Wednesday 26th March 2014

New Mazda MX-5 to debut next month?

Latest Mazda roadster rumoured to be first revealed at the New York show in April

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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?

Sources: Autoweek

[mrclav]

I always suspected the current MX-5 didn't sell to well due to it not being a premium brand; regardless of "pistonhead" desires the market is all about image and convenience and not about how well a car drives.

I await this unveiling with interest.

[Ex Boy Racer]

The rumour seems pretty thin to me...
Where have the tease pictures been? What has happened to the annoying pre-marketing? Simply to launch a car at a show with no hype is unlikely.
Unless they really are going back to basics and getting rid of unnecessary fripperies.

[HorneyMX5]

I had my first experience of a MKIII last night and I was actually surprised at how good it was, I always thought it would be a bit too sterile. I hope the MKIV really nails it.

[renaultgeek]

2L and 120bhp?

surely that can't be right, unless it's got tiny valves and doesn't rev.

[3ananaPie]

renaultgeek said:

2L and 120bhp?

surely that can't be right, unless it's got tiny valves and doesn't rev.

There is a higher power version too. Lower output probably due to emissions and all that. I wonder how far Mazda can boost the Skyactiv engines N/A while keeping decent economy. A ~200hp NA MX-5 out of the box would be fantastic but unlikely.. But the engines are sure to have potential for aftermarket tuning.

Either way I look forward to this, mostly because it may hint at how the next RX-7 may be like, which I really want.

[Gilhooligan]

"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"

The current mx5 has a 2 litre engine also..

[vrooom]

I hope it replaces those really coarse engine...

[renaultgeek]

3ananaPie said:

There is a higher power version too. Lower output probably due to emissions and all that. I wonder how far Mazda can boost the Skyactiv engines N/A while keeping decent economy. A ~200hp NA MX-5 out of the box would be fantastic but unlikely.. But the engines are sure to have potential for aftermarket tuning.

Either way I look forward to this, mostly because it may hint at how the next RX-7 may be like, which I really want.

I'm not sure how tuneable they'll be. probably no aftermarket turbos anyway as the CR is too high and they need the long exhaust headers.

I wonder what kind of weight they're aiming for.

[GrizzlyBear]

Gilhooligan said:

"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"

The current mx5 has a 2 litre engine also..

Bit surprized it is that poor, how much lower mpg do you get in real life?

[Dyl]

GrizzlyBear said:

Gilhooligan said:

"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"

The current mx5 has a 2 litre engine also..

Bit surprized it is that poor, how much lower mpg do you get in real life?

My 2.0 is returning low-30s over a tankful.

[iloveboost]

In case anybody is interested Jay Leno's Garage did a video recently on the Mx-5 for it's 25th birthday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1qgtCt1jG0
It's quite interesting. It was was mostly developed in Irvine, California and it could have been FWD or had a live rear axle and a single overhead cam engine.

[renaultgeek]

I just hope it's lightweight and has lots of customisable tuning goodies. it'd be nice if there was a cheapo version, a fancy version, a raw version and a full fat one

[suffolk009]

Have had a Eunos for the last six years and 120,000kms. No intention of ever letting it go.

But I have found that my head is being turned every day by a MK3 that I pass in the next village. Maybe they'll drop in price a bit with a new model out - as normally happens.

Can I justify owning two?

[Hamsternator]

GrizzlyBear said:

Bit surprized it is that poor, how much lower mpg do you get in real life?

I average 28 overall in my 2.0 mk3. I get 33-34 on long motorway runs and the lowest I have had is 22.

[flatso]

Is anyone here concerned about radiation levels in cars built in Japan (Fuk-u-shima)?

[Craikeybaby]

I was averaging about 30mpg in my 1.8 mk3.5.

[900T-R]

Hamsternator said:

GrizzlyBear said:

Bit surprized it is that poor, how much lower mpg do you get in real life?

I average 28 overall in my 2.0 mk3. I get 33-34 on long motorway runs and the lowest I have had is 22.

F_ me, that's only 3 or so mpg from my 4.3 litre, 300 hp Chim...

[RealSquirrels]

flatso said:

Is anyone here concerned about radiation levels in cars built in Japan (Fuk-u-shima)?

keeps me awake at night

[otolith]

The Crack Fox said:

I know it will never happen, but I wish they'd drop a wankel into an MX-5, that would be spectacularly good to drive.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/mazda-r...

[otolith]

flatso said:

Is anyone here concerned about radiation levels in cars built in Japan (Fuk-u-shima)?

Yes, that's why everybody stopped buying German cars in the late 80's.