01
A pass if it sells 70% of the first
Succeeding Toshihiko Hirai, Kijima became chief engineer of the Roadster while also handling the RX-7. Believing the second generation of a big hit often fails, he set his own target of about 280,000 units, about 70% of the first generation. Building on the first generation's design to meet crash-safety and emission regulations and keeping its size almost the same as the first, the second generation sold about 290,000 units and beat the target.
02
Giving up the design, but not the size
For the second generation's design, the development executive who had come from Ford had asked the US base for a proposal without Kijima knowing. Proposals were also requested from Europe and Hiroshima to compete, but the US proposal, for the market with the most sales, was chosen. Kijima told the designers never to exceed the first generation's dimensions, holding firm on small size and light weight. The second generation was well received not only in the US but also in Europe.
