Next Mazda Miata to be lighter; get smaller engines and electric power steering?
Click above for a high-res gallery of 20 years of the Mazda Miata/MX-5
Low weight and greater efficiency might not be the sexiest of selling points for a sports car unless you're a devotee of Lotus founder Colin Chapman's "add lightness" philosophy. Thankfully for those less-is-more enthusiasts, however, Mazda has steadily adhered to that formula with its MX-5 Miata – and now, word from the crew at GoAuto is that company engineers are working even harder to adhere to that design philosophy, with thoughts of smaller, force-fed engines and lighter curb weights dominating discussions for the next iteration of the iconic roadster.
There have long been rumors of a rotary-powered MX-5, but that's probably not in the cards. A modern take on the RX-7 is supposedly being worked up to take a new version of Felix Wankel's whirling dervish of an engine zipping into the future, with the MX-5 getting a newly developed line of four cylinders with direct injection and forced induction (finally!). A heavy-breathing Miata, packing the muscle of a MazdaSpeed3, for instance, might move the neo-MGB into a new realm at the top of its range.
Three words that tend to generate a half-frown on enthusiasts faces are being thrown about in the same sentence as the new Miata: "Electric power steering." We can see the push for the greater energy efficiency that EPS offers, but hopefully Mazda can make the Miata's helm joyously alive instead of Toyota Corolla-style numbness, all shot up with Novocaine (as most such systems tend to be).
Chassis details are also in the realm of conjecture at this point, but with words like "lighter" being shoved at us, we expect some significant re-engineering going on under the skin. That skin, by the way, will likely be more expressive than the rather safe MX-5 we have now, with Mazda's design chief Laurens van den Acker on record as saying the plan is for the car to "be more dramatic and give it some balls."
[Source: GoAuto]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
benfolio 4:33PM (3/24/2009)
Umm.... did you guys forget the Mazda3, Mazda5, and RX-8 all have electric assist steering?
No one complains about the steering feel on those cars.
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StickShift 5:44PM (3/24/2009)
There's a difference between an electrically powered hydraulic pump - which the cars you listed have - and fully electric power steering. The article implies the latter, which feels like the steering out of an old Cadillac for the next Miata.
If it uses an electric pump alone, however, it wouldn't be a problem. Lets hope for that.
Chrisnetcom 5:59PM (3/24/2009)
Um...no. Those cars have fully electronic steering - i.e. no power steering fluid or pumps. This comes from an RX-8 owner. No complaints from me or any other RX-8 driver.
why not the LS2LS7? 6:33PM (3/24/2009)
F1 cars have full electric steering. Most (not all) Le Mans prototypes too. If those drivers can deal with electric steering, I think you can make do also.
Affalterbach 7:31PM (3/24/2009)
@LS2LS7?
Sorry to disappoint you buddy, but majority of us don't have skills even close to F1/LeMans drivers.
Plus, the whole point of the Miata is to have fun and a communicative steering(see 3-series, BMW). I have no intention of treating it like a GT-race car.
superman211 10:47PM (3/24/2009)
No the RX-8 as great feel. And if it did not it would be completely bad because it is ugly guzzles gas like a V8 and has 232hp and not torque.
CrunchyCookie 10:50AM (3/30/2009)
Here's the Mazda steering breakdown:
RX-8, Miata, Tribute: Fully electric
3, 5: Electro-Hydraulic
6, CX-7, CX-9: Conventional Hydraulic
ronEbear 4:35PM (3/24/2009)
"be more dramatic and give it some balls"
Dramaballs, I like it!
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Asia 4:36PM (3/24/2009)
This sounds delightful. Mazda hasn't let me down with a Miata yet.
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archknight 4:38PM (3/24/2009)
Hopefully this won't get the grinning face maw of the current car or Mazda3, now I can't stand looking at it. Mazda needs to reconsider throwing that on anything else, since it can turn off potential buyers, as it has for me with the new 3. Although, I'm excited to hear this will be a true sports car now compared to the girlish little ride it is now.
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ChaoZ 4:40PM (3/24/2009)
I take it you haven't seen the 2009 refresh of the Miata?
archknight 4:44PM (3/24/2009)
Yeah I have, it's the reason I made the comment. The 2010/11 model need not follow that philosophy, they can kiss more potential sales goodbye.
the_MVP_X 4:38PM (3/24/2009)
OK, enough with the fun from the Miata.
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MemphisNET 4:38PM (3/24/2009)
With all the innovation, why can't they just bring the coupe over :(
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Jay Evans 4:49PM (3/24/2009)
Coupe? What Coupe?
The only MX-5 coupe was back in 2004. A very limited production model only for the JDM that was actually a modified Roadster built for Mazda by an outside supplier.
Kattleox 5:06PM (3/24/2009)
SHAZAAAM! http://www.autokonexion.com/new5.php
Buy an OEM top and do it yourself. I have actually considered it, but it looks to RX7 Spirit-R-ish to me.
I am glad to see that they are hard at work on an ND, and smaller has never been bad for a Miata. This may very well be the first new car I buy
Nick 5:43PM (3/24/2009)
Actually, there have been Roadster Coupes for both the NA and NB, though it is true they were very limited in production, and Japan-only.
That said, I would kill for a Miata Coupe. More rigidity, better looks, lighter weight (if designed from the ground up as a coupe), more aerodynamic..What is there to lose? If I want to see the sun, I'll get out of the car.
Quattroporte 4:40PM (3/24/2009)
"There’s always been a small but nagging question mark over the dynamics of the third-generation Mazda MX-5, which has been spoiled by the artificial feel of its electric power steering..."
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Mazda-MX-5-2.0i-Sport/238153/
Does the current Miata have electric power steering or not?
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ksmith 5:16PM (3/24/2009)
The current miata should, as it shares a platform with my rx-8 which has electric power steering, and it's far from numb. It's all in how you apply it. EPS on the column = numb no matter what, however EPS on the steering rack = possibly good, although you can still mess it up.
PJ 5:18PM (3/24/2009)
Nope; it's still hydraulic. That article caused some puzzling in Miata forums when it was published, but it's flat wrong.
Having owned an NA and NB Miata, My knee-jerk reaction is to protest any move towards EPS... but then, the RX-8's steering is electric and it has better feel than the NC MX-5's, IMO.