The Mazda MX-5 Miata roadster even lands a spot on our list as a long-term open-air companion.

FORBES: Cars That Can Last For 250,000 Miles (Or More)

The BRZ, very much by design and very much in the style of the great Mazda MX-5, goes in the other direction, drawing out and exaggerating automotive cues that give the impression of going fast at wholly more sane speeds.

WSJ: 2013 Subaru BRZ Review: It's Thinker Than You Fast It Is | Rumble Seat by Dan Neil

It was through racing, for instance, that Mazda discovered a gear box problem with the MX-5 Miata.

FORBES: Mazda's Newest Race Cars Are Powered By Chicken Guts