2006 Mazda Miata
Moxxy is a 2006 Mazda Miata which was customized in 2007. This car features nearly 100 modifications, ranging from small details, to things like suspension, brakes, exhaust, interior, wheels, and AV, and more. Moxxy was premiered at the 2007 Carlisle Performance and Style event, taking home the award for “Hottest Mazda” among a group of solidly executed competitors. This fine example has also garnered a number of trophies at events primarily focused on hot rods, it certainly gets its share of attention.
The design concept behind this project was to create an upmarket version of the Miata (similar to Lexus > Toyota, Acura > Honda etc.) With somewhat of a European flare. To that end, elements from Momo, BBS, Mazdaspeed, Pioneer, Borla and many others were incorporated. A custom two-toned leather interior was installed, and various paint details help to make even the smallest features stand out. Coilover shocks and front bracing not only allowed for a true sport stance, but also results in a car that sticks to the road and handles like a true sports car. Yet with all of these added features, there are still a few more upcoming details planned to really push Moxxy to the pinnacle of the Mazda NC world.
Here are some of the many details of this project...
The details on Moxxy are numerous. Quite a lot of minor modifications have been made to this car, all adding up to a more luxurious version with improved handling and a more robust driver experience. Only a few minor changes were made to the exterior. The factory paint color dazzles just as it is, so, other than wheels and tires, only a few chrome appointments were added.
The polished roof brackets are a standard feature. Here, you can see the complimentary chrome third brake light and fuel fill door.
The wheels selected are forged BBS wheels. The original tires were B.F.Goodrich G-Force radials, which were replaced at the end of their life with Michelin Pilot Sport 3s, due to discontinuation of the original tires. The stock cylinders were painted and fitted with Yellow Stuff brake pads. Dimpled, slotted rotors replaced the originals. This car will stop from 35 MPH in a single car length on dry pavement. Of course, the coil overs don’t hurt either. Provided by Mazda Speed, these shocks, based on Eibach components keep Moxxy firmly planted.
A lot of details, large and small set the interior apart from any other Miata out there. The seats were reupholstered in leather, 2-toned to blend the inter and exterior colors, the blue fabric was carried onto the door-cards. Accent lighting is pervasive, adorning seat bottoms, foot wells, HVAC vents, among other locations. Blue and argent paint details bring the once all black interior to life. Metal pedals, foot guards and details, along with a MOMO shift knob hearken to high end European sportscars.
Electronics play a big part in this transformation, and include a Pioneer Avic Z2, which was just becoming available at the time of this build, Pioneer amps, JL ZR1 speakers and an on board readout for the computer, which can automatically display fault codes, as well as a variety of vehicle dynamics information. Various security features round out an electronics package which is, well, exhaustive.
The third generation Miata was designed with utmost emphasis placed on weight reduction from the previous model, even though it is a bigger car. Parts were re-engineered to remove as little as a gram of weight. It was, therefore necessary to make certain that the additional features that comprised this build did not defeat those efforts. Here you see two Pioneer amps, and a Stinger Capacitor, which along with the custom, hand machined rack weigh around 12 lbs. The diamond plate beneath them is made from a polyvinyl sheet attached to foam sign board, which replaces the original trunk pan liner that weighed at least half that. The Red-Top battery that replaced the factory battery is offset by around the same weight, and the wiring runs fore and aft along the center line so the perfect weight distribution remains unaltered. Any weight added overall was offset by the wheels.
Few changes were made under hood, including the addition of a Mazda Speed suspension stiffener, air horn for the alarm, and an Optima red-top battery. Note the terminals, and the Mazda logo added to the battery, a small yet evocative detail.
In all, this project, up to this point took close to six months. The first two months were spent specing the correct set of pieces and details to make Moxxy really stand out. The majority of the rest of the work was done in the next two months, following a reveal at the 2007 Performance & Style event,at Carlisle, PA, where we earned the award for Best Mazda. The trunk components for the stereo were not ready for that show, but were completed and installed afterwards. Of course, no car is ever really finished, and I do have some additional ideas for Moxxy. Whenever that all happens, details will be presented.