It’s hard to imagine the fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata being much better than it is, considering that we’ve named it to our 10Best Cars list for the past two years. But it is fun to imagine how the car could have been different. Mazda has given us the opportunity to do just that by releasing all sorts of details about the ND roadster’s development process, including alternative styling proposals.
Design teams in Japan, Europe, and the United States began working on the ND Miata’s design in 2011. Once certain hard points and basic proportions were set, each of the three design studios submitted their proposed MX-5 designs in the form of 1/4-scale clay models. Two proposals, one from Japan and one from Mazda’s U.S. design studio in Irvine, California, made it past the initial stage and were turned into full-size design mockups.
Japanese Proposal
The MX-5 proposed by the Japanese team directly channeled the spirit of the NA Miata, with relatively simple, flowing lines as on the original, first-generation roadster. Although pop-up headlights were not possible, this design’s small slit headlights are a recognizable homage to the original Miata’s running lamps.

American Proposal
The California team’s Miata design was notably more aggressive, with sharper edges, a larger front grille, and proportions that emphasized the long hood and the short deck. The red softtop’s design incorporated an interesting flying buttre...