ND Engine Range

[doc]

I think JBT is spot on, I bought my NC because it was a 2 seat, 2 door convertible sports car. If it was anything else I would not have even looked at it.
I don't want a 4 door! I don't want a fixed roof! and back seats cause accidents! (Accidents in the back seat cause children, and children in the back seat cause accidents!).
I wanted the drop top, I wanted the PRHT. I wanted good handling, And sorry guys, but a dependable engine is far greater to me than huge power.

[gslender]

Whatever, but if you had two cars, and one was more athletic or more energetic (I'm not talking break tyres and neck better) then you'd pick it every time hands down.

Lots and lots of convertibles spend their life with a hardtop permanently installed - heck the NC was sold with an automatic lid that added weight as its many benefits. So I don't think the 2 door flop top is a binary decision that precludes everything else.... The "package" needs to work and plenty of historically successful car manufacturers can screw that up.... Ford Capri and MGB spring to mind as examples. The Mazda MX5 ND could very well be the model that does that for Mazda too!

[Mr Morlock]

I am with Doc though I have an NB. It's a car for fun and it's appeal is being a convertible and spends about 95% with top down. The MX5 is a niche vehicle and as greentd said built for a specific market. It has done this brilliantly having already lasted 25 years. The MGB also proved a success in its era and still well represented in enthusiast groups.

An argument that an MX5 is not an round practical car or an ideal family car does not need to be defended.It also does not need to be the fastest in the pack.

[project.r.racing]

An argument that an MX5 is not an round practical car or an ideal family car does not need to be defended.It also does not need to be the fastest in the pack.

I challenge you do find a post in this thread that has any form of defense to those avenues in it.

Some people have said you dont get much compared to other offerings for the same $40-50K. Others like yourself have said the 2 door and soft top are worth the extra money spent. And there is nothing wrong with that either. So both side of the story are 100% correct. If I was only looking for a 2 door soft top with nil care for performace, then a MX5 would be perfect option. If I was looking for a performance car, and taking in all factors and consideration, then I could get a equal handling car, twice the power and cost $10K less.

[JBT]

You are not part of Mazda's MX-5 target audience. Did you ever own an MX-5 anyway?

[project.r.racing]

You are not part of Mazda's MX-5 target audience. Did you ever own an MX-5 anyway?

Your attempt to goad me with rhetorical question is silly. It is a immature way to have a discussion. There is no need for it even if you don't agree with the poster.

[gslender]

Part of my concern for the ND is that Mazda seem to be pushing the borders fairly far with the 1.5 engine. To state that you'll be ok with a small capacity engine in something that still weighs 1000Kg and is supposed to be a "sports car" to me starts to sound like a joke. The MX5 already has the "hairdresser" reputation as being a soft car that handles well but isn't a serious contender in the sports car world. Over the years since release Mazda has taken to that problem by slowly increasing the capacity and performance... 1.6 to 1.8 and then turbos, and finally a 2.0L that pretty much gets the car moving at the pace that most appreciate (but unfortunately it gained a fair bit of weight along the way).

I'll keep an open mind, and if the 1.5 is offered in AU, I'll go for a test drive - so happy to come back here in 6-12 months and state I was wrong, but so far expecting to be disappointed with the car despite a lower price and poverty pack. If the ND ships with a 2.0L and is still fairly priced then I'll strongly consider buying one... !!

[Caffeine]

If I was only looking for a 2 door soft top with nil care for performace, then a MX5 would be perfect option. If I was looking for a performance car, and taking in all factors and consideration, then I could get a equal handling car, twice the power and cost $10K less.

In what way is the performance of the MX5 lacking? If your only interest is in 'twice the power' then feel free to buy a car that has 'twice the power'. You won't find one that does everything the MX5 does for anywhere near the price.

[taminga16]

Repost from Oct 5th.

My NC is the 3rd MX-5 to have graced my garage, an NB, NB8B (VVT 6 speed) and now the NC, If I wanted power I would have purchased something else.
It's not as if we are stuck for choice.
Greg.

[JBT]

Looking at this article it states: "Under the bonnet of model on show in Paris was a direct-injection SkyActiv 1.5-litre petrol engine......here's also set to be a 2.0-litre engine for some regions. Both powerplants are reworked versions of engines already powering the company’s hatchbacks and are likely to offer around 140bhp and 180bhp respectively."

That would indicate that the ND shouldn't be too much of a slouch with a 1.5 litre engine at roughly 9.8kg/kW. It will blow the doors off any previous factory MX-5 (except for one of the 96? surviving SPs) with that 2.0 litre engine.

