The Miata RF is here

Warning, this thing is sexy in the metal. Wow.

I am looking in to roll bar install possibilities.

Well damn

First thing I did was put it on scales.

Same weight as the Fiat 124 Spider, but near 50:50 weight distribution. It's about a 100 lb gain.

Please tell me you are going to lower it?

God that thing looks good. Not too bad on the weight as the PRHT added what? 80ish?

Eagerly awaiting the roll bar results.

Maybe it's the shot, maybe it's just the color, but while the grey proto I'd seen looks awesome, I don't really like the tail end. I don't know the fancy words, but like where it's curved for the antenna and goes around the rear bumper, at the trunk line just looks ..odd. Almost Stratos like? I don't know. Such nice curves then just weird sharp lines is kind of distracting.

Regardless, still excited to see what you guys do with this one, and especially to see how it runs.

Edit: fixed my forgetting the snail in the fiat.

In reply to RevRico:

Turbo & supporting stuff isn't weightless.

Fiat has done a good job of invoking the old Spider in the front end...

I like it.

MX-5, RF, 124, Abarth - for once Miata fans are spoiled for choice. I wonder if there will ever be a Mazdaspeed RF?

Wow that looks way better in soul red, and that's saying something!

bravenrace wrote: Please tell me you are going to lower it?

As this is a suspension development car belonging to Mazda , I was told no.

Roll bar situation is not good.

Keith Tanner wrote: Roll bar situation is not good.

That makes me sad.

Any rumors about the Fiat getting the RF treatment as well?

From what I have seen on the RF, it will be extremely challenging to package a roll bar in it.

The hoop we can do, but the braces have nowhere to go.

Keith Tanner wrote: The hoop we can do, but the braces have nowhere to go.

This may sound odd, espesially not having examind an ND close up, and I'm just thinking outside the box here, but could the braces angled forward to mount on the floor near the rear corner of the seats??? Weird, I know...

In reply to WildScotsRacing:

Based on my knowledge of my non-RF ND, there isn't really any space down that way as well if you don't want to restrict seat travel.

BoxheadTim wrote: In reply to WildScotsRacing: Based on my knowledge of my non-RF ND, there isn't really any space down that way as well if you don't want to restrict seat travel.

Well, so much for club racing the RF...

bigdaddylee82 wrote: Any rumors about the Fiat getting the RF treatment as well?

Definitive no on that one. Fiat will NOT get the RF.

Apparently the original plan for the Global Cup Cars was to have the RF bodywork attach to the cage as a bolt-on, but by the time the cage was designed with all the necessary specs and clearance that was out of the question. You could do a Petty bar for club racing if that's legal, and I'll bet someone creative enough could make the RF panels work. But it wouldn't be easy.

nderwater wrote: MX-5, RF, 124, Abarth - for once Miata fans are spoiled for choice. I wonder if there will ever be a Mazdaspeed RF?

I don't think there is going to be a Mazdaspeed Miata, roadster or RF.

While I agree The RF looks good, I still don't see the point. I wish they could have just made it a fixed roof coupe with a hatchback. But I've never been a fan of targas, T-tops, or even sunroofs...

Granted, I'm pretty sure I know why - the same reason the Solstice Coupe was a targa instead of a true coupe - keeping the roof "removable" got around the need to crash-test it again. Still... The NC PRHT I liked for the practicality of it. The RF just leaves me disappointed.

In reply to Ian F:

Legal regulations for crash testing are the same reason that the next generation Viper will also only be built as a roadster.

Maybe some reputable Miata specialist aftermarket performance company could make a kit to convert a standard Miata into a hard top coupé?

I think Fiat should just make a new 124 Coupe instead of doing the RF thing. Throwback to this:

or this

NOHOME wrote: I like it.

I LOVE it. ;)