Rendered Speculation: Mazda preparing sub-Miata MX-2?
We've seen it happen a million times: a small car is successful, then the automaker ruins it by making it larger and heavier to satisfy what it thinks the average buyer is after. Fortunately, that hasn't been the case with the Mazda MX-5, which – retractable hardtop option notwithstanding – the Japanese automaker has always been careful not to spoil the core elements of the MX-5. So we'll take reports that Mazda is preparing an even smaller MX-2 with a grain of salt. But a small one.According to the speculation, a future MX-2 would come in noticeably smaller than the full-size Miata, and therefore require smaller engines. Something between 700cc and 1.6-liter engines are reportedly in store, with a turbo at the top end delivering 160 horsepower. No word on layout, but we'd grudgingly expect a front-drive set-up when the purported MX-2 is unveiled as early as 2012.
[Source: Auto Express]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
jon 7:40PM (6/30/2009)
lol yeah... ok... i dont believe this for a second
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refugee7 7:52PM (6/30/2009)
I don't believe it and please no.
James 12:10AM (7/01/2009)
Mazda should name it "MX-K(ei)"...if it comes into fruition.
swimstarguy 7:19PM (7/01/2009)
I'm with James
Make it a RWD and fun Kei and I would buy it.
HotRodzNKustoms 7:44PM (6/30/2009)
Everything I've heard says the Miata is going to be closer to the size of the first gen. So I doubt this rumor is true.
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Affalterbach 1:20AM (7/01/2009)
1. Hope they don't 'FWD' it. The MX-5 needs to loose some weight, thats all.
2. RX8 needs more power or significantly better fuel economy.
3. There needs to be a stop to these 'smiley' faces.
RamblinReck89 7:45PM (6/30/2009)
I'm calling shenanigans.
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Peter L 8:58AM (7/01/2009)
Thats why I drive a 1990 with the 1600 cc egine. The Cdn models had no airbags and were roomier and lighter than models that followed
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xtasi 7:59PM (6/30/2009)
The Miata is small as is. They could shorten it by going FWD. However, that would loose the "miataness"
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RamblinReck89 8:02PM (6/30/2009)
as opposed to tightening the miataness?
xtasi 8:06PM (6/30/2009)
Tight is right!
"lose" the spelling police.
David 8:08PM (6/30/2009)
Smaller than a Miata? You're in motorcycle territory. That said, the current Miata is definitely larger (and maybe heavier, I'm not sure) than the original.
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AutoCritical 8:09PM (6/30/2009)
Not going to hold my breath!
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zigzagz94 8:21PM (6/30/2009)
Listen up you morons over at Mazda: just build a real coupe version of the current miata and call it a day. That's the car Mazdaphiles have been begging you to build for 20 years. No one has ever said, you know what I need is an even smaller miata. A lighter miata yes, smaller no. The next gen miata is supposed to loose 100-200lbs so that part is taken care of. Now just build us a coupe d@mnit. I'll even take the Kabura project that you killed off for no reason (you could have beat Hyundai to the punch with the whole affordable rwd turbo 4cyl coupe, but nooooo.... now look where you are bastages. Oh yea, throw in a mazdaspeed version with the turbo 4cyl from the 'speed three and we're good. Thanks.
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dwightB 8:49PM (6/30/2009)
AMEN! The Kabura was one of the hottest small cars I've ever laid eyes on. Kept my fingers crossed... and nothing. :(
They could have even made it on a platform with Ford. At the SAME NAIAS show in 2006, Ford showed the Reflex concept that had a VERY similar stance / size to the Kabura. Making BOTH vehicles (just like we see with the Edge and CX-7) was a no-brainer.
mrfoof82 9:37PM (6/30/2009)
They did make a coupe-version. Of the NB. In it's outgoing year. And was released in extremely limited volumes only in Japan.
Owning a 2008 NC, it's already gotten "too big". The 2.0L MZR up front -- despite the "more go" -- causes it to push more than its predecessors and makes the rear a bit more skittish. It's also creeped up to nearly 2500 pounds. Hey, I won't argue against heated seats -- it makes December driving realistic except when it's snowing -- but it has gotten... yuppieish. The 5.3 cu2 of trunk space is handy, but again is because the car has grown.
Bring it back down to 1.5 or 1.6L that can rev to at least 8K so it's nice and peaky, keep the wondrous transmission, shrink it a wee bit (but try to keep the trunk), keep the fantastic-to-use soft top, drop 200lbs, and I'd consider upgrading for the improved hoonability
Smegley 8:21PM (6/30/2009)
"Rendered speculation" is also that it will be a one-seater.
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mundotaku 8:44PM (6/30/2009)
Don't you get it? It is going tu be a Sub-model. Not a new model. In other words, they are going to keep the current Miata and also they would have an smaller version.
That is really common in Japan, where some models are "miniaturaized" so they can be sold under the "kei car" spec.One great example is the Mitsubishi Pajero. You had the Sport, Limited and Kei version, being each completly different of each other.
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hhsohn 9:35PM (6/30/2009)
Like Suzuki Cappuccino!!!! Bring it!!!!
Kattleox 9:01PM (6/30/2009)
I WOULD however, very much like a new MX-3 with that awesome 1.8 V6/
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