WITH A NOD to its earliest incarnations, the next generation MX-5 will be both smaller and lighter than the current model, according to British magazine Autocar.

Takao Kijima, the MX-5’s project chief, has reportedly said in the past that the next incarnation of the iconic roadster will be at least 10 percent lighter, which would bring it down to less than 1000kg.

By comparison, the MX-5 Superlight concept revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show weighs in at only 995kg, thanks to numerous weight-saving techniques.

With modern safety requirements a factor, the next MX-5 is unlikely to be a great deal smaller than the current NC model, meaning that clever engineering and lightweight construction will play a major role in the next generation MX-5.

According to Autocar, an inside source at Mazda has said the new MX-5 will be powered by a range of turbo-charged 1.4 and 1.6 litre direct-injection engines.

For now, it is simply too early to know how much of Autocar’s report can be believed, but having taken the time to develop the MX-5 Superlight, it’s clear that Mazda is looking at weight-reduction and improved handling for future models.