Looks great, much better than the spy sketches that seem to be based on the mule that was caught testing.

You know, the one with the RX-8 front.

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Is there any chance that "all the shared RX-8 technology" could include the rotary? It seems like the perfect match for a lightweight roadster if the chassis can handle it. A lack of torque wouldn't matter much.

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Is there any chance that "all the shared RX-8 technology" could include the rotary? It seems like the perfect match for a lightweight roadster if the chassis can handle it. A lack of torque wouldn't matter much.

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Rumor has it the high-end model will indeed have a rotary.

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that looks pretty nice. now let's talk solstice vs. sky vs. miata. What a nice time to be an enthusiast. you could not go wrong with any of the 3.

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The RX-8 technology in question is the suspension/etc.. The second they offer a rotary on that thing my R-8 goes on sale..

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Why in the world did they pull the wheel arches off an RS6? The Miata was always known for its clean, classic lines. Between the wheel arches and the semi-recessed headlights, they completely abandoned that concept. I'm glad I have a 2002. Hopefully this design will be dead by the time I'm in the market for another sports car, or I'll have to shop elsewhere. :(

A few other notes:

- Looks like the Miata is getting dualies now. A lot of 2006 owners are going to get teased when people find out there's "only a 4 cylinder" engine in there.

- Is it just me, or does the seating position look really low? Ala MR2 Spyder? I suer hope that guy is really short, cause one of the best parts about the Miata is sitting UP in the car, rather than being encased in it like a coffin. Totally different experience.

- The rear visibility looks pretty bad with the windblocker up. My 02 is not a problem at all, but this looks a lot higher.

- I wonder if there's real roll bar hoops under those plastic hoops?

- The seat belt hoop is nice... My '02 rubs the seat against the belt when I tighten it for racing. Makes some really irritating noises, and rubs the leather raw.

- Fixed antennas suck. I don't want to look like an 80's luxury car, Mazda!

- Altezza taillights suck, too. Please Mazda, you're missing the target market for this car!

- Looks like the Miata is getting steering wheel-mounted stereo controls. As long as they can't turn the radio on in a tight hairpin... :)

- Unless the overall wheel diameter is smaller in the '06, those look like 17" rims. Hopefully smaller rims are an option for racers... 17" wheels are insanely expensive.

- The hood stinks. Looks like the Ibuki concept. Whatever happened to the curvy, flowing Miata contours?

I'm pretty bummed about this. Who cares if they stick a 2.3L I4, or a 3.0L V6, or even a rotary in the Miata if it looks like ass?

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to me it looks like Mazda's answer to the S2000 without all the S's power (until the larger engine comes out). I'm guessing there will be a "racer" version with bare interior/smaller wheels etc.

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the enthusiast set kept the miata alive this long in the US they'll need to make them happy too.

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I like it, I even like the new mustang sourced steering wheel...

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chris is making the same type of comments i made when the 2004 WRX lost the round headlights that I defended so fiercely. remember chris, those "clean classic" lines were brought to you courtesy of Lotus.

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The important question is ... will tall people fit?

I'm 6'2" and sitting in the Miata has always been a bit of an excercise in hilarity. In fact, at the last car show I went to, a friend of mine and I both sat in a Mazdaspeed Miata and amused passers by with the fact that our heads stuck up visibly over the windshield. Not only terrible visibility, but rendering the soft top completely useless.

Hopefully the increased dimensions may give some hope of actually fitting.

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Chris K- I see the wheel arches as a reference to the Rx-8's and while I don't agree with you on the styling (I loved the ibuki), you have a really good point about the seat position.

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A friend (6') and I have gone to lunch a few times in my Miata when his car is unavailable. Driving around with top down in the rain is fun, but put your ear plugs in, cause you're gonna hear lots of honks. :)

The wheel arches do look like the RX-8, Seth, but they just don't work on the Miata IMHO. (I hated the Ibuku, of course.) If the sides of the car looked like the NB (01-05) and the rest of the car looked like shots above, the car would look MUCH better.

If you blur your vision looking at the pics above, the wheel arches kinda disappear... I think it would look much better like this. The back end would look great, especially with the tightened-up, cropped rear end. I like wide bodies, and the NB Miata has one of the best IMHO, but the arches on the NC look like they're merely tacked on. I'd expect that from a third-party body kit, not Mazda.

David, I'll bet if there isn't a more powerful model in store for '06, there will be for '07. Mazda has already produced a 200HP FI Miata, so I don't doubt the NC is destined for at least that much HP. The reviews I have read of the SP place it pretty much equal to the S2000. The combination of lower weight and more torque makes up for the extra HP.

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i personally think it looks good. much much better than i was expecting. as far as the Altezzas go... i imagine it'll be the same as on the 6... they aren't for us. the 6 has Altezzas everywhere on earth... except in North America.

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I really like this. It seems to me like a slightly more refined, mature take on the styling cues the RX-8 was after. The fender bulges increase the proportion of the car dedicated to 'wheel' and give it a more agressive, hunched appearance that I find very attractive. I also like this trend of bringing the panel lines into the design, as clearly seen here by the sweeping curve of the hood.

It's impressive to me that this significant an update was accomplished while still maintaining the things that make it distinctly Miata: the round front end, the low grille, the round-in-oval taillights, and the crease of the deck lid. I even likethe color.

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Who cares about you tall guys. Go play basketball or change light bulbs or something. This car is for me!

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I like it but it will take some time to get used to the subtle differences. I was a big fan of the Ibuki concept. A little disappointed not to see more of the Ibuki's look.

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My summer car/toy is a '99 Miata. I like it because it doesn't require an engineering degree to keep it on the road. It averages over 28 MPG in brisk driving in the Finger Lakes area of NY.

Even though I like rotaty engines, there isn't one yet that doesn't love oil, and get relatively poor mileage.

The concept car is a nice update, but let's keep it fun, and above all reliable.

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This does seem like a better match for the torqueless, yet compact and lightweight rotary, than a four-seater.

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