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Mazda’s hottest MX-5

Mazda builds a special MX-5 GT with 275bhp that weighs 850kg And Auto Express is taking it racing.

Mazda MX-5 GT front

By Tom Phillips

23rd March 2011

Meet the MX-5 with attitude! This is the Mazda MX-5 GT, a lightweight, more powerful version of the world’s best-selling roadster that’s been built to compete in this year’s Britcar British endurance racing championship.

The car has been built by Tunbridge-Wells-based Jota Sport, which has concentrated on cutting weight and increasing power. Check out our timelapse video of it being built below:

 



Inspired by Mazda’s weight-reducing gram strategy, each component of the car was analysed to ensure that is as light as possible. Jota added carbon fibre doors, polycarbonate windows and dipped the car’s body in an acid bath, shedding 15kg.

Despite the addition of an FIA-spec roll cage, the MX-5’s weight has dropped from 1,165kg to just 850kg.

What’s more, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine has been uprated from 158bhp to 275bhp, which has sliced the 0-62mph time from 7.6 to just 3.0-seconds and increased the top speed from 132mph to 160mph. The engine is coupled to a six-speed sequential paddle shift gearbox.

The car will make its racing debut this weekend at the Silverstone round of the Britcar championship and will be driven by Auto Express’s senior road tester Owen Mildenhall, who will share the car with experienced Mazda racing driver Mark Ticehurst.

For an alternative review of the latest Mazda MX-5 visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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6 Comments

Most entertainig car ever !!!

I only this could be sold, even in a limited number :D

By klajd323 on 23 March, 2011, 3:44pm

Wow!

Too bad we'll never see this in the USA,though we can get hold of the Monster Miata(MX-5 with a Ford 5 litre pushrod V8 shoehorned under the bonnet).

By RIFLEMAN on 23 March, 2011, 4:01pm

Nice colour!!!
Jota should do a special run of 1000 street modified cars. Remove the roll cage, add a passenger seat, insert an airbag wheel and a bit of a dash. Keep the same engine, and paddle shifters, Couldnt be that hard could it? How much weight would it add? Mabe 50kgs. And it would still be a semi pocket-rocket. Just the thing for a blast to pick up the Sunday papers.

By barina47 on 24 March, 2011, 8:58am

Oh, and all green........of course.

By barina47 on 24 March, 2011, 8:59am

Looks nice, but I reserve judgement till I've seen it in the flesh & see how well in copes with the traps @ Club or Luffield

By jimbowles2003 on 24 March, 2011, 9:48am

Supercharged or Turbo?

What I want to see is Mazda do a 'special edition' Turbo or Supercharged MX5 with a 2.5 litre engine for road use. Then I would be interested. C'mon Mazda...let's do it!

By badboyrocco on 24 March, 2011, 11:20am

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Pictures

Mazda MX-5 GT front
Mazda MX-5 GT rear
Mazda MX-5 GT side
Mazda MX-5 GT interior
Mazda MX-5 GT steering wheel

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