Alfa/ND Mule spotted in Michigan

[rjastra2]

I was talking on an international scale, not just the local release. I don't think Datsun paid much attention to Australia when designing and building the 240z.
The original Z was aimed squarely at Ferrari 250GTO, Porsche 914 and Jaguar XKE etc... So in relation to those "EURO MARQUES", yes it was cheap.

When I say stripped out I mean trim and accessories... Standard equipment was a heater and.... ???

Aimed at Ferrari? Jaguar E type? Mid engined Porsche?

It was aimed at the US market. The US market initially got a 4 speed manual to keep costs down.

The 240Z wasn 't stripped out compared to the competition.

This is what the mags thought were its competitors in the day

[Lokiel]

The 240Z was definitely aimed at the US market and was responsible for killing off all other small sportscar competitors in the US since it offered performance AND reliability, something that the other competitors weren't known for.

This thread has certainly diverged - there's definitely a lot of love for the 240Z.

[Evil Panda]

Design not sales.... Take a look at it and tell me which of all the cars mentioned it most resembles?

Anyways... We've hijacked the thread talking Datsun on an MX5 site.
Apologies.

[Rocky]

All the best threads get hi-jacked eventually.

That is a great photo. As a comparo that would have been a 'no contest'.
In 1976 I wanted a 240Z but it was just out of my price range so I bought the Fiat 124 Sport. I enjoyed driving it but it was not in the 240Zs league.
As for the MGB & the Spitfire, they were a generation previous.
Don't know much about the Opel GT - great styling, but not in the 240Zs class performance-wise.

[NB98]

More good news -


http://www.caradvice.com.au/261107/2015 ... ss-1000kg/

[rjastra2]

The last Mazda "insider" seem to think they would be lucky to get under 1100kg.

Do people actually believe skyactiv hype when it comes to weight savings?

2011 Mazda 6 sedan with auto = 1433kg
Brand new Mazda 6 sedan with auto = 1462kg
2011 Wagon auto = 1470kg
Brand new wagon = 1484kg

The New Mazda 3 is no lighter than the recently released Golf

[project.r.racing]

Do people actually believe skyactiv hype when it comes to weight savings?

There is always stupid people that believe.

[Guran]

New Mazda6 is HUGE compared with the old one. Getting it to within a few kilos of the old one was a great achievement

[rjastra2]

New Mazda6 is HUGE compared with the old one. Getting it to within a few kilos of the old one was a great achievement

The (now) ancient VW Passat is only 20kg heavier. A current Camry is the same weight as a new Mazda6.

Yes, the Mazda 6 is massive (as long as a commodore)... but it doesnt seem very space efficient. The load area of the wagon and sedan are ridiculously shallow.

[Rocky]

For some reason the Mazda 6 looks longer than a new Commodore/Falcon although the figures say not (4865/4966/4967)
It is not quite a wide either (1840/1898/1868)

I thought the first generation Mazda 6 Luxury Sport Hatch (2002 -7) was the optimum size, shape & style and the second and now third generations just got flabbier and uglier.
I liked the styling of the first generation so much I think it is one of the best looking 4 dr sedans ever.
I particularly liked the 'Luxury Sport' because of the hatchback which gave it the advantages of a station wagon for moving large objects around.

The new one - too big, no manual gearbox, too much electronic crap.

[yem11n]

Just read about the ND MX5 in Motor mag. A few interesting points that may already have been mentioned on the forum..

- kerb weight of 1050kg or less
- powered by 1.3 and 1.5ltr turbo four-pot engines
- 'kodo' design (hawk-eye headlights and a shield grille and more creases in the body)

They also have artist impression picture but if it is going to look like that I personally think it is going the wrong way..

[OurCognitiveSurplus]

I thought the aim was less than 1000kg?

[taminga16]

I really think that we need to sit tight and wait, the press are a lazy crowd, where is the real research? After all everthing that we have seen up until now is nothing more than conjucture. Mazda are quiet apart from saying that it will involve 'Sky-Active' and that the driveline is yet to be developed (Mazda Aus CEO at a MX-5 Club Presentation Event 2013).

Wheels Magazine FEB 2013 featured an article titled 'All roads lead to Japan'.
(Subtitled) 'Inscrutable culture and pure passion are set to collide when Mazda and Alfa join forces to build the next-gen MX-5/ Spider (sic) in 2015'. Ten pages later (albeit with some lovely images) I realised that it was just a junket for John Carey and Tom Salt, and that the Italian connection was nothing more than a tie up with Alessandro and Cosimo, fourth-gen Alpha Workshop owners (insert gesticulation here).
Wheels may have been better to have sent the same two blokes for coffee at Origini in Castlemaine, to have a chat with Luca Satori, a real Italian who loves cars and also serves great food followed by a quick blast through the Central Highlands of Victoria and a photo shoot at Yandoit (Swiss Italian settlement).
If you are struggling with the concept think Monty Python and the 'Dead Parrot' sketch.
Greg.

"When one throws enough people into the air, at least one of them is bound to hit you on the head"
GRB.

[markwid]

Just read about the ND MX5 in Motor mag. A few interesting points that may already have been mentioned on the forum..

- kerb weight of 1050kg or less
- powered by 1.3 and 1.5ltr turbo four-pot engines
- 'kodo' design (hawk-eye headlights and a shield grille and more creases in the body)

They also have artist impression picture but if it is going to look like that I personally think it is going the wrong way..

1.5 turbo could be very interesting. And if it looks like below drawing, not bad.

[OurCognitiveSurplus]

I think that's a giant improvement on the NC. I like the cobra-style drop at the front of the bonnet.