Big Things Planned For Next-Gen MX-5

Mazda_MX-5
Aug 27, 2008
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Good news for MX-5 lovers with Mazda's design boss Lauren Van den Acker recently revealing to AutoCar that the next iteration of Mazda's iconic roadster will see a substantial redesign before it hits dealerships sometime in 2012.

Van den Acker has no qualms about what the new MX-5 requires;

 

“The next MX-5 needs to be a big step. The last one was too conservative and we can’t do another car like that. We need to make it more dramatic and give it some balls.”

 

Don't be too concerned about the overall direction of the one of the best selling two-door sports cars in history though, Lauren assures us that the core values of the MX-5 will stay well and truly intact. A small and lightweight roadster is still the intent but we can expect the new model to be more fuel efficient than its predecessor and to fit in more obviously with the design DNA of the Mazda range.

There has been talk that the new MX-5 could borrow design cues from the Kazami and Nagari concepts, but there has been plenty of work done on the MX-5 before that could prove useful to the new model.

 

“Last time round [designing the current car] we came up with lots of radical proposals and we may reignite one of those.”

 

We'll be seeing a face-lifted MX-5 before we lay eyes on an all new model, but with more "balls" and more drama in the works we're looking forward to what Mazda has in store.

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Comments

  • Alan Li [reply]
    2 years ago 0 points
    I've been driving an NC MX-5 around for about half a year now, and I'll agree that its far too conservative.

    The car seems to have quite a few American influences, unfortunately. The car has 4 cupholders servicing its 2 seats, and the gearbox has two overdriven gears.

    A MX-5 should never have more than a single overdriven gear.
  • Tony [reply]
    2 years ago 0 points
    Just drop a rotary in there and let the rear tyres do the rest..! Well, I can always dream...
  • Alan Li [reply]
    2 years ago 0 points
    No boost. The whole point of the MX-5 is that its meant to be ultra-responsive. Any throttle lag, no matter how minor, goes against the principles of the car.

    For me, I'd take the 2.5L bottom end out of the current Mazda6, and do some work on the head to get it to flow.
  • KENNY NC [reply]
    2 years ago 0 points
    I would love to see the MZR2.0L DISI under the hood, then a carbon intake and exhaust will do for me... Oh, pls fix the ride hight and 1st gear by the way
  • KENNY NC [reply]
    2 years ago 0 points
    Thx Tony for reminding us the sad news, but to be selfish, I don't really willing to see a MPS nc in the showroom that quick when I just got my nc last mth...
    The DISI 2.0L NA engine I m talking about is the one Mazda put into their new minivans, if i remember rite, not big difference in kws but higher torque in low rpm range which will be nice, or even a miller cycle 2.0L!?
  • Matt [reply]
    2 years ago 0 points
    Another NC owner here - it's good to see that Mazda had admitted the faults with the NC. I've been busy giving mine some balls - it's arguably the best MX5 chassis to date. But in standard trim the throttle response is a little lacking and the ample mid range seems to plateau at high rpm. And then there's that ride height...
  • Alan Li [reply]
    2 years ago 0 points
    Its the best MX-5 engine to date, too. I drove a mate's manual NB, with bolt-ons, and its still slower than the untouched auto NC I've been driving.

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