RE: New Mazda MX-5 unveiled

[djgritt]

Looks great!

[Herman Toothrot]

1248kg the outgoing 2.0 mk3.5 with folding hardtop, loose 100kg, so 1148kg that's 208kg heavier than a mk1.

[Ronin16VHF]

Skater12 said:

Imitation if the greatest form of flattery.

Indeed:

[simo1863]

any news on headroom? Really liked the previous one but struggled to fit in it with the roof up.

[Smitters]

Rather like the recently discussed lady in the Lounge, I absolutely would. That's outstanding.

[Phateuk]

RobGT81 said:

Phateuk said:

How much are these likely to cost? £20k?

Autocar said:

As such a base 1.5-litre model should cost around £20,000 when it hits the showrooms.

That's well priced IMO

[appletonn]

Herman Toothrot said:

1248kg the outgoing 2.0 mk3.5 with folding hardtop, loose 100kg, so 1148kg that's 208kg heavier than a mk1.

Hmm difference is, I'd not like to have a serious accident in my Mk1!!

For a modern soft top to get that close to 1000kg, I think is a fantastic achievement.

The Mk1 Mx5 was from a different era

[daddy cool]

I think it looks great. I think the 5 people in the audience do too!

[Phateuk]

Herman Toothrot said:

1248kg the outgoing 2.0 mk3.5 with folding hardtop, loose 100kg, so 1148kg that's 208kg heavier than a mk1.

[kambites]

That presumably means the higher powered model is likely to fall very close to the GT86/BRZ in price. I wonder if people will jump up and down to tell us that the MX5 is overpriced, too?

[storeys66]

I think it looks amazing. Even better, imagine what the Alfa Romeo version will look like? I think they've touted the same 4C engine, albeit slightly de-tuned for the Alfa version. Start saving (and convincing the other half) now...

[Lozw86]

Looks nice, could do with an extra 100bhp..

[GravelBen]

Herman Toothrot said:

1248kg the outgoing 2.0 mk3.5 with folding hardtop, loose 100kg, so 1148kg that's 208kg heavier than a mk1.

Mazda quote 1167kg for the folding hardtop, not sure where the 1248kg figure comes from?

[Sway]

appletonn said:

Herman Toothrot said:

1248kg the outgoing 2.0 mk3.5 with folding hardtop, loose 100kg, so 1148kg that's 208kg heavier than a mk1.

Hmm difference is, I'd not like to have a serious accident in my Mk1!!

For a modern soft top to get that close to 1000kg, I think is a fantastic achievement.

The Mk1 Mx5 was from a different era

Indeed, and I loved my Eunos Roadster...

However, the power has increased by a greater percentage than the weight, so power to weight has improved. The engine position also looks to shift the cog closer to the middle of the car, which should bode well for handling.

As for the chap mentioning arch gap and folding hard tops - go read the meaning of Jinba Ittai!

[Gandahar]

kambites said:

Herman Toothrot said:

So have they stated a weight anywhere as 100kg less is good if compared to the soft top mk3, but not worth talking about if against the folding hardtop version.

I thought the folding hardtop was only about 20kg heavier than the soft top?

Yes it's not that much more, however if Mazda have gone to all that trouble to lower the weight and C of G then it seems silly putting the kg right at the top if you had a choice. The soft top has a very quick and clever mechanism also, very quick to put down and not much more to put up.

Takes some balls, in this day an age when even 1.2 Corsa's have huge radius wheels that Mazda has kept with 16 or 17 as a base and higher profile tyres than a 19 inch etc.

Fuel economy will be interesting, they might try and make the engine / exhaust slightly more tuneful as well. Yes icing please on my cake. It is a nice cake from the look of it.

As others have said, it can be tuned up later from the aftermarket, good Mazda has done the adding lightness bit to start off.

[braddo]

This looks fantastic. Great work, Mazda. I think that Mazda putting so much effort into pursuing light weight and keeping naturally aspirated petrol engines across their range makes them my favourite mainstream manufacturer at the moment. They're good looking cars too (to the extent that is possible these days ).

Especially in red, it looks like a baby Ferrari California.

[Cotic]

Looks like it's half-way through a sneeze.

[Speed_Demon]

There will be some stunning modified examples of these of done right, much like the GT86/BRZ.

Think it's a brilliant progression of the mx5. Can't doubt it's going to be a great drive at 100kg lighter.

Looking forward to the reviews.

[Kozy]

That looks superb. Agree on the F Type a-like rear end, works very well.

Are these new engines rumoured to be turbocharged on NA?

[kambites]

Kozy said:

Are these new engines rumoured to be turbocharged on NA?

I don't think they're "new engines" as such, they're tweaked versions of the current "SkyActiv" petrol units used in other Mazdas. All are naturally aspirated in their current forms, I would assume they'll remain so.