Mazda MX-5 Superlight concept

The next generation Mazda MX-5 has been delayed, the launch of the worlds most successful roadster has been pushed back all the way to late 2011. Mazda have however said that the delay is a result of a number of major changes to the car. I personally am not sure if this is a good or a bad thing, on the one hand the MX-5 was already quite good so why does it need major modifications. On the other side of the coin, taking an impressive platform and upgrading it significantly could mean an awesome end product.

Although there are very few firm details of what the upgrades will eventually entail, Mazda’s chief MX-5’s developer Takao Kijima has stated that the next generation MX-5 will be smaller and at least 10% lighter than the current model. So it should be about the size of a shoebox and be driven by mice then, our editor will certainly not fit in something smaller than the current MX-5.

The better fuel economy bug has apparently bitten Mazda as well, because the next MX-5’s powertrain options will all be more fuel efficient. Although it has yet to be confirmed these options will include 1.4 and 1.6-litre engines, the engines will naturally need direct injection and turbocharging if the MX-5’s performance edge is to be maintained with such small engines. Even the power steering has been made electronic to save fuel, but we think the savings would be so small when compared to traditional methods they wouldn’t even be measurable. In fact when Drive comes to power such ridiculous marketing ploys will be illegal and severely punished.

What is interesting is that the MX-5 Superlight concept exhibited recently at the Frankfurt Motorshow could actually be what the next MX-5 will look like and not just another random concept car.

Mazda MX-5 Superlight concept

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