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Full 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata pricing released

Take heart, roadster fans. The first 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miatas due for the US are now in production. To go along with that milestone, the Japanese automaker has finally released full pricing for the fourth-generation Miata. As previously revealed, the 2016 Miata in the base Sport trim starts at $24,915 (plus $820 destination), and for that outlay buyers get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 155 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque that's matched to a six-speed manual. The convertible comes standard with features like LED lighting and a Bluetooth-equipped audio system. For $1,075 more on all models, customers can spec a six-speed automatic gearbox, and keyless entry is another $130 but standard with the auto 'box. One rung up is the Club trim for $28,600, and it improves things with 17-inch wheels, a more aggressive body kit and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Order the manual trans, and the roadster gets a limited-slip differential, Bilstein dampers and a shock-tower brace. There's also a $3,400 package to make this version of the convertible even sportier with 17-inch BBS wheels, Brembo front brakes, side sill extensions and a rear bumper skirt. Among the regular trims, the top rung is the Grand Touring for $30,065 that adds luxuries like heated, leather seats, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, and adaptive headlights. Mazda's i-Activesense is also standard and includes blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and lane-departure warning. Finally, there's the Launch Edition, which is limited to 1,000 units, and it sells for $30,495 (or $31,570 for an automatic). All of them come in an exclusive combo of Soul Red with Sport Tan leather, and buyers get all of the Grand Touring's kit, plus standard keyless entry. The order site for these special roadsters opens on May 5, but hopefuls can pre-register now for a reminder. The first 2016 Miatas should hit dealers in late summer. That should provide some time for top down driving fun before it gets too cold. Related Video: U.S.-Bound 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Production Kicks Off Today - Mazda Also Announces U.S. Pricing for Entire MX-5 Lineup - IRVINE, Calif. (April 20, 2015) – The wait is almost over, as North America-bound 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata production began today, signaling the imminent arrival of the next generation of the world's most popular two-seat roadster at U.S. dealers.

Welcome Audi RS6 Avant, goodbye Lincoln Continental | Autoblog Podcast #592

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder and Assistant Editor Zac Palmer. Our editors cover a lot this week, starting with the news. They geek out over the Audi RS6 Avant coming to America, and mourn the loss of the Lincoln Continental. They address rumors of the Toyota Land Cruiser's demise, and analyze spy photos of the Ford Mach E electric crossover. They also honor the memory of the godfather of spy photography, Jim Dunne. Finally, they talk about driving the BMW Z4, Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, and another diesel, the diesel-powered Mazda CX-5 Skyactiv-D. Autoblog Podcast #592 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Audi RS6 Avant headed to U.S. Lincoln Continental discontinued Rumor: Toyota Land Cruiser to be canceled Ford Mach E spied RIP spy photographer Jim Dunne Cars we're driving: 2019 BMW Z4 sDrive30i 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel 2019 Mazda CX-5 Diesel Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video:      

RingBanana Miata breaks 9-min Nurburgring barrier

The RingBanana is a cheap Mazda MX-5 Miata on a screaming mission: to lap the Nurburgring in under nine minutes. And let us emphasize the word "cheap." The team wanted the least expensive Miata they could find that still ran, and then wanted to spend the least amount of money possible in order to hit their target mark. We don't know how much they spent on the Ringbanana, but they were so indiscriminate about the purchase that they don't know what year the car is. They only know that it's got 90 horsepower, green springs, Fulda tires, and "it's completely crap." After setting a base lap of 9:21.8 the guys behind the project figured they'd have a fair bit of work. Turns out a new set of Kumho V70A semi-slick, road-legal race tires paired with Gabriel Pirana's driving is all they needed. With just that mod Pirana set a lap time of 8:59.9, and that was while having to deal with one spot of slow traffic that was getting around a stricken car. According to Wikipedia, this puts them between a 2010 Range Rover Sport Supercharged and a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS. Even though the team achieved its goal on its first attempt, the Ringbanana game isn't over – there's probably a suspension mod in the near future while the guys figure out just how quickly they can go. The video above does a good job of showing just how fun it can be driving a slow car fast.