Thoughts? Got to be a good thing that cars are maybe getting back to being smaller and lighter. Bit worried that the engine will be un-tuneable as it's been engineered in a completely new way with very little tolerance for knock.

From: http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/293182/mazda_mx5_mk4_2015_full_details_and_pictures.html

A quarter of a century after the first MX-5 was revealed to the public, Mazda has pulled the covers off the hotly anticipated new car in Barcelona. As the latest take on the world's best selling sports car and following in the tyre tracks of three generations with over 950,000 sales, this all new model certainly has some big shoes to fill.

Headline attributes that'll grab attention include a focus on weight saving, a general slimming down, and most intriguingly for us, priority for fun and Jinba Ittai (roughly translated into driving engagement). This encouraging list of characteristics suggest this new roadster could continue to be very evo friendly indeed.

We'll talk about the performance in a bit, however, because the first thing that grabs our attention when the thin veil is pulled off of the new car, is that the 2015 MX-5 is noticeably smaller than the car it replaces.

With a wheelbase some 15mm shorter and overall length a significant 105mm shorter, the MX-5 features short overhangs whilst growing 10mm in width, giving the car a footprint poised for performance driving. In actual fact, the car is more compact than the first generation MX-5.

The new model also sits some 20mm lower than the previous car, squatting on its small 16-inch wheels with a low slung nose, emphasising that this is no hairdresser's posing machine but rather a proper sporting roadster.

The car is handsome too. Whilst it lacks the sex appeal of an Alfa Romeo 4C, bulging arches, a gaping grille and angular headlights are all pleasing to the eye, carrying Mazda's latest Kodo design language albeit in a slightly more evocative manner.

Inside the cars dash is slim and features a central touch screen, taking place of cluttering buttons. Much of the layout looks almost identical to what youd find in a Mazda 3 and 6, though the low seating position, pedal box placement and angle of the controls are slightly more driver focused.

Though we wont get to drive the car for some time, chassis details at least give us an idea of how it might perform. The new car weighs over 100kg less than the last, bringing it to a figure just a whisker over a ton. Sitting on double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear, and featuring specifically tuned electric steering, Mazda promises that the new MX-5 will be an even sharper steer than the car it replaces.

Moving the engine as far back as possible has pulled the cars centre of gravity inwards, whilst the use of aluminium for the bonnet, boot lid, front wing and front and rear bumper inserts has helped to reduce weight at either end of the car.

Speaking exclusively to evo, Kevin Rice, Mazdas Design Director, said we went back to the original concept, prioritising making the car as lightweight as possible. Saving weight was not just to improve ultimate performance, its also about people being able to drive the car easily, with confidence.

Engineers and designers have worked hard to cleverly distribute weight around the car, resulting in a perfect 50:50 front-rear weight distribution. Small details like the shrinking of the wheels by two inches helped save around 2kg of unsprung mass on each corner.

We focused on saving weight to improve feel, explained Rice. We lowered the engine to lower the centre of gravity, shortened the length and made it wider to improve handling. Weve also managed to work the weight to give the car a perfectly balanced setup.

Under the bonnet will be a choice of engines from Mazda's SkyActiv-G family. With high compression levels and clever cam timing controls, the SkyActiv engines produce respectable amounts of power whilst remaining entirely naturally aspirated. This means the MX-5's powerplant should feel as quick and efficient as a small boosted unit, but as free revving and engaging as a proper N/A engine.

Though exact details remain unconfirmed, it looks like a 130bhp 1.5-litre and 165bhp 2-litre four-pot will be available, whilst rumours of a potential future 1.5-litre diesel option seem to have gathered momentum. Power will be sent to the rear wheels through a manual six-speed box, Mazda confirming a manual gear lever was the only option for a proper drivers car.

Prices are still to be confirmed, but with priority placed on producing affordable fun in a lovable package, they shouldnt push too far above the current car. Expect a starting figure to sit just above £20,000. Were still waiting to hear confirmation of when the car will arrive in the UK, but all fingers point towards early summer 2015.

Edited 6 September, 201412 yr by Tav

I don't care what kind of hairdressers comments you might get - that's a damn fine looking car...

Looks a hell of a lot better in the Mazda press shot above than it did on stage don't you think? Will be interesting to see it in the metal and in some different colours. Bright blue or white on dark grey wheels please.

I'll probably get one in 15-20 years time when they're in my price range

They're a nice looking car though and my mom's had new mazdas for the past few years and they're well built, just a bit plasticy.

Edited 8 September, 201412 yr by vdoubleu

Agreed. The back end looks lovely as well - kind of Z4ish.