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Manila Bulletin devider Drive devider Mazda MX-5 designer has passed away

Mazda MX-5 designer has passed away

Tsutomu 'Tom' Matano's legacy

Published Sep 23, 2025 12:58 pm  |  Updated Sep 23, 2025 02:15 pm

At A Glance

  • The designer of the original Mazda MX-5, Tom Matano, has passed away.
  • The Nagasaki-born executive penned the world's best-selling convertible sports car.
Much of the world may not be familiar with Tom Matano, but chances are, you’ve seen one of his creations rolling around. Tsutomu ‘Tom’ Matano is best known for designing the 1989 Mazda MX-5 / Miata.
Matano was born in 1947 and later moved to the US in 1970. There, he found work first with General Motors, which subsequently moved him to Australia to work under the Holden design team. There, they worked on the Holden Torana. He also had a short stint with BMW in Germany and Volvo in Sweden.
However, much of Matano’s later career was spent working as Chief Designer for Mazda North America. There, he designed vehicles like the 1989 MX-5, and Miata M-Coupe concept car, and 1993 RX-7 (FD).
The MX-5 was actually first conceived way back in 1984, five years before it made its global debut in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show as the Mazda eXperimental 5.
As for the RX-7, Matano was not the lead designer, but he helped Mazda's Chief designer (at the time), Yoichi Sato, in refining the looks of the also iconic sports car.
Little did he know that the humble little MX-5 would go on to become one of the best-selling roadsters in the world and continue to sustain a cult-like following nearly 40 years after it was first unveiled. As for the RX-7, it continues to be highly sought after because of its futuristic design for the time and unique rotary engine, as well as starring role in the Fast and the Furious franchise.
Mazda Philippines also brought him in to the country on multiple occasions, where he would meet many passionate MX-5 and RX-7 owners in the country and see how they continued to lovingly car for his creations to this day.
Sadly, Matano passed away just a few days ago, at the age of 77.
Nonetheless, you can still converse with him to this day, albeit virtually. If you have a copy of Gran Turismo 7 on PS4 or PS5, you will be greeted by Tom Matano if you happen to bring an MX-5 to the in-game cafe. There, Tom will share with you a little bit of history about himself and the car.
There’s no question that his creations will surely become collectible classics and his legacy will live on for decades to come.

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