The MX-5 Miata has gotten bigger, heavier and more complicated over the years, so for the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, Mazda gave the designers at its R&D center in Oberursel, Germany, a current-gen MX-5, and told them to take some of that out. They created the Mazda MX-5 Superlight Concept. It debuts in Frankfurt next week, but images of the car and what's apparently a press release leaked out onto the web today.
The starting point was European-spec MX-5 with a retractable hardtop. The top was the first thing designers removed, along with the windshield, air-conditioner and anything that might constitute sound insulation. The Euro-spec 1.8-liter engine (124 hp, 123 lb-ft) and five-speed manual gearbox remain, though a cold-air intake has been added.
Biggie-size four-piston calipers are a must on the auto show floor, so the track is 2 inches wider than stock front and rear to make room. Bilstein B16 coil-overs drop the ride height 1.2 inches, and Eibach antiroll bars would presumably reduce body roll. Unusually for a concept car, the 17-inch wheels and tires are stock.
You can get a good look at the MX-5 Superlight Concept's bodywork in the photos after the jump. And indeed, those leather-upholstered racing seats are carbon-fiber at the core.
The total package weighs 2,194 pounds -- curiously close to the curb weight of the 1990 MX-5 (2,116 lbs) we had around our offices recently. The apparent press release says the weight loss is enough to shave a full second of the car's 0-60 time. Well, that is, assuming the MX-5 Superlight is drivable. The action shots suggest it is, but with show cars, there's always more than meets the eye.
More photos after the jump.
Straightline -- 20 Years of MX-5: Then and Now
felonious says:
04:55 PM, 09/11/09
Drooooooool... Finally, a new Miata that actually justifies the huge grin on its face!
OH, and those "action shots" are pretty obviously photoshopped. Horrible.
mark19 says:
04:58 PM, 09/11/09
Those pictures scream
GO SPEED RACER, GO!!! :)
estreka says:
06:08 PM, 09/11/09
Only 2100? Sorry to sap the fun out of it, but considering they took off the entire roof, got crazy with carbon fiber, and gutted all the safety equipment, I gotta say I'm a little surprised.
That interior is awesome. Seriously, wow.
cz75 says:
07:35 PM, 09/11/09
I like it.
hondacura4 says:
07:05 AM, 09/12/09
Very nice!
shahulx says:
07:18 AM, 09/12/09
its sweet, too bad they'd never build it for the public... cant they just add a windsheild and a removable top ? ala S2000 CR?
roadburner says:
08:01 AM, 09/12/09
Build a coupe version.
Please?
slickersdrip says:
04:55 PM, 09/12/09
Make a SWB two seater RX-8 roadster instead, please. So I could actually fit into it one and drive this kind of car.
charlesb says:
09:46 AM, 09/13/09
The shape is nice but that interior looks very plastic-like and cheap.
smihal says:
08:40 PM, 09/13/09
I know it doesnt weigh very much, but 124hp? C'mon. My girlfriends civic has more than that. This thing should have at least 160-170hp.
I read constantly about how the MX-5 is such a blast to drive. How it handles so well. I just wish they would make the thing look more manly and give the damn thing some power. Strap a turbo on it and turn up the boost for christs sake.
This thing looks great though.
mlh says:
12:18 PM, 09/14/09
Agree with roadburner that a coupe version would be awesome!