Mazda MX-5 will get lighter, maybe alternative powertrain
Click above for high-res gallery of the Mazda MX-5
The Mazda MX-5 is one of the world's best handling cars under $25,000, and as much as we Americans want more power and size to turn the Japanese roadster into a proper pony car, that's probably not going to happen. Increased fuel economy and CO2 reductions will force the MX-5 into the same situation as larger vehicles. It has to get more efficient and lighter to stay competitive. MX-5 program manager Takao Kijima told Drive that Mazda is looking at alternative powertrains for its little roadster, but the Zoom Zoom specialists are also looking to drop 10% of the car's weight.
One way to improve efficiency is with diesel technology. Diesels can be 30% more efficient than petrol powerplants, but beefier diesel parts means that total displacement must be smaller than the current engine's 2.0 liters. Another idea is a hybrid, which, like the diesel, would provide instant torque that would also add weight to a vehicle that's just about to go on a diet. Kijima also stated that any MX-5 would absolutely have to have 50/50 weight distribution, meaning that a hybrid with its heavy batteries would by tricky, but not impossible. For our money, we'll take a 10% lighter Miata with a smaller turbocharged, direct-inject gas engine with ethanol injections.
Gallery: 2009 Mazda MX-5
[Source: Drive]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Pat 3:56PM (10/09/2008)
I'll be impressed if they can make it lighter as a hybrid or diesel. They could make it lighter by shoving a rotary under the hood...but that wouldn't improve fuel economy.
Reply
JD 5:14PM (10/09/2008)
Yeah, I'd be impressed if they could make it lighter as a hybrid too, especially considering the batteries you'd have to squeeze in. I'd rather just see a straight up lighter MX-5 than a hybrid one, hybrid is just a stopgap until we can come up with a real solution anyways.
Make it lighter, and offer a smaller motor in it. But don't take the current motor out. And they should also make a bigger motor available for a mazdaspeed MX-5.
Lucas 3:28PM (10/09/2008)
More efficient to stay competitive? Really?
Mine gets 26mpg city and 37mpg highway... that's not efficient and competitive in the sportscar catagory? That's not efficient and competitive in ANY catagory (including the Fit/Yaris/Versa one)?
How efficient, exactly, do you expect a sportscar to be?
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 3:57PM (10/09/2008)
Ratings are 22/27, not 26/37. I think they can do better. The Vette does almost that well.
Lucas 4:16PM (10/09/2008)
Ratings are blatant lies. In both cases.
Yes, the Corvette gets excellent mileage. Driven in 6th gear. Like a Grandma. Like nobody does.
I average a real world 26mpg on my bumper-to-bumper, gridlocked commute from Marietta to Atlanta everyday. I got 36mpg driving the tail of the dragon all day long. My worst tank so far has been 22mpg. On a track day. RACING. Try those with a 'vette. The EPA ratings for these cars are a sham, pure and simple.
TMC 4:39PM (10/09/2008)
25mpg regularly here.
I've seen around 35, but yes I was driving like a grandma.
The MX-5 isn't a MPG machine by design. I'd prefer to have a smaller, revvy DI motor with a turbo over just about any other "alternative" drivetrain.
why not the LS2LS7? 5:56PM (10/09/2008)
You cannot measure cars against each other using your figures versus ratings. You may drive differently than other people.
Some guy gets >60mpg in his Accord. And what exactly does that mean to all of us?
Lucas 6:56PM (10/09/2008)
Ok,
Since you love the EPA so much let's get the numbers off their website shall we?
From Fueleconomy.gov:
EPA rating:
Miata 22cty / 27hwy / 24 comb
Corvette 16cty / 26hwy / 19comb
The EPA observed city mileage is 6mpg in the Miata's favor. 6mpg is a huge difference.
But wait, let's look at the owner observed mileages from the same website:
Owner observed:
Miata Lo29 / Hi32 / Avg30.9
Corvette Lo19 / Hi30 / Avg23.8
The the average LOW for the Miata is 1mpg off of the average HIGH for the Corvette! This is exactly what I am talking about. I have a few friends that own 'vettes that average around 20-23mpg unless they are taking a cross-state interstate trip with all highway mileage. They would love to get the mileage figures you say every Corvette owner sees.
