Next MX-5

The fact that the Miata is a longitudinal engine and the other turbo applications are transverse is a factor. I believe that's one reason why the DISI Miata never happened, the high pressure pump on the back of the head would have caused major engineering issues. There's also a lot of cost involved in adding an engine to a model - the list of things that Mazda changed on the fairly anemic MSM was surprising. They upgraded the axles! Even if the engine is in the parts catalog, there's a lot more to it than just dropping it in and adding a badge.

In reply to wspohn:

I agree Mazda could do, but I don't think they will. I know GM did it with the Kappa cars, but long term they weren't a great success. I know they outsold Miata's in North America in 2006, but what about after that? I can't find reliable 07/08/09/10 data for Mazda, although exact production #'s and Sales #'s are on Wikipedia for the Kappa twins.

What I SUSPECT, but can't prove is that over the 06/07/08 time frame (Deliberately leaving out 09/10 with the collapse of GM and thus the end of production) is that the Miata had the upper hand over the three year period. Certainly after a successful first full year the Solstice sales figures went into a lemming over a cliff like decent.

Personally I think the Solstice was a far far better looking vehicle than either the NC.1 or NC.2 Miata, but it's crappy interior, awful hood fit and completely useless trunk made it a nonstarter. I will admit that even though I work for Ford I spent hours calling every dealer in Southern Michigan and Northern Ohio looking for a manual trans Solstice coupe GXP (Turbo) as the axe was falling but with no luck. No surprise as they only ever made 226 of them with a manual.

But overall about 20% of the Kappa cars were turbo. Enough to tempt Mazda? Maybe, but I doubt it.

All I know is that I care about the weight and chassis dynamics more then the powerplant. With recent legal changes in Colorado I'm sure Keith and the guys will have all sorts of creative ways to add power.

I will say though that if the unlikely but rumored fastback coupe happens that I'll be there in line cash in hand. I've been holding off on a fiesta st waiting to see what the next mx-iata would bring.

And while we're talking hypotheticals with the coupe and all, I want this swapped into mine

There may better V8s out there to swap in, but the noises alone would make it worthwhile for me.

I want a "Rotary Miata". I think it's how it should have been done from the get-go.

Hungary Bill wrote: I want a "Rotary Miata". I think it's how it should have been done from the get-go.

+1000 to the first sentence, not sure about the second. a high revving NA 13B in a miata would get all of my money. Then all of my remaining money would go to gas stations . Semi-related: didn't someone put a Renesis into a miata on here? That would be amazing.

I'm not sure it would've been better financially for Mazda to do that, though. Cooler? certainly. Financially? Doubt it.

Just had a thought- Mazda, jump on the aluminum train- All aluminum miata, all aluminum 16X rotary revving as high as you can get it, and make it burn hydrogen because we all love the environment. Hydrogen rx8's are a bit gutless in comparison, I think around 110HP, but a 16x would be a bit larger displacement, and an all aluminum miata would be a lot lighter. Or burn gas like a normal car. whatever. It's not going to happen either way, i'm just saying stuff I think to people I usually agree with who in no way have control over the future of the miata.

Mazda built a hydrogen rotary Miata over 20 years ago, actually.

One thing I'm really glad of is no Rotary Miata. I've had an Rx7 in the past (88 GTU when the GTU was basicaly an NA Turbo) I loved it, but the crappy gas mileage is just a non starter in this day and age no matter how cheap gas is. I test drove the Rx8 when it came out. Loved the car, but the gas mileage was jsut stupid regardless of reliability.

Mazda, whatever you do, remember to never ever sell a rotary Miata.

Keith Tanner wrote: Mazda built a hydrogen rotary Miata over 20 years ago, actually.

WHAT!?!?! a legit NA miata with a hydrogen rotary?! Where is it?! will they take a 'lightly used' ford van for trade!?

While I appreciate, and really like all generations of Miata / MX-5, I'd like to see a return to the dead simple ethos of the original. Give me an option for no power anything, an eager (small displacement) N/A engine making modest power, and keep the car as light and affordable as possible. I'd love to see a 150hp, 2200 lb Miata costing around $20K that gave 30mpg or better. I'd like to see it roll on 15" or 14" wheels too.

