Tom Matano, Legendary Designer of the Mazda Miata, Dies at 76 : Automotive Addicts

Automotive

Tom Matano, the visionary behind the unique Mazda MX‑5 Miata, has handed away at age 76. He died September 20, 2025. What makes his loss so poignant is how deeply his design spirit influenced not only a single automotive, however an entire technology of lovers and designers.

Matano’s journey started in Nagasaki in 1947. After incomes an engineering diploma from Seikei College, he moved to the U.S. to check on the Artwork Heart Faculty of Design in Pasadena. Early in his profession he labored at GM’s Holden studio in Australia and later at BMW in Germany. Nevertheless it was when he joined Mazda’s North American design studio in 1983 that all the things clicked for him.

At Mazda he took on the formidable process of turning desires into actuality. A kind of desires turned the MX‑5 Miata. He helped launch the automotive in 1989. It wasn’t only a sports activities automotive. It echoed traditional roadsters. It was gentle, easy, enjoyable, inexpensive, and completely charming. He additionally performed a pivotal position within the design of the third‑technology RX‑7, a automotive many nonetheless regard as one of the stunning Japanese autos ever made.

Matano didn’t simply design automobiles. He belonged to the Miata group. He saved shut ties with homeowners, racers, and followers. He supported occasions. He signed autographs. His signature tagline, “At all times Impressed,” turned a part of the automotive’s id. He believed design was dynamic, not static. A automotive ought to evolve, not be left behind.

In 2002 he left Mazda to turn into government director of the Faculty of Industrial Design at San Francisco’s Academy of Artwork College. There he influenced many younger creatives—not solely future automotive designers however college students from all disciplines who wished to grasp what artwork, emotion, and craftsmanship can convey to useful objects. He retired lately however remained engaged with the automotive world and the group he helped foster.

Tom Matano’s designs endure. Over 1,000,000 Miatas, the long-lasting traces of the RX‑7, his mentorship of future designers—these are threads of his legacy. Each open‑high drive, each enthusiastic “high down” second, each loving restoration of a traditional Miata is a part of his story. He might be missed by everybody who believes that automobiles are extra than simply machines.

Let me know if you happen to’d like a tribute put up with photographs or recollections from Miata homeowners or from his college students.

Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate fanatic with over 15 years of expertise immersed on the earth of automobiles. Whether or not it’s exploring the newest developments in automotive know-how or conserving a detailed pulse on breaking trade information, Lloyd brings a pointy perspective and a deep appreciation for all issues automotive. His writing blends technical perception with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions each informative and fascinating for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or below the hood, Lloyd enjoys check driving the latest fashions and staying forward of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive panorama.