RE: Mazda MX-5 BBR Super 220 | Driven

[Dr G]

I want to hear it!

[V8 FOU]

ben5575 said:

Yes, it's the stock PH journalist joke for every article.

.

That and "twist".... it's torque you dummy.


And Yawn, another MX5 article. PH MX5 matters......

[anonymous-user]

SFO said:

The Hypno-Toad said:

until the MX-5 returns in March 2020. (fingers crossed!)

why are they stopping further imports for 8 months?

I was told this too when I ordered one. No factory orders, channel/dealer stock only.

I intend to get this BBR package when my Mazda warranty expires in three years, it sounds like I'd better not try a car with it until then. I'm very keen to try a car with the Mazda eibach lowering springs too, I'll be using the car a lot so don't want spine shattering ride or constant grinding on speedramps!

[flukey5]

SFO said:

The Hypno-Toad said:

until the MX-5 returns in March 2020. (fingers crossed!)

why are they stopping further imports for 8 months?

I imagine this is an emissions thing? I wonder what changes will be made after 8 months.....

[The Hypno-Toad]

flukey5 said:

SFO said:

The Hypno-Toad said:

until the MX-5 returns in March 2020. (fingers crossed!)

why are they stopping further imports for 8 months?

I imagine this is an emissions thing? I wonder what changes will be made after 8 months.....

Correct. The new punitive regulations which are being introduced at the end of the year would increase the cost of the car hugely. My guess is that Mazda and the other manufacturers are hoping that by March they might of appealed the fining structure and got a slightly more sensible system in place.

https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/transport/vehi...

In the meantime, if you want a new one you better love orange...

Edited by The Hypno-Toad on Tuesday 20th August 10:11

[Prestonese]

The Hypno-Toad said:

Correct. The new punitive regulations which are being introduced at the end of the year would increase the cost of the car hugely. My guess is that Mazda and the other manufacturers are hoping that by March they might of appealed the fining structure and got a slightly more sensible system in place.

In the meantime, if you want a new one you better love orange...

There are a few decent pre registered ones around sitting in dealers and not really shifting. I bought one recently - a 2.0 sport nav+ with 800 miles on the clock for A LOT less than expected. Stock it is well set up for UK roads but the tires and springs are probably the first things needing an upgrade.

[Terminator X]

This sounds great as the standard car is such a cool thing anyway. Lady in our street has one and it always catches my eye on the way out.

TX.

[redroadster]

Drove on Sunday really disappointed vibration through gear lever was irritating ,scuttle shake and felt too harsh a ride and before everyone jumps in there's no need for a sports car to rattle about just good dampers and set up would sort .

[Terminator X]

Robmarriott said:

except it wasn't, that was 1998cc and 197bhp, which is 98.6bhp/ litre

What about the Honda Integra's they were over 100hp per litre afaik?

TX.

[dinkel]

Baldchap said:

markj113 said:

"Thought 100hp per litre through normal aspiration was now only the preserve of hypercars?"
achieved by the mitsubishi FTO GPX from 1994, progress lol

Emissions.

If we're ignoring the climate the engine has to work in, bike engines were doing this in the early 80s (and probably late 70s, if you dig a bit).

No need to grab a Caterfield when Mazda does such a wonderful job. This conversion seems to nail it.

[Simon Owen]

Interesting reading a review about something you have had much exposure too.

I would concur with much of what is said, the good bits far outweigh the bad stuff but there are some compromises that the reviewer fails to mention. It's been done to death I know but I can't believe that chassis stiffness / 'average' EPAS system don't get mentioned more in these articles.

[fido]

Terminator X said:

Robmarriott said:

except it wasn't, that was 1998cc and 197bhp, which is 98.6bhp/ litre

What about the Honda Integra's they were over 100hp per litre afaik?

TX.

Yes. But another thing to note is peak power is produced lower in the rev range (7800 for this BBR). The Integra Mk1 produced peak at 8700 rpm using lumpy cams whereas this SkyActive has dual valve-timing throught the rev range. So whilst headline bhp/litre figures haven't changed that much - you're getting a cleaner, more robust / cheaper-to-produce N/A engine. I'm sure they could deliver 125bhp/litre but then it will be Ferrari money instead of MX-5 small change.

Edited by fido on Tuesday 20th August 11:34

[DStanley1809]

SFO said:

why are they stopping further imports for 8 months?

The salesman we bought our MX-5 from earlier this month said they're stopping production to re-tool for an updated MX-5. He claimed it would be a hybrid.

We were told we couldn't place a factory order at the moment and had to choose from current stock in the dealer network.

[Prestonese]

Simon Owen said:

Interesting reading a review about something you have had much exposure too.

I would concur with much of what is said, the good bits far outweigh the bad stuff but there are some compromises that the reviewer fails to mention. It's been done to death I know but I can't believe that chassis stiffness / 'average' EPAS system don't get mentioned more in these articles.

Oh yes. That's a good point actually. The steering on the stock car is as dead as a dodo.

[Simon Owen]

fido said:

Yes. But another thing to note is peak power is produced lower in the rev range (7800 for this BBR). The Integra Mk1 produced peak at 8700 rpm using lumpy cams whereas this SkyActive has dual valve-timing throught the rev range. So whilst headline bhp/litre figures haven't changed that much - you're getting a cleaner, more robust / cheaper-to-produce N/A engine. I'm sure they could deliver 125bhp/litre but then it will be Ferrari money instead of MX-5 small change.

Edited by fido on Tuesday 20th August 11:34

Power and torque delivery of the BBR SkyActive 4 pot is really impressive, feels surprisingly good low down but revs and pulls cleanly to the red line, if anything it's a bit too linear !! My comments are made in ref to the mk1 ND .... the later car revs slightly higher so likely a bit more exciting in this regard.

[832ark]

Terminator X said:

Robmarriott said:

except it wasn't, that was 1998cc and 197bhp, which is 98.6bhp/ litre

What about the Honda Integra's they were over 100hp per litre afaik?

TX.

From ‘89 you could get 100bhp/litre from the B16A found in the Integra, Civic and CRX. 1595cc and 160bhp.

[Limpet]

Baldchap said:

markj113 said:

"Thought 100hp per litre through normal aspiration was now only the preserve of hypercars?"

achieved by the mitsubishi FTO GPX from 1994, progress lol

Emissions.

If we're ignoring the climate the engine has to work in, bike engines were doing this in the early 80s (and probably late 70s, if you dig a bit).

This.

Bike engines were actually making 100hp/litre in the late 50s, if you count race bikes, and even the street stuff had widely cracked 80+ by the early 60s.

100 hp/litre with no turbo, modern emissions constraints, and modern driveability / reliability / longevity expectations is a remarkable achievement.

[Benrad]

DoubleD said:

Yep, no way that fto engine would pass the modern tests. So it is progress, but in a different area.

Neither does this BBR engined car to be fair though (might pass MOT test, but wouldn't pass type approval without the close coupled catalyst)

[E65Ross]

markj113 said:

"Thought 100hp per litre through normal aspiration was now only the preserve of hypercars?"

achieved by the mitsubishi FTO GPX from 1994, progress lol

And what was the fuel economy for that car, and did it meet today's stringent emission regulations?

[BigChiefmuffinAgain]

Hi All

Apologies as suspect I am about to make a very silly comment ( but don't have time to research ).

I thought BBR ( or someone else ) made a turbo kit for the MX 5 , which seemed to deliver more power upgrades at about the same cost ?

Does this replace it, or is it targeted at those who really really want to stay NA ?