- The next Mazda MX-5 Miata could be considerably slimmer and trimmer than the current car.
- Mazda engineers have been tasked with cutting no less than 720 pounds from the 2,480-pound curb weight of today's Miata.
- The new Miata's engine could be as small as 1.4 liters, turbocharged and equipped with direct injection and variable cam phasing as part of Mazda's SkyActiv engineering efficiency program.
HIROSHIMA, Japan — The next Mazda MX-5 Miata could be considerably slimmer and trimmer than the current car.
According to a senior insider, Mazda's engineers have been tasked with cutting no less than 720 pounds from the 2,480-pound curb weight of today's Miata in their quest to build a car much closer in character to the 1989 original. In its leanest form, the '89 car weighed 2,178 pounds in U.S. spec.
In fact, this product-planning source does not think the Miata weight target will be met, but described progress to Inside Line as "not bad."
Weight saving will be achieved by using high-strength steels for the body, a smaller, lighter engine and a more minimalist specification.
There has been much debate on the features that it might be possible to leave out. The dashboard glovebox will likely disappear, for example, in favor of other storage devices that weigh less. Also to go are the owner's manual, which could be supplied on a USB stick.
The car will be narrower to reduce its frontal area and weight, although the biggest crash challenge is side-impact protection, says the source. Protecting pedestrians during frontal impacts has necessitated a pyrotechnic hood, he says.
The new Miata's engine could be as small as 1.4 liters, turbocharged and equipped with direct injection and variable cam phasing as part of Mazda's SkyActiv engineering efficiency program. And engineers are working to make the manual-shift action as mechanically precise and satisfyingly short-throw as the original car's.
Inside Line says: It's unlikely that the new Miata will hit that theoretical 1,760-lb target, which was imposed to stretch the engineers, but the new roadster may well end up weighing much the same as the original. With modern crash protection and a few more creature comforts, that would be some achievement. — Richard Bremner, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
jscion says:
09:06 PM, 07/27/2011
Nobody in todays market wants a car that light in this price range. The Miata is not a premium exotic sports roadster and would not be useful to many weighing so little. Something that light on a windy day on the thruway would be torture to drive! Not only that, but this is not a car that needs to shrink in size by any means. I hope they keep it practical!
wpavlik2 says:
04:48 AM, 06/20/2011
I have to agree with the guy that says they've goofed their weight conversions...
Making a Miata weigh 1750ish pounds would be really hard to do and make it something that the mass public would want AND affordable.
In this economy, people who buy a NEW miata mostly want the creature comforts, because it's not just a weekend toy, it's a daily driver for a ton of folks who own one. (me included)
I know I wouldn't pay $35k to $45k for a miata.
morrisg2 says:
09:56 PM, 06/08/2011
I own an 09 Touring which weighs 2480 curb weight (full gas tank, all fluids, no spare tire - can of goop). I'm impressed at their weight reduction goals, though they are a stretch, as it makes the engineers think outside the box. Don't just shave weight from the present build, think of where most of the weight is now and ways to reduce it. I'm thinking lots of weight is in the engine and 6 speed transmission, and I know the muffler alone is 26 lbs. So a completely new engine, smaller displacement and new lightweight transmission can make big gains, errr, losses. And high strength steels can lighten the car without losing rigidity.
But I'm concerned about their becoming too focused on weight reduction and making the car so small I can't fit in it. I'm 6' 0" and 225 lbs, so I had to pass on the NA and NB versions. The NC was a real eye opener when I drove a friend's 06 5 speed, and that's when I went out and got one of my own.
I'm also concerned about losing the beautiful race bred suspension in the current model. If they end up with front struts and a torsion beam rear, I'm going to be very disappointed.
That's probably the way it is with all new car projects: how do you make the good things better without losing sight of the original goals. Over the last 20 years, Mazda has done a great job with this car. It will be interesting to see what they come up with for the next one. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying my NC!
tbone85 says:
07:50 PM, 06/08/2011
I hate it when managers set a goal completely divorced from reality. It would be a stretch to hit the 2100 pound mark with modern safety equipment without a massive use of aluminum, carbon fiber, etc and cost much closer to $45k than $30k. Why not set the bar very high, but within the laws of physics?
v8vader says:
05:55 PM, 06/08/2011
i dunno about this... i am 6'3" after all.
and no car manual to save weight? that's a little much.
k55 says:
05:30 PM, 06/08/2011
I had owned two Miatas ( a 90 and 95.....and an 85 RX7 which I really didnt care for.All were bought new) .......I shopped the new 2011 and would consider one again but yes, I want to see a more technically advanced ,smaller displacement engine,less weight, and cheaper. LSD should be standard equipmet and go back to 15 or 16 in wheels. Aluminum ,plastics,composites should all be mixed in the recipe .......and provide some torque.............not sure if I would suggest a turbo but maybe a small electronic supercharger...........lose the leather seats,lose any navigation, maybe back to one tuned muffler (in the middle would be cool) ,no spare tire ( give a can of goop)...........and I suppose channel in the ghost of Colin Chapman to see what he says...
smallfield says:
05:05 PM, 06/08/2011
Strong work! Shrink it!
No one gets a Miata for legroom or storage space. Less than 2000lbs in a car meeting US spec would be great. I think Lotus is the only one there now and they only do by exemption from safety standards.
typesh says:
03:58 PM, 06/08/2011
Here's my guess, 720lbs is roughly 328kg. I'm thinking perhaps the original report said 328lbs, someone maybe thought it was in kg and converted to lbs?
Apparently the original '89 weighed as little as 2,178lbs. If you cut 328lbs from the current 2,480lb car, you get 2,152lbs. They said they're benchmarking the original Miata, so that seems conceivable as to the actual intent here.
Thoughts?
agnh says:
03:24 PM, 06/08/2011
Bravo, Mazda for putting this task out to your engineers. Although a nearly 30% weight reduction seems highly unlikely, it will greatly bring focus back to the Miata's original goal.
There are so many cars I can think of that would benefit greatly from even a 10% to 15% weight reduction, especially those that used to be known as appealing to drivers. Cough, BMW, cough.
compressor says:
02:11 PM, 06/08/2011
The Lotus Elise meets these targets. Though considerably more expensive than the Miata in the U.S., the Elise can be had much cheaper in Europe with a base spec engine (similar in power output to what Mazda may fit) and price point that better matches. Mazda has the benefit of a large parts bin full from small eco japanese market vehicles. These lighter parts could be put to use.
There is absolutely no reason why a bare bones small sports car with minimal torque output can't come in under 2,000 lbs. It will require some sacrafice in creature comforts, but it can be done.
Weight savings is a "trickle down". i.e. less weight requires less tire & brakes --> smaller wheels, tires, and brakes weigh less --> suspension can be lighter, etc. etc. If you tried to achieve such a considerable weight reduction based off teh current car you wouldn't make it. But designed as a whole from the start, it becomes much much easier.