RE: BBR Mazda MX-5 1.5 Turbo: Driven
RE: BBR Mazda MX-5 1.5 Turbo: Driven
Sunday 5th August 2018

2019 BBR Mazda MX-5 1.5 Turbo | UK Review

Road and track in the fastest 1.5-litre MX-5 yet - do you really need a 2.0-litre to have fun?



It's no secret that we at PH have enjoyed a great deal of BBR's recent work with the Mazda MX-5: be it Mk3 or Mk4, turbocharged or naturally aspirated, the combination of more power with sharper handling has unsurprisingly won the tuner's handiwork many fans around here. The MX-5 is, after all, the Answer to Everything, is it not?

But this is something new. Because while it's another turbocharged MX-5 from BBR, it's based on the 1.5-litre version - and as far as we're aware, that's not been done before. Why not? Most likely because it looks like fighting a losing battle. Firstly, if you're chasing big power from a turbo'd MX-5, the 2.0-litre car would obviously provide a better basis. And secondly, the joy of the 1.5 is in its effervescent, revvy character; dull that with a sluggish turbo and a significant part of the basic MX-5's appeal would be lost - which feels like an unnecessary sacrifice for 200hp.

However, BBR is adamant that this hasn't happened, with the standard 1.5's 13:1 compression ratio maintained and a twin scroll, low inertia turbo used to aid response. Its 213hp peak is made at 7,150rpm (compared to 7,250rpm for the standard car), and 197lb ft arrives at 4,100rpm, where a non-turbo 1.5 makes 118lb ft at 4,650rpm.


The car you see here, BBR's demonstrator, is also fitted with a four-piston brake upgrade at the front as well as a new set of high performance springs. As the car taking part in Autocar's forthcoming Junior Handling Day, the MX-5 was also running OZ Superleggeras on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. Wheels and rubber aside, the upgrades are said to total £7,506, with this car now actually for sale at BBR. But more on that later...

On initial impression, the MX-5 in question is much like any other - a bit too small for taller drivers, with a steering wheel that's too big, and a chassis that's still a tad wobbly over broken surfaces. At the same time it's also a lovely size for a B-road and blessed with a great manual gearbox - like every MX-5 of the past 30 years.

What very few MX-5s have boasted since 1989 though, is an engine quite like this - BBR's work on the 1.5 is genuinely extraordinary, bestowing far more senior performance on its 1,496 cubic centimetres with seemingly no adverse effects. Certainly its enthusiasm for revs is not diminished one jot, and you'll search in vain for any meaningful lag. There's simply no sense of the MX-5 being turbocharged beyond going much, much faster than usual (and the occasional sneeze when the throttle is closed), with the engine still alert to every throttle movement and unerringly keen to nearly 8,000rpm. On the road this means that its driver has options that haven't existed in the entry-level MX-5 before; most notably the ability to rely on some torque - 197lb ft is more than a Yaris GRMN, while also carrying less weight - for overtakes, as well as buzzing through the ratios as you deem necessary.


If anything the turbo makes even more sense - and reveals what a clever upgrade it really is - on a circuit. Because there you spend more time in the upper reaches of the rev range, marvelling at the zeal such a small turbocharged engine can muster. It feels actually quick too, at any commitment level, another positive the torque contributes

However, there is a caveat to the BBR's circuit speed: those tyres. Cup 2s are about as performance-orientated as road rubber gets. Therefore while they meant a searing on-track performance, they did also rob the MX-5 of some of its endearingly accessible adjustability. Oversteer was typically only initiated by momentum, the window of opportunity open for less time and closed rather abruptly thanks to the huge gain in grip. They make the car faster, of course, yet less entertaining than MX-5s typically are, with the surfeit of grip making you crave even more power to exploit it. Still, they're easily changed.

The brake and suspension upgrades are more straightforward to recommend. The four-piston calipers deliver not only improved stopping power, but a firmer, more reassuring middle pedal for lap after lap. Given the amount of so called 'track cars' that really don't deliver on the braking front, the caliper upgrade isn't far off a revelation. As for the springs, they drastically reduce the pitch and roll that make the current MX-5 so underwhelming as a track car, delivering much of the accuracy and dynamism we've been craving in a 1,000kg sports car. It's not quite perfect, the dinky Mazda still settling resolutely on its outside corner a bit too easily, but it's a significant improvement on both road and track - there's composure and confidence to replace the vagueness and frustration felt before. Don't forget, too, that this is still using the standard damper from the 1.5; there's scope for something even more feisty if you wish.


That said, there's an awful lot to like in this BBR MX-5 as is. Dropping down to a slightly more road biased tyre should open up some of the rear-drive entertainment, with that incredible turbo conversion the perfect accompaniment. Would the car need a limited-slip diff to make the most of it? Perhaps.

