World Record For The Mazda MX-5

NOTTING HILL, UNITED KINGDOM – Sept 21, 2010: Mazda has broken a world record with its cult roadster MX-5, and entered the Guinness Book of World Records™. On 18 September 2010, 459 officially recognised vehicles formed the longest continuous MX-5 parade of all time at the grounds of the UNESCO Zollverein World Heritage site in Essen, Germany – clearly breaking the former world record of 249 vehicles set in New Zealand.

“The excitement leading up to this event was amazing,” said Jeff Guyton, President and CEO Mazda Motor Europe. “Over 600 MX-5 owners applied to take part; so many that we didn’t have room for them all because of technical reasons. The event, the parade, the many visitors – Mazda MX-5 showed today why it’s still one of the best-loved sports cars on the planet.”

The last seats in MX-5 world record parade were auctioned off at eBay for a good cause. This included co-pilot next to German actor Ralf Bauer, and one other Mazda MX-5. The auction for these coveted slots raised about $2,000, which Mazda Germany increased to $4,000 and donated to SOS Children’s Villages.

Cars from 17 countries took part in the world record attempt, with the lion’s share of parade participants coming from Germany. Several awards were handed out during the day’s entertaining program and at the party that followed setting the world record. The furthest distance to the parade with 2,800km was an MX-5 from Moscow which attended with a group of nine other Russian MX-5s. The oldest MX-5 award went to a car that was 21 years and two months old from Prague, and the MX-5 with the highest mileage of 344,624km came from Switzerland. Visitors to the event voted for the most beautiful MX-5 at the Beauty Parking location, and a brand new 20th Anniversary Edition MX-5 was handed over to the lucky winner of Mazda’s online drawing prior to the event.

The Mazda MX-5 is no stranger to breaking World Records as it is already listed in the Guinness Book of World Records™ as being the world’s best selling two-seater roadster. Over 850,000 Mazda MX-5’s have been sold since it was first introduced in 1989.