The EPA figures come from driving like a granny, using 6th gear as often as possible, and most importantly SKIP SHIFTING which is the first thing every 'vette owner I know disabled the first chance they got.
The 'vette is an efficient car, and amazing so considering the performance, but it is NOT more economical than a four cylinder in everyday driving much less being driven like it is supposed to be. And, even if that was somehow magically possible, the $26,992 price difference between base models buys the Miata owner 6504 gallons of gasoline to burn any way he pleases at $4.15 for premium. These cars aren't in the same economy class at all, so let's stop comparing them like they are being cross-shopped by price-conscious buyers, OK?
why not the LS2LS7? 9:03AM (10/10/2008)
Lucas:
Don't tell me what to do. You're not my mom.
Given how much more powerful and capable the Vette is and what it can do for mpg, the Miata with its smaller size and much less powerful engine should be able to do a lot better. That's what I said before, and I'm saying it again now.
Wow, you went from a single person's figures to an internet poll. Internet polls are a joke, even if the EPA hosts them. They're statistically invalid due to self-selection even when people don't try to game them.
I have a couple Corvette-owner friends. I don't know any who skip shift. You only have to rev the engine up a few hundred more revs to have the skip gate turn off (if you haven't already disconnected it), and every driver I know does so because they find the skip-shift weird.
Robbie Paramor 3:39PM (10/09/2008)
It's a good car, shame it has the reputation of being a "gay" car, you can't peel invisible rainbow stickers off the car ... maybe in other markets people take this car seriously!
Reply
Scott Eaton 3:56PM (10/09/2008)
I can't take you seriously.
IOMTT 6:04PM (10/09/2008)
If the MX-5 is a "gay" car, I am glad I was not behind the wheel of the Viper at a track day that could not pass the Miata...true story circa mid 90's Summit Point Club circuit. Granted there were basically no "straight" aways to help the RT10. Sorry, bad pun.
Mez Jr 8:10PM (10/09/2008)
I don't know about you, but I buy things I like, not what other people like. Especially something as expensive as a car.
There are basically 3 cars under 25k that are rear wheel drive, and have rear independent suspension. MX-5 (miata) and the Solstice/Sky twins.
If you want a daily driver that's also a real sports car, on the cheap, this is pretty much it (in the US).
Lee Gibson 11:52PM (10/09/2008)
Anybody who knows anything about sports cars knows takes the Miata seriously.
Anybody who doesn't? Well, I guess they're entitled to their opinion too.
Red 3:30PM (10/09/2008)
If a Ford Fiesta can come in about about 2200lbs (the chassis having been designed by Mazda), this should be a no-brainer. I know some would denounce it, but a hybrid or diesel would be an interesting approach though. Hmm..
Reply
n!ck 11:45AM (10/14/2008)
if only they could return to the size of the first generation miata [na]. stupid crash test regulations.
i think when seated in a na miata your head is about the height of a large suv bumper.
Reply
scardella 3:48PM (10/09/2008)
Maybe just throw on a fixed roof instead of the PRHT and call it a day...
Reply
jim 3:55PM (10/09/2008)
Reduce the displacement to say 1.4L add bi-turbos or the new electric drive superchargers, to replace the lost power in both the low and high ends. Squeeze a 10% weight loss out of basic platform plus smaller engine being lighter and you have an improved car that'll get better mileage and better performance.
Who knows, in 5 years the Miata might be the premier high performance roadster and we'll be awaiting the intro of the Ecotec powered Corvette.
Reply
Rick 3:58PM (10/09/2008)
I certainly have no need for it to get larger or having a balance altering lump up front. It's a sports car. Keep it as light and small possible for maximum driver reward. And what's with these fools calling it a 'gay car'. Never been to an SCCA event?
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 3:58PM (10/09/2008)
I'd love to see the Miata get smaller again. With the huge rims and wheel arches, it's a clown car right now. Get back to basics. I don't have a big problem with the drivetrain, it's not hugely oversized, and I don't want a turbo in that car. A supercharger might be okay, but you're not going to save weight going to an intercooled supercharger over the current drivetrain, not without reducing power output considerably.
Reply