ND Engine Range

[JBT]

Australia didn't get the V6 in the Mazda6.
Mazda didn't produce a 2.3 or 2.5 NC when that engine was available in east/west format.
Maybe Mazda might only want to produce RHD NDs with a 1.5 engine.
Maybe it's all BS and Australia will only get a 2.0 engine in the ND.
Maybe all RHD 2.0 litre engines are mated to auto trannies.
Maybe...

[Mr Morlock]

4 wise men odd, speed freak and caffeine and JBT with good observations. The car industry is a business and Mazda is not catering for the 0-400m brigade. The guys running on race tracks are a blip on the sales chart. If it's just about power what is the explanation for the good sales of the 86/BRZ.? I recently took a look at a Mustang Cobra- new vehicle and it has mega KWs but it's still big cumbersome , dreadful visibility, and to my eye really ugly. Thankfully Mazda and Toybaru still make sportscars that are not only aesthetically pleasing but fun to drive and don't leave a big footprint.

[gslender]

Odd and others, you keep thinking that the 1.5L is the only engine available - it isn't.

Not correct....Australia has always been supplied with the largest motor
And I see no different with ND
We will get the 1.5 and 2litre
However......I see no need for the 2litre to develop 200kw+

Then I think we are in agreement. I see no issue with the 2.0L engine if that's offered in the ND. I'd see myself buying one if that happens.

I can't see myself being happy enough with the 1.5L to warrant the cost/effort of buying a new 2 door sports car that I feel is under-powered for the $$$ I've spent.

I could be wrong, but would be surprised if it does.

G

[pcmx5]

If Mazda actually made engines that were anywhere near the industry "good" benchmarks like Alfa 1.4 or Renault 1.6 or 2.0 ltr (even the old Clio Sport NA engine)or the 2 ltr Nissan in previous years this debate would not be happening.They have always had MX5's with sound, reliable engines but certainly never exciting,perhaps excepting the SP which was exciting because it didn't have an LSD and the standard suspension became "interesting" in the couple I have dríven with more than 50000 klms on them.

Good car deserves good engines and that doesn't mean they have to be muscle cars! My nephew has an RS250 Megane,120,000 trouble free klms and it just goes like stink,handles beautifully so cannot see why Mazda can't do it and any argument about cost is surely negated in Aus by the extreme price they charge.15,000 MX's in 25 years 10,000 86/BRZ's in just over 2 tells a story.

Peter

[rjastra2]

Good car deserves good engines and that doesn't mean they have to be muscle cars! My nephew has an RS250 Megane,120,000 trouble free klms and it just goes like stink,handles beautifully so cannot see why Mazda can't do it and any argument about cost is surely negated in Aus by the extreme price they charge.15,000 MX's in 25 years 10,000 86/BRZ's in just over 2 tells a story.

Peter

Yet the BZR/86 sold (their sales figures are falling dramatically) despite the rather crap Subaru motor.

[project.r.racing]

Good car deserves good engines and that doesn't mean they have to be muscle cars! My nephew has an RS250 Megane,120,000 trouble free klms and it just goes like stink,handles beautifully so cannot see why Mazda can't do it and any argument about cost is surely negated in Aus by the extreme price they charge.15,000 MX's in 25 years 10,000 86/BRZ's in just over 2 tells a story.

Peter

Yet the BZR/86 sold (their sales figures are falling dramatically) despite the rather crap Subaru motor.

What is the point you are making?

All performance cars sell like hotcakes upon their first release. Then sales drop after 18 months. All models of MX5s have done the same aswell.

[pcmx5]

Good car deserves good engines and that doesn't mean they have to be muscle cars! My nephew has an RS250 Megane,120,000 trouble free klms and it just goes like stink,handles beautifully so cannot see why Mazda can't do it and any argument about cost is surely negated in Aus by the extreme price they charge.15,000 MX's in 25 years 10,000 86/BRZ's in just over 2 tells a story.

Peter

Yet the BZR/86 sold (their sales figures are falling dramatically) despite the rather crap Subaru motor.

What is the point you are making?

All performance cars sell like hotcakes upon their first release. Then sales drop after 18 months. All models of MX5s have done the same aswell.

Agree that the BRZ/86 may not be the most exciting engine but they are not asking for performance dollars for it.Mazda ask top dollars and deliver a great car but certainly not a great engine so far.

$33000 or so drive away for an 86 say $5000 extra for topless and then lets see how many (no matter who makes them) they sell.Just hope it is Mazda.

