Alfa/ND Mule spotted in Michigan

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Thu May 22, 2014 4:32 pm

I pray that it doesn't have the "Darth Vader" grille which seems to be popular in Japan right now like on the Lexus NX:

bootz · Postby **bootz** » Thu May 22, 2014 4:54 pm

What ever it is I might be buying the Italian Job.

A Fiat or Alfa made in Japan by Mazda. That might be something to get excited about!

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Fri May 23, 2014 10:23 am

No new pictures just means we all are wasting keystrokes.

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Fri May 23, 2014 11:18 am

project.r.racing wrote:No new pictures just means we all are wasting keystrokes.

There are no old pictures either, it's all conjecture and as I have said before the Drive.com article was nothing short of fat, lazy journalism! "Our spy", really Toby Hagon you need to do better!
Greg.

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Sat May 24, 2014 10:24 am

Not sure if this has been posted yet but an interesting comparison between generations....

NA/NB=red
NC=cyan
ND=green

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Sat May 24, 2014 10:45 am

it's interesting to see the engine shift way back from NC onwards. and the chassis get a little longer. other than that, the differences ane pretty minimal.

and they have reworked the rear suspension for every model. looks like the ND will be similar to the NA/NBs.

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Sat May 24, 2014 12:22 pm

Notice with each generation the seat and gear lever move a little further towards the back.

Wheelbase is also slightly shorter on the ND than the NC.......

bootz · Postby **bootz** » Sat May 24, 2014 4:39 pm

Note how the new ppf - power plant frame cossets the gearbox so much more in NA/NB

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Sat May 24, 2014 4:52 pm

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing.

Here is the original video too.

Lots of interesting observations to take from these schematics:
1) ND brake rotors are much smaller than NC - similar size to NB. But the calipers are similar to NC.
2) The springs are shorter and have fewer windings - quite a bit of weight saving here.
3) The rear shocks are shifted quite a way back and are well behind the hub centre.
4) Engine and gearbox is lower in ND indicating a lower centre of gravity.
5) Wheelbase of ND is fractionally shorter than NC.
6) Wheel size is smaller and (obviously) four stud - both of these indicate substantial weight saving.
7) The hip point in the ND is almost as low as the NA/NB, and lower than NC.
8 ) The distance from the hip point to the rear axle in the ND is similar to the NA/NB, and less than the NC.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Sat May 24, 2014 10:15 pm

Nevyn72 wrote:Not sure if this has been posted yet but an interesting comparison between generations....

NA/NB=red
NC=cyan
ND=green

Got a link to that video?

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Sat May 24, 2014 10:40 pm

davekmoore wrote: Got a link to that video?

Here you go, the relevant graphics are towards the end, 2'55" mark.... :wink:

Colouration and pretty graphics were done by the guys over at forum.miata.net, see Pico's post here;
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.ph ... ost6935775

Vat · Postby **Vat** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 11:06 pm

Latest "we have no idea what this car will look like" news...

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/new-mazda-mx-5-gets-radical-look/1297582

That means the MX-5 is unlikely to get the deep front grille treatment that features on the 3, the 6 and, most likely, the forthcoming 2. ‘The front end has been one of the big challenges of the project, because the grille is so deep and the MX-5 is such a low car anyway,’ said the source, ‘so the solution is different.’

Also...

What Car? understands, meanwhile, that the MX-5’s look is also radically different from that of the sister car being prepared by the Fiat Group as part of the same project. The other roadster is likely to be badged an Abarth, and shares the same chassis components, but there’s said to be ‘absolutely no family resemblance’ between the two cars.

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:59 am

A new video about the ND has just come out from Mazda!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyt556Q ... SwXweuVhPg

It's all about the chassis again but a lot more detail of what's changed.....

Best news is they're not going to hide the engine under a plastic shroud, YEAH! :mrgreen:

Read from the 6th post down on the page in this thread on Miata.net to see some of the analysis done by the Yanks of what's been revealed. :wink:

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.ph ... ost6967810

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:28 am

Nevyn72 wrote:A new video about the ND has just come out from Mazda!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyt556Q ... SwXweuVhPg

It's all about the chassis again but a lot more detail of what's changed.....

Best news is they're not going to hide the engine under a plastic shroud, YEAH!

Read from the 6th post down on the page in this thread on Miata.net to see some of the analysis done by the Yanks of what's been revealed.
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.ph ... ost6967810

have you even see the few posts above yours? new video haha...

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:49 am

project.r.racing wrote:have you even see the few posts above yours? new video haha...

Errrr..... Yes, I put them them there! :roll:

Why don't you try and actually watch the video I linked, you will find it's new and has a lot more detail than, and about twice as long, as the one in the earlier post...... :wink: