When you’re zooming down the open road, the last thing you want to worry about is losing control on a corner or risking a body roll. Luckily, the 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata was designed to avoid this problem altogether.

While most sports cars rely on a stiff suspension setup to keep a strong grip on the road, the Miata allows drivers to lean a little bit during fast corners. While this may seem counterintuitive, Mazda’s technique allows for impressive ride comfort. That means the Mazda MX-5 Miata reduces the chance of a body roll without sacrificing the quality of the ride.

No Compromises

There are lots of things in the automotive industry that require compromise. For example, It’s hard to have a giant engine and impressive fuel efficiency, so engineers have to compromise. In regards to safely and quickly taking on corners, engineers tend to compromise some ride quality.

Most sportscars use something like an anti-roll bar. The stiffer the bar, the faster and flatter vehicles can take turns. Sadly, that also means drivers lose some of the comforts they want to experience during a joyride. Some higher-end cars use active anti-roll systems that allow for a more comfortable ride and flat cornering, but these systems weigh a ton and cost just as much.

Mazda found a way to provide excellent turn handling without losing a bit of comfort.

Meet Mazda’s KPC

Mazda engineers came up with an innovative system called Kinematic Posture Control (KPC). Instead of utilizing an anti-roll bar, this system uses braking to reduce body roll. New vehicles in the Mazda lineup are being equipped with this new system to provide unparalleled comfort at every turn.

Don’t confuse KPC with the inside braking found on the Mazda 3 hatchback, though. The Mazda 3 will lightly brake an inside wheel while taking a turn to create torque vectoring, which is a fancy way to say that torque is varied to each wheel independently.

With Mazda’s KPC, small amounts of braking are used to create a downward pull on the inside rear suspension. When the rear wheel moves up and down, the rear suspension helps guide the wheel on an almost diagonal path. Ultimately, the backward force from the brake creates upward force on the wheel as it follows that diagonal line.

What makes this system unique is the small amounts of braking that are used. A typical torque vectoring system typically applies at least 450 psi of braking pressure to a single wheel. The KPC system applies at most 45 psi. Unlike torque vectoring that is triggered by driver input, the KPC system senses the difference in speeds between the two rear wheels while taking a curve in the road. The car’s computer software kind of tricks the rear suspension into doing something it wouldn’t do on its own (following the diagonal path).

This KPC innovation isn’t the first time Mazda used software tweaks to improve cornering. It’s only been a few years since Mazda’s G Vectoring Control came on the scene. This system briefly reduces engine torque during a turn. The short-lived deceleration helps transfer weight to the front tires and creates greater traction on curves. The process takes place in microseconds and is completely unnoticeable by the driver.

Keep an eye out for the new 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata. The new KPC system is a game-changer for ensuring safe joy rides without adding heavy or expensive parts. Schedule a test drive at your local Mazda dealer and see it in action for yourself.