New Mazda MX-5

YUK!

Never going to own one of the new versions then, give us something aesthetically exciting to look at that resembles a sports car instead of the generic Audi / Peugot look alikes!

By CarlyWarly on 17 January, 2012, 7:27am

Why the Long Face

It's a Donkey....

By the2beard on 17 January, 2012, 7:33am

Nice!

Don't make it too artsy fartsy. Light, nimble and simple - that's the spirit.

By voyager on 17 January, 2012, 7:33am

Love it

Back to what they know without Ford sticking their beaks in. Hopefully it will be a purely Mazda engine range too, rather than the boring and soul-less ford offerings currently offered.

By westfield14 on 17 January, 2012, 8:15am

Er, Westfield......

Exactly which Ford parts do you think the MX-5 contains?

By Mustafa25 on 17 January, 2012, 8:54am

Ford supply the dipstick

I had an 06 model MX5 - lovely car. The only Ford bit I notice was the engine oil dipstick.

By penncv3 on 17 January, 2012, 9:23am

What a pity

Shame they have felt the need to fiddle with the essential purity of the shape. Half of its charm was it lack of pretension. Horrid little edges and 'sculpting' really do not improve it all. What a shame.

By pajbse on 17 January, 2012, 9:25am

hat Have They Done To My Song, Ma?

No, no, NO!!!

By Roger1709 on 17 January, 2012, 9:41am

who they?

I note that this image comes from auto media not Mazda, so presumably it's another unofficial wet dream that bears no resemblance to the final car? Discuss.

By fleabane on 17 January, 2012, 9:43am

Trendy

Car looks trendy, almost could pass for something Audi would make. Glad to see there is a turbo engine in the line up, I just wish it was also offered in the 2 liter version also, no we'd be cooking with gas. Can you imagine 300 HP in a car that weighs 2200 LB? Kick @$$. Never mind, a tuned version to the 1.3 liter will make the 300 HP and give great economy city and highway.

By Caribbean on 17 January, 2012, 10:06am

Daihatsu Copen?

Don't Daihatsu have a design patent on that grille from the Copen? If not, they should have, to stop Mazda spoiling the front end!
Generally the overall design has significant hints of the second generation and I lik it, but please lose the "wide mouth frog" grille.

By Oldqs on 17 January, 2012, 10:10am

Wrong!!!!!

Why when you have it spot on do you change ? The front end is as bad as it can get (small z4) My mk1 is still the best looking mx.

By midget27 on 17 January, 2012, 10:16am

Ugly Duckling

That is without doubt one of the ugliest cars I haved seen. What has happened to the clean lines of the Mk 2/2.5?

Certainly not for me.

By HondaMan on 17 January, 2012, 10:21am

Hopefully will be a little cracker!

900kg with 170hp 1.3 turbo engine? Sounds like a helluva recipe for some GOOD FUN to me!
Looks are a little clunky/family-stereotypical, but hopefully will cut it in the flesh when finalised.
Overall, for me, very encouraging - particularly WRT to the weight.

By 99RON on 17 January, 2012, 10:31am

Too fussy

The original MX5 took its styling fron the lotus Elan. i can only assume the new model takes its styling cues from the Kia Rio!

By toycollector on 17 January, 2012, 10:50am

Audi? No! Mazda!

Well, I gotta say, I'm dischuffed. When you first look at it, it's like an Audi TT face. Not literally, but the first impression screams NO! Mazda, what have you done? The lights are fine, but the 'sculpted' edges are about as pointless as those rediculous goatee beards. Can the old nose be retrofitted to the new model would be my question in a showroom selling this car.

By bob809 on 17 January, 2012, 12:34pm

1170Kg

According to the car Data on another car magazine website the current MX5 weighs 1170kg, not 1050kg!

By BenS1 on 17 January, 2012, 12:45pm

Misgivings

I totally concur with 'oldqs' regarding the awful grill - nothing like a sports car. A tad similar to that dreadful Lexus concept we saw recently. The overall shape seems to be a natural evolution for the MX5 in a similar manner to the 911 perhaps. There was only one pic but the new shape looks superb from that. Hopefully they will resist the temptation to call it the MX6 even though a 2 litre six cylinder power plant would have ensured that I would buy one.
Whilst I can understand offering a small 'assisted' engine as an option I think Mazda have 'missed the boat' slightly because many think that a sports car, however small, should have 'clout' from a beefy engine, especially for rear-wheel drive. I shall stick with my Z3 for yet another couple of years.

By Gregorius on 17 January, 2012, 1:46pm

@Mustafa25

The engines in a mark 3 fella. Ford sourced and boring as hell.

