There has been a lot of speculation about whether the Ford Festiva and the front-wheel-drive Miata are essentially the same vehicle. Although there are some similarities between these two cars, they are not identical.
Both the Festiva and the Miata have front-wheel drive, which means that the power from the engine is transmitted to the front wheels. This helps to improve traction and handling, especially in wet or slippery conditions.
However, the Festiva and the Miata have different designs and engineering. The Festiva was developed by Ford and Kia, while the Miata was developed by Mazda. The Festiva is a subcompact car that was produced in the late 1980s and early 1990s, while the Miata is a two-seater sports car that has been in production since 1989.
Overall, while there may be some similarities between the Ford Festiva and the front-wheel-drive Miata, these two cars are not the same and have unique features and designs.