To All The Cars I've Loved Before: Classic Car Restoration, JDM, and Automotive History Mar 17, 2025

Rotary Engine Adventures: Jon’s Most Exciting Mazda USA Restoration Project

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Car

Mazda MX-5

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.

Car

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.

Term

steering feel

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.

LIVE

So what, before we ramp down, I did want to ask, so what's the most exciting project that

you've led since you've been at Mazda?

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, and I remember driving the old, against the new, old being the 23 model

against the new 24, before, I think before we had announced it, but there were some

steering feel improvements, really see the changes, and that was just so fun.

I mean, it's like moments like that for me as a car guide, and I'm like, this is

just the best.

They just dumped, they just dropped it off at your house and said, here, drive it.

Well, at that time, I was actually in, I lived in California, so I've been back and forth

to Virginia a few times, but I was in California, so yeah, I just went into the R&D office

and that was, you know, half the day was driving those cars, and that was probably

the most exciting, and that followed by the 35th anniversary MX-5.

That's right, that's this year.

That was this year, yeah.

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.

steering feel

Mazda MX-5 / Miata Tesla Model 3

Original notes

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

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

*** Your Favorite Automotive Podcast - Now Arriving Weekly!!! ***

Listen on your favorite platform and visit https://carsloved.com for full episodes, our automotive blog, Guest Road Trip Playlist and our new CAR-ousel of Memories photo archive.

Don't Forget to Rate & Review to keep the engines of automotive storytelling—and personal restoration—running strong.

To All The Cars I've Loved Before: Classic Car Restoration, JDM, and Automotive History

Carly, Doug & Dave: Classic Car Experts, Motorsports Enthusiasts and Automotive Storytellers

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Rotary Engine Adventures: Jon’s Most Exciting Mazda USA Restoration Project

Mazda MX-5

Tesla 23 Model

steering feel

About this episode

Original notes