RE: Mazda to beef up the MX-5?

RE: Mazda to beef up the MX-5?

Wednesday 10th May 2006

Mazda to beef up the MX-5?

256bhp turbocharged MPS version rumoured


Mazda MX-5
Mazda MX-5
Will there be a heated-up version of the evergreen Mazda MX5?

It appears that the iconic roadster, which restarted the roadster market on its own -- will gain an MPS-badged sibling, possibly with up to 256bhp.

Autocar reckons that rumours hint at a go-faster version powered by a Mazda's 2.3-litre turbocharged engine, although this is believed to cause packaging difficulties: they're not sure it'll fit. Another solution would be to turbocharge the exiting 2-litre mill.

Either way, it's clear that the MX-5 chassis can handle the power...

Author
Discussion

dinkel

Original Poster:

26,863 posts

257 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
S2000 competition . . . wonder what Honda will do . . . new V6 in an S3000? please . . .

skibum

1,032 posts

236 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
mmm 3.0 V6 Vtec (a la NSX) in an S2000 - that would be nice!

225

1,331 posts

225 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
Hopefully it wont be Autocars usual high level of truthfullness and actually happen!

manek

2,972 posts

283 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
To be fair, they do say it's only a rumour.

dinkel

Original Poster:

26,863 posts

257 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
skibum said:
mmm 3.0 V6 Vtec (a la NSX) in an S2000 - that would be nice!


Err, that Accord mill is new afaik . . . Beefed up to about 275 will do to make a huge performer. Seems logic.

Nice choice then: NA Honda and turboed Mazda.

will.naylor

42 posts

216 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
I really hope they do. I drove an mx5 for the first time about 7 years ago and hated it for being so underpowered and girly. It would be great to see a good looking, fun car like the mx5 with a bit of oomph. Wasn't there a grey import turbocharged old mx5? Never did find one.

Chris Type R

8,011 posts

248 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
skibum said:
mmm 3.0 V6 Vtec (a la NSX) in an S2000 - that would be nice!


The NSX lump wouldn't fit without a lot of rework IIRC - transverse mounted engine.

But, yes a slightly larger engined or Type R 100-150kg lighter S2000 would be nice

ploz

89 posts

228 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
Everyone knows it needs a nice small rotary package - RX5 anyone?

dinkel

Original Poster:

26,863 posts

257 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
ploz said:
Everyone knows it needs a nice small rotary package - RX5 anyone?


Nah, better do a targa RX then . . .

r988

7,495 posts

228 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
Well they turbocharged the last model, so I don't see why they won't do this one.

www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=47&i=9709
http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/A_1

hunttheshunt

1,093 posts

239 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
I had a BBR turboed MX5 for my wife back in the early nineties, 160bhp if I recall, but it wasn't all that quick to be honest. I found the on the limit handling a little frightening but that might have been this particular setup!

Nowadays you'd need 2-250bhp to make it interesting, things have moved on that much.

dewey

137 posts

230 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
I think a 250+bhp factory 5 would be great.

0-60 around 5 seconds, lots of torque from a 2lt or 2.3 engine - its in gear acceleration would be quick and out accelerate many cars ie Boxster S, S2000 etc.

I wonder what they would price it at though, bearing in mind the suspension, brakes and clutch would probably be uprated?

Theres already lots of 1.6 and 1.8 turbo 5's producing near and over 250bhp - and have been doing for a number of years.

peterpsg

813 posts

233 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
Why wait for less bhp when this is available already...

www.bulletcars.com/v8_super_cars/ssroadster.php

A reworked Lexus 4.0 V8 in something that was an MX5...

GTRene

16,314 posts

223 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
peterpsg said:
Why wait for less bhp when this is available already...

www.bulletcars.com/v8_super_cars/ssroadster.php

A reworked Lexus 4.0 V8 in something that was an MX5...


Thats realy a nice friendly MONSTER the story tels that the engine can go to 900hp! that in a MX5.....that would be euhm...much!
Wonder how the Ferrari man who stand next to it by the stoppinglights and laughs in his hands about a MX5 that was...till the light went green haha
GTRene

tuttle

3,427 posts

236 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
Gazboy said:
It still looks amphibious though....

You know that's the 1st time I've heard that said, but it's sooo true!

oagent

1,761 posts

242 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
I seem to remember reports of people putting RV8's into the series 1 mx5's for silly antics. I like the idea of a new mx5 with a smallish alloy v8, even a bog standard lexus 4 litre would work for me.

r988

7,495 posts

228 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
Wheres that chap on here who is putting an LS1 into an MX5

What it really needs though, is a V12, preferably a Veyron engine.

corradoboy1983

100 posts

231 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
Gazboy said:
It still looks amphibious though....


Haha! Yes, yes it does! I was wondering what it reminded me of!

I know of a guy who had an older style MX, and was doing an engineering degree. As his final year project he got a turbo unit from a 1.9 turbodiesel van, and fabricated the piping to attach it to his 1.8 MX-5! 250Bhp on the rolling road, and some insane turbo lag! Great bit of cheap fun!

Have thought for a while that they need to produce one a bit like that from the factory...

tuttle

3,427 posts

236 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
corradoboy1983 said:
Have thought for a while that they need to produce one a bit like that from the factory...


They do, or did anyway. The BBR MX5 official turbo kit, not quite to 250bhp though, 150 iirc but pretty darn respectable.

Spec went something like this....

Garrett T25 Turbocharger with integral waste gate control & water cooling
Air to Air Intercooler to matching finish of std engine
Auxiliary ECU Engine Management Computer
Boost phase fuel injection control plus Ign. Timing with 3 dimensional mapping
Super/Unleaded fuel switchover
Competition hoses
High Temperature cast alloy exhaust manifold / stainless shield
Stainless steel exhaust down pipe
optional Limited slip diff / Alloy wheels / Dunlop D40 M2 tyres
optional up rated suspension dampers and Anti-roll bars
BBR decals
The kit

Goes in like this!....


>> Edited by tuttle on Wednesday 10th May 19:30

corradoboy1983

100 posts

231 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
V interesting.. I never knew that! :-)

Were they quite rare?