Next Mazda Miata to be lighter

[Mr Kleen]

Next Mazda Miata to be lighter; get smaller engines and electric power steering?

Low weight and greater efficiency might not be the sexiest of selling points for a sports car unless you're a devotee of Lotus founder Colin Chapman's "add lightness" philosophy. Thankfully for those less-is-more enthusiasts, however, Mazda has steadily adhered to that formula with its MX-5 Miata – and now, word from the crew at GoAuto is that company engineers are working even harder to adhere to that design philosophy, with thoughts of smaller, force-fed engines and lighter curb weights dominating discussions for the next iteration of the iconic roadster.

There have long been rumors of a rotary-powered MX-5, but that's probably not in the cards. A modern take on the RX-7 is supposedly being worked up to take a new version of Felix Wankel's whirling dervish of an engine zipping into the future, with the MX-5 getting a newly developed line of four cylinders with direct injection and forced induction (finally!). A heavy-breathing Miata, packing the muscle of a MazdaSpeed3, for instance, might move the neo-MGB into a new realm at the top of its range.

Three words that tend to generate a half-frown on enthusiasts faces are being thrown about in the same sentence as the new Miata: "Electric power steering." We can see the push for the greater energy efficiency that EPS offers, but hopefully Mazda can make the Miata's helm joyously alive instead of Toyota Corolla-style numbness, all shot up with Novocaine (as most such systems tend to be).

Chassis details are also in the realm of conjecture at this point, but with words like "lighter" being shoved at us, we expect some significant re-engineering going on under the skin. That skin, by the way, will likely be more expressive than the rather safe MX-5 we have now, with Mazda's design chief Laurens van den Acker on record as saying the plan is for the car to "be more dramatic and give it some balls."

[complacent]

my loins (and my checkbook) are all a quiver... don't tease me!

[chicken n waffles]

[snaab]

This has major potential, especially with factory forced induction. If they do as well as they did with the Mazdaspeed 3, I think we'll have a winner. Although hopefully the added curves don't make it look more feminine, which I think the new 3 does (a little bit).

[Libra Monkee]

I wish I was small enough to squeeze in to one of those jokers.

[snaab]

I wish I was small enough to squeeze in to one of those jokers.

They are indeed small... but what does that matter if you're racing around Laguna Seca with the top down?

[Mr Kleen]

my concern is that they'll use FI with a very small displacement engine to get back to the current power levels to save weight and increase fuel efficiency. if you bolt an aftermarket turbo or supercharger on a Miata you can outrun the RX8. Mazda isn't going to do that from the factory.

similar to the issue Porsche has with the Cayman...

[complacent]

They are indeed small... but what does that matter if you're racing around Laguna Seca with the top down?

A very good point, this man has. Beer him!

[avriette]

This has major potential, especially with factory forced induction. If they do as well as they did with the Mazdaspeed 3, I think we'll have a winner. Although hopefully the added curves don't make it look more feminine, which I think the new 3 does (a little bit).

you read that last bit about the balls, didn't you? or did you think, mayhaps, c-cup balls?

[Libra Monkee]

They are indeed small... but what does that matter if you're racing around Laguna Seca with the top down?

Can't argue with that. Plus, it's not as much weight to throw you into the corkscrew. Ah, I want to play Gran Turismo now.

[complacent]

my concern is that they'll use FI with a very small displacement engine to get back to the current power levels to save weight and increase fuel efficiency. if you bolt an aftermarket turbo or supercharger on a Miata you can outrun the RX8. Mazda isn't going to do that from the factory.

similar to the issue Porsche has with the Cayman...

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

[snaab]

you read that last bit about the balls, didn't you? or did you think, mayhaps, c-cup balls?

Don't worry, I caught the balls. You know very well what corporate balls can work out to be in a final production though.

[Sabre]

I am definitely looking forward to seeing the final design specs, till then, it's all a conjure.

[ElZorro]

conjure.

conjecture?

[Sabre]

<=== Injenear