Filed under: Spy Photos, Sports/GTs, Mazda
Leaked: Official updated Mazda MX-5 image
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Sep 3rd 2008 at 3:29PM 
Click above to enlarge and view another close-up shot of the changes
The current styling of the Mazda MX-5 could well be described as just a bit boring with very round corners that play it safe. Mazda would like to change the image of its iconic little roadster and revised styling is certainly on the way. We have an early shot of the changes courtesy of the interwebs and, while they are a welcome refresher, the design team didn't quite go far enough. The only real changes visible to the naked eye are in the front fascia, which sports styling inspired by tweaks made to the latest rotary-powered RX-8. Front and center is a gaping grill that features five distinct corners instead of the old oval opening. Flanking that new mug are angled fog light surrounds and swept-back headlights above. The changes are mostly design elements seen on Mazda's latest batch of concept cars, though overall it's a safe update for an already safe design – and very close to what we were expecting – but we're still hoping for more from the next-gen MX-5.
[Source: KM77.com via Carscoop]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Nathan 3:34PM (9/03/2008)
Hot!
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john 10:27PM (9/03/2008)
Wow...still the same look i adore from miata. It hasn't really change that much.
John Johnson 3:36PM (9/03/2008)
It looks like a happy kid with buck teeth. All it needs is buck teeth.
I'll LOL every time I see one of these come up behind me. "HAI GUYZ WATS GOIN ON HERE?"
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geo.stewart 8:28AM (9/04/2008)
when the RX8 came out one of the car mags took a blank white vanity plate and drew a line down the middle and put it on the front of the car.
there was bugs bunny in all his glory.
The better would be to black out one side, then it would fit in better here in the south ;-)
f650 3:37PM (9/03/2008)
Great car, but I don't like the styling.
The refreshed RX8 looks great, though. Mazda needs an ecoboosted V6 RX8 so there's some performance to back up that lousy MPG.
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ed 4:10PM (9/03/2008)
WTF V6????? LOLZ.
Tim 4:19PM (9/03/2008)
The "R" in RX8 stands for Rotary, so you lose.
FotoGenetix 4:33PM (9/03/2008)
V6 ecoboost! wow you sir need to know what R stands for.
Torrent 7:24PM (9/03/2008)
rofl. a V6. That's epic.
fSSX 7:53AM (9/04/2008)
Are you sure you dont work for Ford or Chrysler ???
f650 9:07AM (9/04/2008)
Yes, I realize the rotorheads make up quite the following, but having driven an '05 many times the only thing I didn't like was the inefficiency.
It was relatively quick, sure, but dog-slow compared to the full-size truck like gas mileage. My friend had gotten single-digit MPG when the weather was real cold, and an all-time best of 21mpg 100% highway driving. My friend ended up trading it in on a Nissan Titan for practicality (owning a house) and it's sad that it got about the same gas mileage. And was almost as quick.
The chassis was awesome, the transmission felt great (when it wasn't grinding like hell), but the cool whirring noise did not make up for the lack of GO and the appetite for the combustible stuff in my opinion.
I completely stand by my opinion of putting a non-rotary engine in it. Call it something else, I don't care. You don't get to rev to 9k anymore, but at least it would have some grunt. Your flagship sporty GT car has ~50 less hp and 100??? less ft/lbs tq than the mazdaspeed economy car sibling? Yea, that sounds right.
SAM 11:49AM (9/05/2008)
the rx series major problem has always been lack of torque...when driven MAD...like you are totally pissed at the car...they are the most fun there is...one most road courses, these will leave a 350z in th dust...granted you don't stand a chance in a long strait...but, the rx motors make it so you can drive MUCH smoother, and drifting in a corner is much easier to accomplish..major problem the motors have is meeting US emission standards...i've driven a euro equivalent version...it had much more BEEF than the us version
Adam 3:47PM (9/03/2008)
That's the best S2000 Mazda ever made.
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dan 4:24PM (9/03/2008)
You beat me to it. I see the same thing. S2000 all the way. BTW mazda needs to get off their ass and sell one of these with the mazdaspeed3 engine in it.
Nellydesign 4:36PM (9/03/2008)
I always thought they looked similar, now only more so.
richard 6:34PM (9/03/2008)
I see s2000 too! even down to the rims on the earlier ap2 =D
Xcountryflyer 3:48PM (9/03/2008)
Better than the too ovaloid look of the current front-end. Now if we could just get a MS version!
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PJ 6:34PM (9/03/2008)
I dunno, the 3rd-gen base model already does 0-60 in ~6.5 seconds--faster than the last MSM--and that's getting an EPA-estimated 21/28 MPG, vs. the last MSM's 19/26 (by the EPA's optomistic pre-2008 reckoning).
I think Mazda's hit the sweet spot engine-wise; what they need is an R package (like that available in '94) with stiffer springs and dampers, thicker anti-roll bars, and a set of lightweight 16s. That and some actual feel in the new clutch.
JD 8:54PM (9/03/2008)
PJ-
My MS3 runs to 60 in 5.4 if you do it right- that motor would turn this car into a total monster. And I say that in a very good way. Too bad they have officially announced that the engine won't fit. I would get an MS miata with the turbo 2.3 in a heartbeat if I could find the cash.
tekdemon 1:53AM (9/04/2008)
Well, at least the Miata has pretty great aftermarket support if you don't mind the lack of a powertrain warranty...
I do wish that they would make it just SLIGHTLY more aggressive already and get rid of the girlymobile stigma lol.