Automotive
Tom Matano, the visionary behind the unique Mazda MX‑5 Miata, has passed 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, but a complete generation of enthusiasts and designers.
Matano’s journey began in Nagasaki in 1947. After earning an engineering degree from Seikei University, he moved to the U.S. to check on the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Early in his profession he worked at GM’s Holden studio in Australia and later at BMW in Germany. But it surely was when he joined Mazda’s North American design studio in 1983 that every little thing clicked for him.
At Mazda he took on the ambitious task of turning dreams into reality. One in every of those dreams became the MX‑5 Miata. He helped launch the automotive in 1989. It wasn’t only a sports automotive. It echoed classic roadsters. It was light, easy, fun, inexpensive, and utterly charming. He also played a pivotal role within the design of the third‑generation RX‑7, a automotive many still regard as one of the crucial beautiful Japanese vehicles ever made.
Matano didn’t just design cars. He belonged to the Miata community. He kept close ties with owners, racers, and fans. He supported events. He signed autographs. His signature tagline, “At all times Inspired,” became a part of the automotive’s identity. He believed design was dynamic, not static. A automotive should evolve, not be left behind.
In 2002 he left Mazda to change into executive director of the School of Industrial Design at San Francisco’s Academy of Art University. There he influenced many young creatives—not only future automotive designers but students from all disciplines who wanted to know what art, emotion, and craftsmanship can bring to functional objects. He retired recently but remained engaged with the automotive world and the community he helped foster.
Tom Matano’s designs endure. Over 1,000,000 Miatas, the enduring lines of the RX‑7, his mentorship of future designers—these are threads of his legacy. Every open‑top drive, every enthusiastic “top down” moment, every loving restoration of a classic Miata is a component of his story. He will probably be missed by everyone who believes that cars are greater than just machines.
Let me know in the event you’d like a tribute post with photos or memories from Miata owners or from his students.
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Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate enthusiast with over 15 years of experience immersed on the planet of cars. Whether it’s exploring the most recent advancements in automotive technology or keeping an in depth pulse on breaking industry news, Lloyd brings a pointy perspective and a deep appreciation for all things automotive. His writing blends technical insight with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions each informative and interesting for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or under the hood, Lloyd enjoys test driving the most recent models and staying ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive landscape.
This Article First Appeared At www.automotiveaddicts.com