Mazda's "bursts" of sales on initial release and then subsequent updates have not even got near 86/BRZ figures and if you look at the initial sales in 89 at around $30,000 and the dismal sales in 97 at well over $40,000, price as well as meeting demand surely played a part.FYI my 96 LE with air cost the original owner $50912 on the road,no wonder they didn't sell!

Peter.

[rjastra2]

What is the point you are making?

All performance cars sell like hotcakes upon their first release. Then sales drop after 18 months. All models of MX5s have done the same aswell.

1. The 86 and MX5 are not performance cars... not by a long shot.
2. For good sales it seems you don't need an engine that provides even class average performance.
3. A lot of buyers of the 86 and MX5 are in no way car enthusiasts.

[rjastra2]

$33000 or so drive away for an 86 say $5000 extra for topless and then lets see how many (no matter who makes them) they sell.Just hope it is Mazda.

How about something more realistic. Convertible 86 (if it ever arrives) is based on GTS. $41 +$5 = $46K on road.
Add 50-100kg in weight so that its in the 1350kg+ range. Reduced to warm hatch performance.
Might as well by a A3 or Golf convertible.

[project.r.racing]

What is the point you are making?

All performance cars sell like hotcakes upon their first release. Then sales drop after 18 months. All models of MX5s have done the same aswell.

1. The 86 and MX5 are not performance cars... not by a long shot.
2. For good sales it seems you don't need an engine that provides even class average performance.
3. A lot of buyers of the 86 and MX5 are in no way car enthusiasts.

Yes good points.

I was just reading that the new WRX is under $40K, and the STI is $49,990 + on roads. sure they ain't a 2 door convertable. But you are getting alot more bang for you buck vs a NC MX5. So the ND with poo engine is gonna need to be priced under $30K.

[JBT]

..sure they ain't a 2 door convertable (sic).

So...they are irrelevant at any price if you want a convertible sports car.

[project.r.racing]

..sure they ain't a 2 door convertable (sic).

So...they are irrelevant at any price if you want a convertible sports car.

Maybe you missed the point. And good choice of wording when using the word "if". How many will want a 100kW convertable when they can get a 200kW 4 door for the same price? Having 2 doors and the roof that moves shouldn't be your new offerings only selling points.

[rjastra2]

Speaking of VAG convertibles. Golf Cabriolet - 45K on road, A3 - $52K (57K for one with performance )

Saying that.. I can imagine the main sellers would be the cheapest ones with the smallest engine (1.4 turbo with 110kw in the A3). All autos.

If Mazda could get an auto 1.5L on the market for under 40K they might be on a winner.

[JBT]

..sure they ain't a 2 door convertable (sic).

So...they are irrelevant at any price if you want a convertible sports car.

Maybe you missed the point. And good choice of wording when using the word "if". How many will want a 100kW convertable (sic) when they can get a 200kW 4 door for the same price? Having 2 doors and the roof that moves shouldn't be your new offerings only selling points.

No, that is the point, and having a moving roof is not the MX-5's only selling point.
If someone wants a car with more than two seats, then they won't look at an MX-5...even if it has a zillion kW.
If someone wants a two seat convertible sports car, then they won't look at a sedan, coupe or hatch.
If someone just wants something that has, or pretends to have, sporty performance, then they have a vast array of vehicles from which to choose.
Mazda will make, or have made, the call on the market demand for the MX-5. The success of the MX-5 over the last 25 years speaks for itself and Mazda's decisions.

[greenltd]

There are a lot of factors that need to be considered about the ND and it's specification.
First and foremost, who is going to be buying it? As much as I would love to buy one, I won't (can't) buy one new, no matter how powerful it is. I wonder how many people here will seriously consider buying one new. To Mazda, what I would like the ND to be like is not important. Mazda will have researched buyers around the world and come up with packages that they think will sell.
Also, how many units does Mazda need (or want) to sell and at what price to make money? Based on history, not a huge number of sales. Mazda seems to be happy not leading the sales chart. From this, how many cars can the factory physically build? Again, maybe not a lot.
Having said that, I went on the Victorian high country run in Saturday in my stock NA6. The car and I managed to not get left too far behind in the really twisty bits. Sure the turbo SE blew me away on the straights. The NA was way better than my driving ability. I certainly didn't need more power. If I wanted that, I have my XR6 turbo sitting at home, but I doubt it would have been quicker. Many MX5 owners can't drive to the level of the car's ability and will therefore be happy with whatever engine Mazda sells here. I would argue that many buyers are after an all round good fun car, not a powerhouse.
At the end of the day, the proof of Mazda greeting it right is how many MX5's have been sold to date and further, how many have not had major power upgrade work done.