Let's not lose sight of the overwhelmingly positive conclusion though: any concerns that the 1.5 would somehow be a poor relative have been allayed here. By retaining the standard car's zest and bringing in a level of performance that takes it comfortably beyond the 2.0-litre versions, this BBR model carves out its own very desirable niche in the MX-5 landscape. As has been discussed, the work doesn't come cheap, but not only are early 1.5s down to £13k (making a car like this achievable for around £20k), BBR's own demo is up for sale: it's done 13,000 miles and is up at £18,995.

Think about the alternatives there. More than 200hp, kerbweight near a tonne and some proper circuit ability. Caterhams, Elises and VX220s would be more exciting still, but more fragile and less accommodating. An S2000 is tangibly slower. And a £19k Boxster is 11 years old. The BBR MX-5 turbo cars are very hard to argue against, and very easy to love (that's coming from someone not all that keen on the whole Jinba Ittai thing) - put your prejudices aside and try one, because they're absolutely tremendous. 


SPECIFICATION - MAZDA MX-5 BBR TURBO 1.5

Engine: 1,496cc, 4-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 213@7,150rpm
Torque (lb ft): 197@4,100rpm
0-62mph: N/A (standard car 8.3 seconds)
Top speed: N/A (standard car 127mph)
Weight: 1,050kg (with 75kg driver)
MPG: 47.1mpg (NEDC combined for standard car)
CO2: 139g/km (standard car)
Price: Standard car + Stage 1 kit from £4,395 DIY or £4,995 fitted, plus VAT, see BBR for further details; this car £18,995









Author
Discussion

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,557 posts

222 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
Sounds spot on.
Amazed that they can work turbocharging around such a high compression ratio.
Only downside, as the article states is the plethora of second hand nargains around of fancier cars.

snake_oil

2,039 posts

92 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
Tremendous indeed. Great idea giving the 1.5 the BBR treatment and having the skills to retain the zing of the lower capacity engine.

Superb. Tempting at 19k too.

Onehp

1,618 posts

300 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
Those are Ultraleggeras.

Sorry, I would prefer the new NA 2.0 engine with the lsd and uprated dampers. Or just the basic 1.5, together with the pitch and roll, it works just fine on the road, very exploitable and enjoyable performance.

Edited by Onehp on Saturday 4th August 09:58

jwwbowe

669 posts

189 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
Very attractive package, I think BBR will be busier than ever in a year or two as the prices drop for earlier versions of this generation of MX5, mainly as it’s a desirable car out of the Mazda showroom (very impressed with the mass figures in this day and age) but lacking in a little poke for some so this suits nicely.

I like the look of what they have done with the N/A 2.0 more as a sort of spiritual successor to a S2000 (let’s face it Honda aren’t going to give us another like it frown ) but this 1.5 turbo looks good value IMO. Think I would leave the graphics option un-ticked though!

Jaroon

1,441 posts

177 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
I'd like to see some before and after performance stats.

Black S2K

1,684 posts

266 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
jwwbowe said:
Very attractive package, I think BBR will be busier than ever in a year or two as the prices drop for earlier versions of this generation of MX5, mainly as it’s a desirable car out of the Mazda showroom (very impressed with the mass figures in this day and age) but lacking in a little poke for some so this suits nicely.

I like the look of what they have done with the N/A 2.0 more as a sort of spiritual successor to a S2000 (let’s face it Honda aren’t going to give us another like it frown ) but this 1.5 turbo looks good value IMO. Think I would leave the graphics option un-ticked though!
Cannot argue with that one iota!

It's almost like one is now spoiled for choice with all these BBR ND-options.

Housey

2,079 posts

244 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
Come on Mazda, build us a bloody fast one with 250-300bhp, lowered with some proper dampers we can play with for road/track. To all those who are about to run to their computers and type "but this isn't what the MX5 is about and not what MX5 users looks for" go away. The reason for cars like this one existing is because many people do....and I have 2 MX5's amongst other stuff and I would LOVE a properly sorted MX5 from Mazda breathed on to a big extend that giant killed and I'd pay 35K for it too.

samoht

6,664 posts

163 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
Housey said:
Come on Mazda, build us a bloody fast one with 250-300bhp, lowered with some proper dampers we can play with for road/track. To all those who are about to run to their computers and type "but this isn't what the MX5 is about and not what MX5 users looks for" go away. The reason for cars like this one existing is because many people do....and I have 2 MX5's amongst other stuff and I would LOVE a properly sorted MX5 from Mazda breathed on to a big extend that giant killed and I'd pay 35K for it too.
Arguably the RX-7 is the car you're thinking of, built by many of the same engineers to the same principles as the original MX-5. Sadly Mazda UK sold a whole 128 of them over four years.

