Rotary Engine Adventures: Jon’s Most Exciting Mazda USA Restoration Project
About this episode
Jon shares his thrilling experiences working on the latest updates for the Mazda MX-5, highlighting the significant design changes and steering improvements for the 2024 model. He reminisces about the excitement of driving the new version compared to its predecessor and reflects on the joy of being involved in the 35th anniversary celebration of the iconic sports car. His passion for the MX-5 shines through as he recounts these memorable moments in his career at Mazda.
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Join the car enthusiasts in this short clip as Mazda USA’s Jon Leverett—raised in a Rotary family and whose first car was a silver 1988 RX-7—reveals his most exhilarating automotive project: restoring the iconic Cosmo rotary engine to build the “Red Dragon.”
The full episode is packed with restoration stories of beloved cars, automotive culture & history insights, driving experience tales, and vehicle design inspiration -https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/c10a8cae2d89d0f65fdfbc73f879aa09
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Mazda MX-5
"Yeah, probably MX-5. I mean, anything MX-5 related is just automatically the most exciting to me. So when we had the significant updates for 2024, where new headlights, taillights, refreshed design, wheels..."
The Mazda MX-5 is a small sports car that's very fun to drive. The 2024 version has some updates that make it look and feel better than the older model.
The Mazda MX-5, also known as the Miata, is a lightweight two-seater sports car known for its agile handling and fun driving experience. The 2024 model features significant updates including new headlights, taillights, and design enhancements.
Tesla 23 Model
"...r driving the old, against the new, old being the 23 model against the new 24, before, I think before we had..."
The Tesla Model 3 is a type of car that runs on electricity instead of gasoline, which means it doesn't produce exhaust fumes. It's known for being fast and having lots of cool tech features, making it a popular choice for people looking for a modern car. The talk about the 2023 and 2024 models probably focuses on new improvements and changes.
The Tesla Model 3 is an all-electric sedan that has gained significant popularity for its performance, range, and advanced technology features. It represents Tesla's effort to make electric vehicles more accessible to the mass market, competing with traditional gasoline-powered cars. The discussion around the 2023 and 2024 models likely highlights updates in technology, range, or design improvements.
steering feel
"...but there were some steering feel improvements, really see the changes, and that was just so fun."
Steering feel is how the car responds when you turn the steering wheel. If it's good, you can feel what the car is doing better, making it more enjoyable to drive.
Steering feel refers to the feedback and responsiveness a driver experiences through the steering wheel when driving. Improvements in steering feel can enhance the overall driving experience by making the car feel more connected to the road.
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