Our first thought when looking at the future of MX-5 is “Oh hai!” as the vehicle’s scrunched front end smiles back at drivers and pedestrians. It looks extremely happy to be out on the road. Bumper and fender design has been curved more, probably to coincide with the Flow drawings and auto show vehicles Mazda has been touting since late 2005. With a more aggressive look it’s bound to catch the eye of new car buyers, separating it from many of the current products emerging from North American car makers. As Mazda Canada president Don Romano stated earlier this week: “I don’t ever see Mazda as being a mainstream company.” Looks like a step in the right direction – can’t wait to see a real life MX-5 model!

Ultimate Motorwerks (UMW) Wisconsin has announced that it will enter the 2008 Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship series. The team, formerly known as UEMSI Motorwerks, was renamed over the winter with the addition of new co-owner Gary Welk. UMW Motorwerks will join the MX-5 Cup after its most successful season of Spec Miata racing, which saw the two-car effort of Steve Welk and Jacques Dresang advance to the National Championship Runoffs. Steve Welk will campaign the one-car effort in this year’s MX-5 series for UMW Motorwerks in the team’s first venture into SCCA’s Pro Racing ranks. UMW Motorwerks aims to establish itself as a successful pro racing organization as it strives to win races and fans alike on the Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup series tour.

Can’t wait to see how popular the MX-5 Cup becomes down the road; both for Mazda enthusiasts and race fans!