Save the turbos, V6s and rotaries for more expensive, more complicated cars. I'd prefer my Miata as Lotus Elan-like as possible----- without all the reliability woes. Basically I want a new 1st gen car, with just a little more oomph.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: In reply to wspohn: Personally I think the Solstice was a far far better looking vehicle than either the NC.1 or NC.2 Miata, but it's crappy interior, awful hood fit and completely useless trunk made it a nonstarter. I will admit that even though I work for Ford I spent hours calling every dealer in Southern Michigan and Northern Ohio looking for a manual trans Solstice coupe GXP (Turbo) as the axe was falling but with no luck. No surprise as they only ever made 226 of them with a manual. But overall about 20% of the Kappa cars were turbo. Enough to tempt Mazda? Maybe, but I doubt it.

I don't have figures ready to hand, but I think there were more GXP cars than 20% - just taking the coupe figures, there were 840 GXP out of 1253, or 67%. That won't be representative, but they did get into the turbo version in a fairly big way after the initial sales enthusiasm wore of for the NAs.

I think you are right about the first flush of sales after release being the big deal for the Kappa in 2006, and after that I'd be quite prepared to believe that the Miata caught up again.

The cars had abysmally bad ergonomics on switches, gauges, storage space and such, but looked good and went well.

The attempted Miata turbo in c. 2008 failed due to packaging problems, but surely they could have managed to design a relocated high pressure pump or relocate it?

BTW, as far as internal resistance to the turbo Miata is concerned I expect it centred around being unwilling to offer a sports car that was faster than their existing RX8, thus stealing sales from it rather than a competitor. Same reason GM didn't give permission to proceed with the (then) low pressure turbo version of the Fiero V6 - it was significantly lower priced than a Corvette but surprisingly close in performance in the mid 1980s.

Joe Gearin wrote: While I appreciate, and really like all generations of Miata / MX-5, I'd like to see a return to the dead simple ethos of the original. Give me an option for no power anything, an eager (small displacement) N/A engine making modest power, and keep the car as light and affordable as possible. I'd love to see a 150hp, 2200 lb Miata costing around $20K that gave 30mpg or better. I'd like to see it roll on 15" or 14" wheels too. Save the turbos, V6s and rotaries for more expensive, more complicated cars. I'd prefer my Miata as Lotus Elan-like as possible----- without all the reliability woes. Basically I want a new 1st gen car, with just a little more oomph.

The MSRP of the NA when it was first introduced was $13,800. In 2014 dollars, that's $26,514.92. So you want a car that's about 25% less expensive than the original

I was actually working on an internal proposal for a renewed NA. Take the original and raid the parts bin to make the car that Mazda would have wanted to build in 1989 - all for the original $13,800, adjusted for inflation. Something that could actually be a product, so that the mechanic building it wasn't working for $2/hour. I could make the numbers work if I used a junkyard engine, but not with one that had a rebuilt engine unfortunately. I can tell you that a 2200 lb NA Miata with about 190 naturally aspirated flywheel hp is pretty fun.

Joe, I'd love to work with you on this

wspohn wrote: The attempted Miata turbo in c. 2008 failed due to packaging problems, but surely they could have managed to design a relocated high pressure pump or relocate it? BTW, as far as internal resistance to the turbo Miata is concerned I expect it centred around being unwilling to offer a sports car that was faster than their existing RX8, thus stealing sales from it rather than a competitor. Same reason GM didn't give permission to proceed with the (then) low pressure turbo version of the Fiero V6 - it was significantly lower priced than a Corvette but surprisingly close in performance in the mid 1980s.

I don't know if Mazda actually tried to build the turbo car in 2008. I believe it was the internet denizens making crap up. Given the volumes of the Miata - especially in 2008 - I don't think they could have built a business case for it.

The 2004-05 turbo car wasn't handicapped to protect the RX-8. It was a turbo bolted to the side of an engine that was almost paleolithic by the standards of the time in order to keep a bit of sparkle on an outgoing car. They were very conservative in order to keep it together. The MS Protege had taught Mazda some lessons, and the car was equipped with a number of features to avoid the sort of warranty carnage seen by Subaru.