By westfield14 on 17 January, 2012, 3:06pm

Vile

It's vile

By branoc on 17 January, 2012, 3:48pm

Yuk

It was an "English Sportscar" made in Japan. It now looks like a German sportscar made in Taiwan. Please Mazda, go back to the original, but with up to date technology.

By branoc on 17 January, 2012, 3:54pm

Keep it small

Don't give it anything bigger than 15" lightweight wheels Mazda.

By beachland on 17 January, 2012, 4:01pm

@westfield14

As I recall from my 38 years in Ford (and latterly Mazda), Mazda were given responsibility for developing the four cylinder engines and transmissions. So it's Mazda engines in Fords, rather than the other way round.

By Mustafa25 on 17 January, 2012, 5:16pm

westfield14

Wasn't aware that the 2.0 litre engine in my Mazda Mx-5 was a "boring as hell" ford engine. It's fantastic and I don't care who makes it. Don't most westfields come with "boring as hell" ford engines anyway.

By mbg20 on 17 January, 2012, 5:27pm

Bogus/

Design is a bogus 'AE' concoction as is their comments/speculation on the next iteration of the iconic Miata.MX-5.

Unlikely that Mazda will turbo charge the MX-5. The Miata has plenty of HP and any Miata owner worth his driving shoes, knows that...succinctly.

What they need to do is keep the original recipe and bring back fuel mileage. My original 93'(still have it) gets 28-38 MPG and sometimes 40 MPG at 55 MPH near sea level. My later Miata's didn't even come close to those figures and were not any more fun to drive with the extra HP... and you really noticed the extra weight of the later models.

Unfortunately, the original demographic of Miata buyers has changed from sporting driving aficionados, to commuters who don't want to drive an appliance. Mazda will have to address that market segment with the new MX-5/Miata.

By 3Deuce27 on 17 January, 2012, 8:03pm

Mustafa/mbg20

Mustafa, If that's the case I'll wind my neck in. I was told Mazda manufactured the MZR/Duratec but it's a Ford engine design. Ford are still using them whereas Mazda have dropped it as fast as humanly possible as soon as Ford reduced their shareholding.

Mbg20.....wasn't trying to cause offence. It's Just my opinion having owned a mk1, a mk2, a mk2.5 and a mk3. Got rid of the mk3 and returned to a 2.5 with the variable valve timing....much better match up, the mk3 lost far too much of its charisma. My Westy had a Honda Fireblade engine by the way, but sadly had to sell it when my son came along

By westfield14 on 17 January, 2012, 8:30pm

Ugly little fella.. Hope it is just one of the usual fakes - otherwise i (still) don't see any reason to abandon my NA.

By MX5dude on 18 January, 2012, 6:52am

Current MX5 Powershift - Best of all.

My wife's on her 4th MX5. She's owned a Mk1, Mk3, Mk3.5 and a Mk3.5 Powershift. I drive them occasionally for fun, owning a 3 series BMW Coupe and I can say the latest is without doubt, the best of all of them, for sheer pleasure, comfort and ease of driving, no matter how slick the gearchange in the Mk1 was the latest car knocks spots off it. (Personal opinion, no axe to grind, each to his own etc., etc.,)

By hsbcgeoff on 18 January, 2012, 10:37am

westfield14

No offence taken sir. I'm lucky I also have a 93 Eunos which is more fun to drive though you do feel a little more vulnerable. Westy with a fireblade engine must have been pretty awesome. Shame they don't have Isofix.

By mbg20 on 18 January, 2012, 11:00am

VALKYRIE YB70

The grille is hideous & ruins the cute looks of all previous models!
The engine choice should have retained the old 1.8 motor for ladies/poseurs & needs to include a new 2.0 turbo for real sports car buyers.

By valkyrie70 on 18 January, 2012, 5:48pm

Cracking...

I think Mazda's new design direction (Kodo) is brilliant and translates well on to the MX5 if the indication above is anything to go by - of course we are not seeing a production car in the picture above so no point in getting to hung up on the way it looks. With Mazda's weight saving strategy being executed it should be even more brilliant to drive than ever. I have never owned an MX5 but my mother owned a MK3 MX5 coupe/cab. which was pin sharp to drive. I would like to clarify to those in the dark above about the MX5 and indeed all other Mazda petrol powertrains - they are NOT FROM FORD! they are Mazda designed and built (MK1 Mazda 2 aside) although MK1 Mazda 3's used Ford diesel engines. Incidently I used to work for Ford. I am on my fourth Mazda (a 6) and would be very happy to purchase a fifth, they are great cars.......

By cousins11 on 18 January, 2012, 9:25pm

IT WONT LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THIS

Well, it wont, they never do look like these slow news week renderings.

By liveforever on 19 January, 2012, 1:57am