Mazda celebrates the Miata's past, present, future (pictures)

As the automaker prepares to launch the fourth-generation of its fun-loving Roadster, Mazda celebrates 25 years of Miata production at the 2014 New York auto show.

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Miata production numbers 14 and 15 are two of three actual cars which sat on the stage when the roadster made its global debut at the 1989 Chicago auto show.

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The third production Miata on hand at the Chicago debut was production number 17. The first Miata to ever become a racecar, it was also the first of its kind to win an SCCA race.

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The Club Racer concept was also there at the 1989 Chicago  show with an even lower suspension, flush headlamps in place of the pop-ups, and wider fender flares. According to Mazda, it's still wearing the original tires that it debuted on.

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Six years later, Mazda returned to the Chicago auto show with the supercharged M-Speedster concept, boasting 200 horsepower and a race-ready chassis.

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The M-Speedster featured a chopped windscreen and twin-cowls behind the headrests that integrated storage for a pair of racing helmets.

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The legendary Mazda M Coupe was debuted at the 1996 New York auto show.

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The underpinnings were similar to the M-Speedster, but the fixed hardtop was inspired by the automaker's RX-7 sports coupe.

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This is the only 1998 Mazda Miata in the world. Falling between the end of the first-generation and the beginning of the second, it was built by Mazda's design to test the look of the upcoming 1999 model.

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By the time its second generation debuted, the Mazda Miata had gained a reputation as a great platform for building a racecar -- an interesting contrast to its other reputation as a secretary's car.

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The 500,000th Mazda Miata rolled off of the assembly line as a 1999 model.

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The 700,000th Miata ever built was a 2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5. This high-performance special edition dropped the Miata moniker in favor of a turbocharged and intercooled 1.8-liter engine, 180 horsepower, and a host of chassis and handling upgrades.

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I was there at the 2011 SEMA show when the Super20 was unveiled. This third-generation MX-5's bright orange paint and orange contrasting interior are eye-catching, but the 250 horsepower, supercharged engine was the real show-stealer.

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After completing multiple endurance races, this MX-5 Miata "retired" to a life of service as one of the official pace cars of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

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Mazda built this MX-5, nicknamed "Halfie," to illustrate the similarities and differences between a stock and race-prepped Miata.

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That's not a Photoshop job. The driver's half of this car has been race-prepped and roll-caged while the passenger side remains bone stock. The difference is a stark one.

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With 25 years under its belt, the MX-5 Miata celebrates with a limited 25th Anniversary edition, unveiled at the 2014 New York auto show.

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The special edition is coated in Soul Red Metallic premium paint that looks delicious in person.

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The wheel wells are filled with 17-inch Dark Gunmetal 10-spoke aluminum alloy wheels, which are wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza RE05A tires.

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The power retractable hard top is finished in a contrasting Brilliant Black. Personally, I'd have preferred the cloth top.

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The interior is finished in a Piano Black theme with red contrasts. Interestingly, the instrument panel is finished with a black-to-red gradient that is hand-painted. No two 25th Anniversary models will be exactly alike.

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Bilstein dampers are standard on six-speed manual transmission-equipped examples. In a perfect world, there would only be six-speed manual transmission-equipped examples.

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Only 100 examples of the 2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata 25th Anniversary Edition will be available for sale in the United States via preorder on MazdaUSA.com.

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Each example will feature unique, serialized 25th Anniversary badging.

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The 25th Anniversary Edition is both a celebration of the Miata's heritage and a farewell to the current third-generation model.

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Looking forward, Mazda showcased its Skyactiv Chassis, which will underpin the fourth-generation MX-5 Miata. The new chassis shaves 220 pounds off of the current model's weight,
 sits lower, and features a more efficient Skyactiv power-train. Long live the Miata.

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