Could the new Mazda MX-5 be launched as early as next month? That's the news from respected US car mag
Autoweek
, who claims to have a reliable source for information that the long-awaited replacement will be unveiled at the New York motor show on April 15.
Even without a turbo, current MX-5 rather good
The car isn't expected to go on sale until next year but given Mazda has announced an MX-5 25th birthday spectacular at the NY event, then it makes very good sense to put the new car centre stage.
It's a keenly awaited car in this parish, where love of the simple, front-engined, rear-drive design has won it PH Hero status, and even managed to convince Chris Harris, who grudgingly agreed the original car had charm in this memorable video.
We don't know much about the car, with the only official news being that Mazda will make a version for the Fiat Group, likely to be badged an Alfa but also possibly an Abarth or even a Fiat.
The Mazda version is expected to have the company's 1.5-litre Skyactiv engine on board, perhaps boosted from the 99hp it makes in versions of the new Mazda3. It could also get a version of the related 120hp 2.0-litre engine too.
There are plenty of fans waiting...
Either way it'll be a whole better on economy than the current MX-5, whose sole 1.8 engine is pretty poor at an official 40mpg and 167g/km of CO2. True, this isn't a big PH concern, but given we like 'em secondhand, it would be nice if there weren't barriers to folk buying them new. Last year across the whole of Europe just 6,049 MX-5s were bought, which needs to improve if we're to have a good choice later, especially at
Shed level
The new 2.0 Skyactiv petrol engine in the Mazda3 for example manages official economy of 55mpg and CO2 of 119g/km, which is seriously impressive given how torquey the unit is.
Over last few months there have been various stories about how the new MX-5 is going to strip the weight and hark back to original spirit of the Mk1 car from 1989 (also first shown in the US). All good news if true.
Earlier this year Mazda was quoting worldwide sales figures for all three incarnations of 927,492. Maybe the company is aiming to engineer for the one millionth car to be sold in the run up to the New York show, but surely an all-new car is a better way to get everyone talking MX-5 again?