It’s not going to be a stroll in the park churning out a successor to the world’s best selling roadster but the boffins at Mazda are burning the midnight oil on the next gen Mazda MX-5.
So far, all we know is that Mazda has a target weight of just under a ton with weight distribution set for an even 50/50 split. Very ambitious indeed but if it does come true, it would be a worthy successor.
Way back in 2003, Mazda previewed a concept called the Ibuki. Many thought is was just a platform to showcase the current styling language and nothing more. However, looking under the surface, the concept featured a twin-backbone frame that is found on the current RX-8.
With a layout such as this, vital components such as the powertrain, petrol tank and exhaust can be placed between the front and rear axles. This setup enables the carmaker to produce an open top car with the rigidity of a fixed roof car.
Even the program manager for the second generation MX-5 agrees with the return to anorexic formula, explaining that the car had gotten porkier over the years and it’s time to return it to basics. Takao Kajima, who was in charge of the suspension for the first MX-5, also added that retuning to basics also meant that the weight would be drastically reduced.
Source: Autocar
