Merlot

Details

Limited Name

Engine Size

Torque

Maximum BHP

0 - 62

1,839

114lbft @ 5000rpm

131 @ 6500rpm

8.6 Secs

Colour Availability

Vin Rouge Mica

Numbers Made

600

Manufacture Date

June - October 1996

Cost When New

£16,350

Limited Edition Gift / Souvenir

N/A

What's in the name ?

The "Merlot" is thought to be named after a wine that Mazda UK thought looked closest to the cars colour, this wine was called Merlot, hence the name they gave the paint, "rouge" a red wine. The picture on the front of the brochure supports this theory as the car is also pictured outside a Wine Estate.

A Merlot photo gallery can be seen below, click on any thumbnail to enlarge photo,

use the arrows left/right to view more thumbnails.

Below the original Merlot Mazda sales brochure can be viewed.

Hover over thumbnail for description and click to view full size.

Safety And Driving Equipment Specification

X= Standard O= Optional

ABS Brakes		Electric windows
EBD		Climate Control
Torsen LSD		Air Conditioning
Drivers Air Bag		Leather Seats	x
Passenger Air Bag		Heated Seats
Side Air Bag		Leather Steering Wheel	x
Seat Belt Pre-tensioner		Wooden Gear Shift
Traction Control		Wooden Handbrake
Central Locking		Heated Mirrors
Remote Locking		Heated Rear Screen
Immobiliser	x	Heated Front Screen
Electric Aerial		Electric Mirrors
Sports Suspension		Wood Trim	x
6 speed Gearbox		Aluminium Trim
Shock Tower Brace		Scuff Plates
Cockpit Brace		CD Player	x
Body Kit		Upgraded Speakers
Rear Spoiler		Alloy Wheels	x
Front Spoiler		Front Fog Lights
Boot Release		High Level Stop Light
Power Steering	x	Cassette Player

General Merlot Specification Details

The Merlot is based on a Standard 1.8

Details of the extra equipment fitted to make this limited Edition are listed below.

It is thought that Mazda released the limited edition Merlot and Monaco to try and divert attention away from the then newly released MGF

Finished in a stunning Vin Rouge Mica that was unique to the Merlot limited edition, the car also featured 15 x 6.5JJ Phantom 5 spoke alloy wheels with locking wheel nuts, sporty Dunlop SP 2000 tyres were also standard.

The interior was also a highly luxurious place to be sitting, with the seats finished in grey leather and burgundy piping around the edge, the centre console featured a wood trim which took the owner back to sports cars of yesteryear.

The steering wheel was leather trimmed (although it is worth noting that this was only available on the first 400, the remaining 200 cars had polyurethane) in car entertainment was delivered via a Clarion DRX81- 175R single disc unit with RDS (although a multi disc changer was available for the boot at extra cost)

The car also featured colour coded rear mud flaps.

This is probably one of the most sought after early MX5's and along with the Harvard is one of my personal favourites.