Compare with:
NA6 at a nominal 940kg and 85kW = 11.1kg/kW
NB8B at a nominal 1065kg and 113kW = 9.42kg/kW
NC at a nominal 1160 and 125kW = 9.28kg/kW

[oztrackdays]

NA6 at a nominal 940kg and 85kW = 11.1kg/kW
(Most NA8 over 1060 kg wet with 70 kg driver, 65 rwkw on it's best day

NB8B at a nominal 1065kg and 113kW = 9.42kg/kW
(Many NB8B/C were over 1200 kg wet with 70 kg driver, 75 rwkw on it's best day, Turbz SE maybe 110 rwkw

NC at a nominal 1160 and 125kW = 9.28kg/kW
(A PHRT would be easily 1250 kg wet with 70 kg driver, 95 rwkw on it's best day

It's not just Mazda Alfa Romeo 4C, was nearly 200 kg heavier than it's claimed 895 kg
(dry weight i.e no fluids or airbags etc...) First Car magazine that had it put it on the scales at 1105 kg

I think the real test will be at the Track anyway if it laps better than Stock NC's it may still be considered a win.

[Mr Morlock]

Some are getting into a lather here. I reckon Mazda Aust will be very careful which car gets offered here. I doubt we see the smaller engine and there is no chance that any ND will earn a title of "poverty pack". The car has to compete and despite the convertible difference buyers will expect a better retail price.

[Dan]

Looking at this article it states: "Under the bonnet of model on show in Paris was a direct-injection SkyActiv 1.5-litre petrol engine......here's also set to be a 2.0-litre engine for some regions. Both powerplants are reworked versions of engines already powering the company’s hatchbacks and are likely to offer around 140bhp and 180bhp respectively."

That would indicate that the ND shouldn't be too much of a slouch with a 1.5 litre engine at roughly 9.8kg/kW. It will blow the doors off any previous factory MX-5 (except for one of the 96? surviving SPs) with that 2.0 litre engine.

Compare with:
NA6 at a nominal 940kg and 85kW = 11.1kg/kW
NB8B at a nominal 1065kg and 113kW = 9.42kg/kW
NC at a nominal 1160 and 125kW = 9.28kg/kW

I'm not sure how they'd produce a decent torque curve with an N/A 1.5L, but if Mazda come out with a 2L option with 180hp (134kw) like you are saying and it weighs 1100kg that would be perfect and you'd have a hard time keeping me out of a showroom! 8.2kg/Kw is a nice power to weight figure and I'm confident Mazda would have made a better chassis.

The 86 has a 13kw more than that with an NA 2L so it's not an unreasonable power figure but it would beat the 8.7kg/kW figure of the 86.

This would also give Mazda a great story to tell about them making REAL lightweight sports cars, I'm dubious the specs will wow us though since they haven't said anything.

[Nevyn72]

Looks like we'll have a bit more information on the engine in a few weeks with the Mazda display at the LA motor show......

Press Release -> http://www.mazdausamedia.com/Mazda-to-D ... assets_112

Here's the relevant bit.

.....the all-new Mazda MX-5 two-seater open-top sports car (Mazda Roadster in Japan) will make its North American auto show debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The engine line-up for the all-new MX-5 will be tailored to each market, and feature either a 1.5-liter or 2.0-liter SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine, tuned exclusively for the model and mounted longitudinally......

So reading between the lines..... Australia has always gotten the larger engine available so we should see the SAG 2.0 in the local variant.
Not saying the SAG 1.5 won't be an option, just that it won't be the only option.

Now the current SAG 2.0, running on premium (Euro spec, 14:1 compresion ratio) puts out ~165hp, and that is tuned for torque in a heavier vehicle.
A re-tuned version, with likely higher RPM, set up for a lighter vehicle should have a power output of (hopefully) ~170-175hp, possibly even more.
So basically I'd be expecting the final configuration to have a little more power and quite a bit more torque (due to the nature of the SAG engine design) than the outgoing NC......

[oztrackdays]

This is getting up there.

These cars will cop about 0.1 psi of boost ?

A Formula 3 Engine has a maximum permitted 15:1 compression ratio
they only make 200 bhp or so due to air restrictions.

15 years ago Honda launched the S2000
Compression: 11.7:1, 250 PS (183.88 kW) @ 9,200rpm & 22.2kgm (217.71 Nm) @ 7,500 rpm

I hope Mazda with 10 years of R and D can squeeze at least 10%+ more from a 2.0 engine and give 180+ PS a shake,
you have to think this engine needs to last another 5+ years in the marketplace and the turbz
cars will be crushing anything less.