quite pretty, innit? (ND launch)

[gslender]

Sorry, you are wrong.

Fair enough.

Not sure what the Alfa new EPS design might mean. But agree if Mazda been messing with EPS since early 2003 (thanks orx626) then I'm feeling a lot more confident about their entry into this space. Was initially concerned given the press around recalls in EPS across a lot of the range etc.

Back to the ND....

Jury is still out on the styling and I could be brought around if the driver feel, performance and handling is up to, or beyond expectations.

G

[JBT]

Mazda have used a different system on the new 3, in that it has a motor on the steering column shaft rather than the rack to assist.
It seems Mazda will be using something like the RX-8 or 6 type of system (dual pinion) in the ND - should be perfect.

[Mr Morlock]

gslender a jury is 12 and based on this little snapshot of opinions the jury is not out - the consensus is that its good and I would go further than that and say its first class- a car that people will remark on and like. I cannot think of a 2 door convertible at a sensible price that does anything for me- the Coupes and hot hatches are of course a different sector. What we will all be interested in is does it capture the fun of a sports car for enthusiasts as well as those not so committed to open top motoring. I think Mazda;s engineers can do it.

[Hammer]

Mmmm.... really not sure.... let's look at the details....

• Sept 2014 a world wide release for a car that is targeted for sale in 2016 (WTF?)
• Derek Jensen (Director of Design) initially talks on how successful the first cars were, and how this release needed to honor both the past and the future (did they?)
• We then cut to another movie showing the history and success of the MX5 and then the new model is rolled onto the stage.
• Derek then points out key design features about how "this curve is important because, and that curve help enhance this look etc" (it either works or it doesn't - don't try and sell me on it please).
• He finally mentions how great the new interior is (but you don't get much of a view of that)
• Then Duran Duran are introduced and largely because they are a 1980s band, have had continued success (like the MX5) and Derek loves them (WTF?)
• The band poorly sings (as most old bands do) the song A View To Kill (a notably bad bond film staring one of the not so good Bond actors - Roger Moore)

I'm not all that impressed and given the original car was considered "great" mainly due to the break-away from traditional (at the time and mentioned so by Derek) and now known because of the Jinba ittai balance, this release seems to be only focused on the image... oh boy.... did that global launch capture that???

Not sure... not sure... kinda think no.... not feeling good about it.... View to kill... really? Was the NA6 trying to be the best looking car... did they really care that much (as they seem to be trying now)... not thinking so... was kinda a "let's style it in a basic roadster way" and hope that the market likes it.

G

Here's a YouTube vid that follows on from the initial launch video. It must have been recorded after Duran Duran finished their stint. Here Derek Jenkins continued his description of the design in a little more detail about the car.

Jump to 2:18 for the new stuff.

On this new vid, he says the following that were a highlight for me:

1. "All" ND MX-5s will come with "LED" headlights
2. The blacked out windscreen pillar and side mirrors will come standard in black (as it is in the pre-production model shown).



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-pJCLcradI

[Caffeine]

I for one an pleased that some people don't like it. It means that the styling is at least different and challenging. It's not like a Camry which is designed to be as bland as possibly so as not to polarise the widest range of buyers.

Mazda don't need everyone to like the car, they just need a small proportion to absolutely love it.

[fastfreddygassit]

^^^^
well said

[Hammer]

Here's another Vid where Derek Jenkins talks about the soft top. Apparently underneat the first panel of the soft top is rigid.

[taminga16]

Further to my initial comment, (I am disappointed, Mazda had licence to do something really special, missed it and followed the stream) and having viewed a few more images I am happy to wait to see but it is still not jumping out at me.
Greg.

[JBT]

In some photos it looks very fresh and all. However, in others it seems, IMO, to look more like an NC that has been squashed a bit, had its nose pushed down and pulled forward and then been kicked in the bum.

[Nevyn72]

It moves!

[Mr Morlock]

difficult and challenging the design is not. Difficult and challenging are generally the cars and designs that the majority don't like. I don't think it would be too hard to draw parallels with many classic convertible / roadster sports cars. The new car is curvy and balanced and the headlamp profiles and rear lights have shapes of other modern vehicles- as an example take a look at the angular outlines for Lexus as an example. There is no way that Mazda were going to frighten the natives with weird designs.

[FoxForceFive]

Really nice looking car- I actually saw it at a market research night about 6 months ago (but couldn't talk to anyone about it!)

[gslender]

gslender a jury is 12 and based on this little snapshot of opinions the jury is not out - the consensus is that its good and I would go further than that and say its first class- a car that people will remark on and like. I cannot think of a 2 door convertible at a sensible price that does anything for me- the Coupes and hot hatches are of course a different sector. What we will all be interested in is does it capture the fun of a sports car for enthusiasts as well as those not so committed to open top motoring. I think Mazda;s engineers can do it.

I'm sure you'll accept that the saying is intended to suggest one's mind isn't made up... so for me, the jury is still out... I'm unconvinced on the styling but may come to love it when the driving tests begin and reports come back. If it goes like its styled, then girls and hairdressers will love it - sitting still in the parking lot.

G

[Lokiel]

Some great photos here (scroll down to post #335): http://www.miataturbo.net/general-miata-chat-9/nd-chassis-revealed-78538/page6/

This one really shows how long the nose is and how far back the driver sits:


- it really has some "purdy curves" and looks like something that Alfa would have designed rather than Mazda - I was fearing something that resembled some of the newer Hyundai designs.

[KevGoat]

May just be me, but does anyone else get a pretty strong sense of 86/BRZ lines when looking at the front, especially from those on road photos? May have missed other people's references to this, just can't remember seeing any ....