2000 Mazda Miata Mono-Posto Concept Pictures, Specifications, Information

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) unveiled the Mazda Miata Mono-Posto Concept, a one-off, one-seater throwback to fifties endurance racers at the SEMA show in 2000. The Miata Mono-Posto is an extreme expression of the Miata concept, "oneness between horse and rider," with no concessions made to practicality.

The Miata Mono-Posto is the first concept based on the second-generation Miata, introduced in 1998 as a 1999 model, and the fourth Miata concept overall. Other concepts have included the 1989 Club Racer, the 1995 M-Speedster and the 1996 M-Coupe.

The Miata Mono-Posto sports custom bodywork, including half doors, air intake in the hood, one-piece valence front and rear fascias, cowl-mounted rearview mirror, a minimalist windscreen and aluminum rollbar. Only the headlights and taillights are stock. The paint finish is a custom Red Pearl Mica.

Modifications include an HKS turbocharger and intercooler, HKS intake and exhaust manifolds and an HKS stainless steel exhaust, which result in a 36-percent increase in horsepower (to 190 hp @ 6100 rpm) and a 104-percent boost in torque (to 243 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm).

Other performance modifications include Racing Hart three-piece, five-spoke, 18-inch wheels (18x8 inch front and 18x9.5 inch rear), Baer Racing four-wheel disc brakes and HKS Hiper Damper Coil Over Suspension. The Miata Mono-Posto's purposeful interior features a Formula One-style Momo� steering wheel, Sparco� lightweight, one-piece racing seat and custom gauges.

"The Miata Mono-Posto is for one who wants to be alone with the road, focused purely on driving," said Tom Matano, Mazda Motor Corporation's executive designer in charge of global advanced design based in Hiroshima, Japan. "The idea of this concept was to take the fun of driving a Miata to the extreme."

HKS U.S.A. Inc. of Carson, Calif. assisted MNAO's R&D center in Irvine, Calif. in building the Miata Mono-Posto Concept.