Tsutomo ‘Tom’ Matano, who is widely regarded as the ‘father of the Mazda MX-5’, has passed away at the age of 76.
Matano was Chief Designer at Mazda during the development of the original MX-5 and went on to oversee the following NB second-generation model.
He studied engineering at Seikei University in Tokyo before moving to California to study design at the Art Center School of Design in Pasadena.
Prior to joining Mazda, Matano had worked for GM, BMW and Volvo, but he found his ideal place at Mazda in 1983. In 1984, he penned the first outline of what was to become the MX-5.
During his career at Mazda, Matano was also key in the design of the RX-7 FD.
