Automakers are at their best when they are at their boldest. Building unconventional cars, entering into markets that are new to them, trying their hands at a different form of auto racing, creating some ridiculous niche vehicle — that's when they make the cars that people remember decades down the road, even if they…

If you pose the question "what kind of car should I get" to anyone here on Jalopnik, the answer will invariably be "Miata," no matter what you need to do. Towing something? Miata. Date? Miata. First car? Miata. Moving to Alaska? Miata.

Much of the new time travel/crime thriller Looper takes place in the year 2044, but it's not exactly an optimistic vision of the future.

The latest iteration of Mazda's KODO design language lands on the refreshed MX-5 Miata, replacing its Derpy smiling face with something slightly more aggressive. This upgrade is only for Japan now, but we're hoping and expecting it'll arrive here for the MX-5's next model year.

Compared to the sprawling efforts of Chevrolet and Ford, Mazda is taking a fairly laid-back approach to this year's SEMA show with five cars: two MX-5 Miatas, two Mazda2s, and a Mazda5 sure to inspire lust in suburban dads.

Greetings, proud German owner of this first generation Mazda Miata. The sentiment is appreciated, but please note that the Miata is one of those rare Japanese cars based not on a German car but a British one.

Always wanted the reliability and fun of a Miata but didn't care for the styling or naturally aspirated of one in stock form? If so, this 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata fitted with an aftermarket body and supercharged engine could be the small roadster of your dreams.

Mazda will only build 750 of these MX-5 Special Editions, essentially loaded models with some special paint colors. Outside of an auto show, this may be about as close as you can get to the $30,000 version of l'il Smiley.

To mark the sale of 900,000 Mazda MX-5s and Miatas, as well as disguise the aging parts underneath, Mazda will offer a 750-vehicle special edition MX-5, with all the available suspension goodies and a limited-slip differential standard.