He was 75 years old when he died earlier in the month.
The Mazda MX-5 Miata that we all know today was born more than 30 years ago. It was a fun-to-drive, simple roadster. This ethos has not changed. Although the car’s design has changed over the years, they still rely on Shunji Tanaka’s original design. He was the original chief designer of the car, responsible for bringing it to production. He passed away earlier in the month, unfortunately.
Tanaka’s death was announced by a friend on Facebook. He said that Tanaka’s final words were “I have no regrets in my life.” Tanaka was 75. Mazda hosted a competition among its global design studios to select the Miata’s design. The California team won the Tokyo design and Mazda took the California car home. Mazda Tanaka was given the task of translating the concept’s design into a first-generation NA Mazda, and he became one of many who helped to create the two-door icon’s design.
Shunji Tanaka, the original Mazda MX-5 Miata designer, has passed away
Although Tanaka is not well-known, after designing the Miata’s interior, Tanaka went to work at Kawasaki, where he was responsible for the design of motorcycles. While still employed by the company, he also designed the Mazda 929. Although the basic formula is the same, the fourth-generation ND Miata has more curves and angles that the original.
The next major change in the car’s future will be electrification. Mazda confirmed that the Miata will have some form of electrification by 2030. However, it doesn’t say how much. Although a fully-electric Miata is a possibility, it might be too heavy for the enthusiast to drive. The most likely scenario is a mild hybrid with a powerful engine. This would allow for a balanced electric powertrain and driving pleasure. Whatever Mazda chooses, we expect Tanaka’s original design to guide the new design.