Alfa/ND Mule spotted in Michigan

[racer_x]

Yes. The recession we had to have according to Paul Keating. Complete with double digit interest rates.

[Nevyn72]

A little more news/speculation.....

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/new- ... 36i5c.html

Mazda’s all-new MX-5 roadster will be the most radically different from any in the 25-year history of the world’s best selling roadster, according to an insider who has seen the car.

Speaking exclusively to Drive, our spy says the new the all-new MX-5 is the most radical yet and deviates heavily from the classic look that has been evolving since the two-seater drop-top first went on sale in 1989.

“It’s a really new design and looks like nothing like any of its predecessors,” our insider said.

It’s understood Mazda Australia has had input into the new MX-5; Australia’s near 10 per cent market share is one of Mazda’s biggest success stories globally and the brand has a loud voice in product planning meetings.

It’s not the first time Mazda has trialled a radical new look for the MX-5. In 2003 Mazda revealed the Ibuki concept car that was a radical interpretation of how a then-new MX-5 could look, but the third generation production car that arrived in 2005 relied heavily on the design of the model it replaced.

Our spy says the new Mazda MX-5 – the underpinnings of which will be utilised by a car from the Fiat Group, possibly an Alfa Romeo or Abarth - has less prominent wheel arches, while still having a noticeable flow to define the wheels.

However, he said the grille was quite different to the new breed of Mazda’s, such as the Mazda3 and Mazda6. It’s understood the new MX-5 will show off a new interpretation of the Kodo design theme adopted by Mazda a few years ago.

He also said the vast majority of renderings online are “vastly wrong”, which is why we’re challenging you to have a go at showing us what you think the next MX-5 will look like.

Go to our Facebook page for your chance to win an iPad Mini!

At the rear there is a race car-inspired diffuser under the bumper.

Inside, too, there are major changes, including some body colour paintwork on the interior of the door skins, something that will no doubt give some retro flavour, as it has in cars such as the Mini and Fiat 500.

Our insider also said there will be a leather-look dash with stitching, something that gives the new drop-top a more upmarket cabin and helps separate it from other Mazdas.

There are also prominent rollover hoops behind each of the headrests, something that helps reinforce the sporty look.

Interestingly, too, he said the new will initially be offered only as a soft-top folding roof and rather than the folding hard-top roof that’s been the only lid available for MX-5s produced in the past few years.

Our insider has also confirmed the next generation MX-5 will have the option of a 1.5-litre engine, which will be the smallest ever offered in an MX-5; it’s unsure whether that entry-level engine will be available in Australia, although the first model that went on sale in 1989 had the option of a 1.6 or 1.8.

The flagship engine for the radically new MX-5 will be an evolution of the 2.0-litre engine used in the popular Mazda3. It’s expected to make “about 134kW” and has an internal 0-100km/h benchmark time of 6.5 seconds.

Key to that will be major weight reductions for what is expected to be a smaller roadster.

Mazda has consistently said it wants to keep the new car under 1000kg and our spy tells us it is currently looking to weigh “about 990kg

[sailaholic]

If only the motoring writers knew what they were talking about...


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[cosmo]

Seems real to me.

[sailaholic]

Wiki gives a more accurate account of previous models.


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[Nevyn72]

One of the most interesting renderings I've seen so far....
From this article: http://www.carscoops.com/2014/03/mazda- ... -york.html

[davekmoore]

Looks like a mixture of SP25GT, Z3/4 and 19" wheels. I like it, but don't think it'll happen.

[Lokiel]

That rendering still has the "too high" door line of the NC (and S2000) that reminds me of when I was in the bathtub as a little kid.

I'm hoping they'll return to the lower door height of the NA/NB, the car feels much more open and "old school roadster".

[manga_blue]

It looks like someone photoshopped an SUV.

[cosmo]

Too heavy looking.

[taminga16]

I hope that Mazda do not 'Sculpt' the body in this manner, it's ghastly and passé.
Greg.

[Nevyn72]

Someone had a bit of a crawl around one of the mules in the US recently, have a look at what they found.....

http://jalopnik.com/step-inside-the-ugl ... socialflow

That don't look like a Mazda engine to me!
It does appear to have 4 stud wheels so maybe something to stress the chassis dynamics a bit?

[Odd]

I hope they keep the car pure in shape….certainly not follow the styling of other Mazda models

KISS…..

It's worked so far!

[mattyredlocks]

It's likely it'll have that new nose all the Mazdas have these days though, right?

It's almost like their trademark at the moment.

[Odd]

If it does I hope it's more subtle than the nose on the latest mazda3's….way to heavy for a small car…IMO

the formulae to date hasn't followed the sedans….I hope they don't start now

Certainly hope there are no hard edges flowing down the side of the car

Hope this report is close….http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/new- ... 36i5c.html