of this sports car in a few weeks.

Check out the full gallery!

Mazda has debuted their new CX-5 ahead of schedule. It was supposed to be at the Frankfurt Auto Show, but apparently they just couldn’t wait to take the covers off. This model is significant for two reasons. First, this is the first iteration of Mazda’s new design direction, “Kodo.” It supposedly means “soul of motion”, but Mazda has said current Mazdas.

Secondly, the CX-5 features Mazda’s SkyActiv systems. Skyactiv is the furthest Mazda believes traditional internal combustion engines can be pushed. It has direct injection, a 14:1 compression ratio, and a few other tricks. SkyActiv is not just engines though, it optimizes the entire car for fuel efficiency, including cutting weight and tuning the transmission for maximum mileage. The CX-5 is the first to receive this treatment, but these engines should be available in all Mazdas. A traditional gas engine will probably be available here in the U.S. as standard, and Europe also gets the choice of a diesel.

Mazda wipes the smile off of the CX-5’s face and gives it some serious tech. Can’t wait to see what Kodo and SkyActiv could bring to the Mazda 3 and next-gen RX-8.

You gotta love the iconic Mazda Miata! It rings of weekend drives with the top down and sunny days. That’s fine and dandy but how did this car perform when you want to really have some fun? Our friends at InsideLine took this bad boy for a few trips around the track and seemed to respect this roadster for it’s abilities. Hey, you have to remember this is a sub 25k car here!

Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we present “IL Track Tested.” It’s a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.

Mazda’s iconic roadster celebrates its 20th birthday in 2010, as the first MX-5 Miatas that rolled off the line in Hiroshima, Japan, were 1990 models. This seriously entertaining little car has proven to be a real survivor, particularly in the always fickle U.S. market. Other automakers have tried and failed to break into the affordable roadster niche (which now hovers around the $25,000 mark), and only the Mazda Miata keeps on keeping on.

Read the full article here.