I always thought the Miata was supposed to be an updated more reliable MG
It is pretty much a copy of any LBC like the MGs, but if you look at a Lotus Elan and Miata (the first version) side-by-side, you’d see what Mazda copied, at least for the exterior.
Take a look at this page http://members.cox.net/elans4/ElanMiata.htm