I have owned an MSM, NC, and an Rx8. The chassis on the last two was worlds beyond what came before. The NC was actually more fun to drive than the MSM.

I want to see it go right up against the FRZ/BRZ in all departments. A Miata vs RZ race class would be epic.

mr2peak wrote: I want to see it go right up against the FRZ/BRZ in all departments. A Miata vs RZ race class would be epic.

In what way does the current NC not go right up against the Frisbee twins already. Similar size, weight and power. They seem well matched already. One is set up for the intelligent people that appreciate a soft top and one is set up for those lacking imagination and inexplicably prefer a hard top Other than that they seem almost perfectly matched.

Joe Gearin wrote: While I appreciate, and really like all generations of Miata / MX-5, I'd like to see a return to the dead simple ethos of the original.

Keith has already answered the cost part. I’ll argue they are still exactly in line with the ethos of the original. The original was a small two seat roadster with stock equipment levels broadly to a basic economy car, but a little more power than the economy cars of the time in a lighter body. I’d argue the NC is already the same. Electric windows, AC, Power steering etc are all standard on even the most basic car today, and they are on the NC. I’ll bet the ND is the same

A Miata with a rear view camera is going to be just sad.

Having a glow-in-the-dark inner trunk release is already a little bit ridiculous. Right along with that sticker that says to put kids in the back seat.

mr2peak wrote: I want to see it go right up against the FRZ/BRZ in all departments. A Miata vs RZ race class would be epic.

Cant see where they are not pretty much there already? When I bought the FRS, a new Miata was one of the contenders. Funny that I have not seen a lot of comparisons between the two cars on the road or the track.

I have to say that silly as they are, the rear seats were a swaying factor.

I also thought that the FRS might make a better winter driver (I did 13 winters in an NA Miata). This turns out not to be the case.

The final factor is cost. A Miata here in London Ontario is going to cost 38k by the time it is in the driveway versus the 32k it took to park the FRS in the same spot.

I cant wait to see what the new Miata is going to net out to here in Canada when it arrives. I am guessing well over 40k. I love Miatas, but not that much.

wspohn wrote: In the old sports car days, you got intro level sports cars (Bugeyes etc.) and then if you wanted a step up you got a different larger car - MGB, or two steps up with even larger engine (and weight) a big Healey.

40 years from now:

In the old sports car days, you got intro level sports cars (Miatas etc.) and then if you wanted a step up you got a different larger car - BMW Z4, or two steps up with even larger engine (and weight) a Jag F-Type.

Well this is so much ball-scratching, but wth! There's talk about another RX on the horizon. If it were me in the big office at Mazda, I'd keep the new MX-5 as is, but use the platform to make an upsized, restyled hardtop version called the MX-7. Mazda seems determined not to provide a V6 sportscar, but there's no reason why they can't put a 300 HP turbo-4 into the MX-7. The novelty of the rotary has worn off. They would have sold a lot more RX-8s if they'd have borrowed Ford's quad-cam V6.

I test drove both the FRS/BRZ and Miata last year. It was a Club model and I really thought it was a great car. Very much in the original car mold. By far the best NC I had driven. I still want one.

racerdave600 wrote: I test drove both the FRS/BRZ and Miata last year. It was a Club model and I really thought it was a great car. Very much in the original car mold. By far the best NC I had driven. I still want one.

Agree - look good, go so-so, but with the new rear mount turbo kits, a 300 bhp version is just a swipe of the old Visa card away. I'd be tempted if I didn't have too many already.

If the Club had been introduced in 2006, Mazda would have sold them by the boatload. We've supercharged a couple of them and it makes for a really nice package. Definitely the best NC.

For me, the major deciding factor that led to me getting the FR-S over a Miata was that I just didn't fit in the Miata. And I didn't want to have to put a race seat in a nice new car. Crossing my fingers that I fit in the new one...

It seems the Miata Coupe lovers may get their wish?

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/mazda-might-build-miata-coupe?utm_source=DailyDrive20140826&utm_medium=enewsletter&utm_term=headline-center&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=awdailydrive