Considered as one of the most popular sports vehicles in the world, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata has perfected the combination of speed, style, and affordability. Mazda continues to push the boundaries of the MX-5 Miata even further with the latest model which packs a V8 engine.
Dubbed simply as the Habu which refers to a Japanese pit viper, the car was developed by Flyin' Miata. The team fitted a V8 engine into the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Mazda MX-5 Miata Habu V-8 by Flyin' Miata https://t.co/RQAqwbancA pic.twitter.com/Xc7O2cZ7YR
— autoblog365 (@autoblog365) February 28, 2017
According to Car and Driver, two things were improved on the Miata Habu. First is the use of the compact, lightweight, aluminum LS V8 crate engine from GM. The second improvement being the introduction of the ND-generation Miata.
At the heart of this roaring Mazda MX-5 Miata sports car is a 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine. It is rated for 525-horsepower with a camshaft that is similar to the ones used in American Speed Association stock car racing.
Mazda designed the ND Miata to be lighter compared to its predecessors. Moreover, the company also left a lot of room in the engine bay which makes it easy to accommodate the massive V8 engine. The Miata brand is known throughout the world for its handling, and the Mazda MX-5 Miata Habu is not an exception.
Flyin' Miata did a handful of tweaks on the transmission too. The team ditched the stock transmission and replaced it with a Tremec T-56 speed-speed manual. An aluminum driveshaft taken from a fifth-generation Camaro SS was also fitted into the car. With all these impressive hardware packed into the MX-5 Miata's lightweight body, it is no wonder that it can accelerate from zero to 60mph in just 3.5 seconds, according to the official numbers provided on the Flyin' Miata website.
The Flyin' Miata 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata costs $85,301. It is not cheap, but it is certainly not slow.
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