2020 has been a shitty year. There’s no other way around it. But change your perspective a little, and you can also say that 2020 has been a great year for the human spirit and the drive to help others in need.
The latter is one of the reasons why Mazda created the Mazda Heroes program, which aims to give back to individuals who are putting in the time and effort to help other people. To show its appreciation, Mazda will choose 50 people who have proven that not all heroes wear capes. All 50 people will not only be recognized for their efforts, but they’ll also go home with a Mazda MX-5 Miata 100th Anniversary Special Edition.
How will Mazda find these 50 individuals?
Mazda isn’t technically going to find them; you’re going to have to nominate someone you know who fits the criteria that Mazda has laid out. If you know someone in your community who has gone over and above what’s needed for the sake of helping others, then you can nominate that person to Mazda through a one-minute video that you can upload in Mazda’s dedicated website for this initiative.
Who’s eligible to be nominated?
But anybody who has done something for their community can also be nominated. Mind you, Mazda made it a point that nominees don’t have to be healthcare workers who have risked their own lives in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. Teachers, police officers, and even ordinary citizens who have shown kindness, courage, and selflessness throughout these trying times are also eligible to be nominated.
When are entries due and who decides the winners?
The Mazda Heroes program is accepting stories through October 25, 2020. It’s unclear what kind of process Mazda will use to choose all 50 winners, but it does appear that the automaker, or at least a panel of individuals within the company, will be the one to pick out the winners. In any event, Mazda will announce the winners on December 2, 2020.
What do the winners receive?
In addition to the respect and admiration of everyone, each of the 50 winners of the Mazda Heroes program will receive a Mazda MX-5 Miata 100th Anniversary Special Edition. Developed to commemorate the automaker’s 100th anniversary, the MX-5 Miata 100th Anniversary Edition is a special breed of the current-generation MX-5.
It’s dressed in a Snowflake White Pearl Mica paint finish that helps distinguish the model from all other MX-5 Miatas out there. Soft-top versions of the special edition MX-5 come with a red fabric roof whereas RF versions of the roadster will come with a black roof. Specific identifiers are also scattered throughout the body of the roadster, including a “100 Years 1920 — 2020” badge that’s located on the front fender and a red and black 100th Anniversary logo on the wheel center caps. Inside, the exclusive touches include red leather seats with matching carpets, and embossed 100th Anniversary logo on the headrests, as well as a similar emblem on the key fob.
There are no engine upgrades to the special edition Miata’s 2.0-liter SkyActive-G engine. The unit still produces 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. Prospective owners can choose between a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Either way, all the power coming from the engine goes to the rear wheels.
Not that it matters to the winners, but pricing for the MX-5 Miata 100th Anniversary Edition with the six-speed manual transmission starts at $32,670 for the soft top. Opt for the RF version and prices for the model start at $35,425. Meanwhile, the six-speed automatic transmission takes the price to $33,195 and $35,750, respectively.