NICE, France-- Mazda launched the MX-5 in 1989 as a rear-wheel-drive roadster that was compact, light, fun to drive and affordable. With 950,000 sold worldwide over the past 25 years, about a third in Europe, it is the best-selling roadster in history.
The latest model, which is the fourth generation of the roadster, represents the biggest step to date in the car's development, said Mazda's MX-5 program manager, Nobuhiro Yamamoto. "Our target was clear: smaller, safer, lighter, more agile and more efficient -- but keeping the DNA of the car," Yamamoto said at the car's press launch here.
The new MX-5 is 105mm shorter, 20mm lower and 10mm wider than its predecessor, giving a compact, taut look. With hood, fender, trunk and many underbody parts made from aluminum, the new model weighs 975kg, which is 100kg lighter than the third-generation MX-5 and the lightest version of the car since the original. A 50:50 front-rear weight distribution is designed to improve even further its already highly acclaimed handling.
Customers will have the option of two normally aspirated four-cylinder Skyactive gasoline engines, a 131-hp 1.5-liter unit and a 160-hp 2.0-liter. Mazda has said it is considering a diesel engine, which would be a first for the MX-5.
The MX-5's the softtop folds back in just five seconds.
To reduce development costs on the new MX-5 Mazda cooperated with Fiat Chrysler. Next year Fiat will launch a new 124 Spider based on the MX-5's rear-wheel-drive SkyActive platform but with a different body-style and Fiat-made turbocharged engines.
