It better be good after all this. The development tease of the Mk4 Mazda MX-5 (and Alfa Spider, or Abarth actually) has now continued for so long that the eager anticipation could be waning ever so slightly. Following the announcement of a Mazda/Alfa deal
back in 2012
, there's been little else to report other than the news of it probably being an Abarth instead, some
engine details
rolling chassis
Well this is fairly extreme...
And so it continues. According to our colleagues at
What Car?
the styling of the next MX-5 will take it very far from the current car and in fact away from the current look seen on the Mazda 3 and 6. Words such as 'radical' and 'extreme' have been uttered by an insider, promising for those who thought the Mk3 car a little nondescript.
As for the Abarth alternative, don't expect a BRZ/GT86 style relationship. The same insider said there will be 'absolutely no resemblance' between the two. So as well as deciding on which brand you prefer, there will be a looks decision to make on the roadsters also. Pricing may well be a factor moreover.
But all this is (again) conjecture unfortunately because there's nothing official on either car. In the MX-5's 25th anniversary year you would hope that some tangible progress will be made. There are rumours of an LA concept for later this year so we'll keep you posted. There has to be something soon, doesn't there?