I'd love to see a 300hp factory ND too, but I think nowadays Mazda are happy to focus their own engineering resources on the hot-selling crossovers, and leave the performance game to BBR.

Twoshoe

946 posts

201 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
"blessed with a great manual gearbox - like every MX-5 of the past 30 years"

Nitpicking I know, but I'm not sure that's true. I seem to recall an auto was available in some markets.

Donbot

4,194 posts

144 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
samoht said:
I'd love to see a 300hp factory ND too, but I think nowadays Mazda are happy to focus their own engineering resources on the hot-selling crossovers, and leave the performance game to BBR.
Also seems a bit unnecessary when you can get a new 2 litre one for under £20k. If you throw the remaining £15k at BBR you will end up with something properly sorted.

Ninja59

3,691 posts

129 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
Twoshoe said:
"blessed with a great manual gearbox - like every MX-5 of the past 30 years"

Nitpicking I know, but I'm not sure that's true. I seem to recall an auto was available in some markets.
Added to thw fact that in some markets the mk4 ND has had issues with the gearbox

The 124 gets the older mk3 NC gearbox bolted to the fiat engines.

bwk

124 posts

115 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
Fresh air aside, how would a GT86 compare to a BBRd ND MX-5? Similar power to weight I believe and I think similar pricing used? GT86 might have the practicality edge?

griffdude

1,873 posts

265 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
Very interesting. I do like a boosted MX5, they don’t half give people a surprise....
One question though, it looks like to change the battery some of the inter cooler pipe work has to be removed?

Kawasicki

13,783 posts

252 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
bwk said:
Fresh air aside, how would a GT86 compare to a BBRd ND MX-5? Similar power to weight I believe and I think similar pricing used? GT86 might have the practicality edge?
Mx5 is hundreds of kg lighter, that plus turbo torque spread would make it much quicker.


MikeGoodwin

3,619 posts

134 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
the 1500 with a turbo providing it still revs out top would be brilliant. But it needs an LSD, and the dampers on the stock 1.5 are pretty poor, leaves the steering feeling a bit crap too.

Id sooner have the 170 hp model with lsd and bilsteins

Olivera

8,234 posts

256 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
How long until the head gasket is blown or the engine detonates due to turbocharging at 13.1-1 compression ratio?

I wouldn't touch this with a barge pole until it was well test by other customers for thousands of miles.

Onehp

1,618 posts

300 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
quotequote all
Olivera said:
How long until the head gasket is blown or the engine detonates due to turbocharging at 13.1-1 compression ratio?

I wouldn't touch this with a barge pole until it was well test by other customers for thousands of miles.
With variable valve timing the actual compression ratio can be lowered a bit when necessary.

Gandahar

9,600 posts

145 months

Sunday 5th August 2018
quotequote all
Olivera said:
How long until the head gasket is blown or the engine detonates due to turbocharging at 13.1-1 compression ratio?

I wouldn't touch this with a barge pole until it was well test by other customers for thousands of miles.
They have been testing this for years using a guinea pig Mazda 3 with the first of these engines in it since 2014 so they got a head start. Having said that, this is a small company and not Ford or Mercedes, so they will not be doing 100 000 miles in the arctic circle or Death Valley.


The connecting rods seem to be a weak spot in this new engine, so BBR have factored that in with low compression boost. Hence why their NC mods give more bhp than ND currently. The manifold was a weak spot on the old NC I believe which they worked around too.

There will always be weak spots on engines which are asked to do more, it is up to the tuner to understand this, which BBR have done.

Whenever you tune you get the benefits and smile on face against time in garage. I would say this is will be far more weighted on the former than the latter.




Simon Owen

872 posts

151 months

Sunday 5th August 2018
quotequote all
bwk said:
Fresh air aside, how would a GT86 compare to a BBRd ND MX-5? Similar power to weight I believe and I think similar pricing used? GT86 might have the practicality edge?
Modified ND Vs modified 86 is an interesting comparison.

ND is 200kg lighter, smaller, less practical and has a nicer engine, all good attributes if you want a small car.

Obviously there are a multitude of tuning options for both but the biggest difference is steering feel' and chassis stiffness, the Mazda is a brilliant package and still great fun in the real world and on real roads ..... but the 86 is a much more focussed drivers car with great steering. You do learn to live with the steering in the Mazda and when you load things up its balance is benign but jumping in the 86 afterwards highlights the ND's weaknesses.



Vox777

1 posts

85 months

Sunday 5th August 2018
quotequote all
And how does this 1.5 turbocharged engine sound? Sound is very appealing in sports car, especially in the convertible, and tutrbocharged engines are famous for being bad at making sexy sounds. No word about sound quality of this conversion in the review or I just missed it? It would be a sign of incompetent reviewer or at least an inexperienced one frown