Leaked: Mazda MX-5 Superlight Speedster Concept

First seen on these pages a couple of months ago, the Mazda MX-5 Speedster also known as the Superlight Concept is now ready to be shown at this weeks Frankfurt Motor Show. Created to celebrate the MX-5/Miata’s 20th anniversary along with showcasing Mazda’s focus on lightweight performance, the Superlight’s new profile and 995kg curb weight is the product of Maz’da European R&D center in Oberursel, Germany.

The Superlight Concept is based on the recently facelifted roadster and the most obvious change to the Superlight is its roof-less speedster profile (duh). Together with that, Mazda’s European team extended the aluminium hood towards the cabin and mounted an aluminium, wide-angle rear-view mirror along with a set of roll-over hoops fitted with LED brake lights.

The interior of the car has been thoroughly stripped with the removal of the sound insulation, carpeting and air conditioning unit. Replacing that are a set of carbon fiber racing bucket seats coated in the same brown leather as the steering wheel, armrests and aluminium shifter and hand brake. The dash is made of custom fiberglass and plastic while the stock MX-5’s gauges are joined by an engine-start button that cranks to life the standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder 126hp and 123lb-ft of torque powerplant that now features a Mazdaspeed cold-air intake and exhaust. As a result of the diet and minimal engine mods, the 0-100 sprint now comes in at 8.9-seconds.

To keep everything manageable and driveable, the track has been increased by 50mm all around to accommodate the larger four-piston calipers and slotted discs, and the entire car has been dropped by 30mm courtesy of Bilstein B16 coil-overs. To aid handling, Eibach anti-roll bars are fitted front and rear and the Superlight rolls on stock 17-inch wheels coated in 205/45 tyres.

According to Mazda Motor Europe’s Chief Designer, Peter Birtwhistle, “I’ve dreamed of building a Mazda MX-5 with this kind of radical form for a long time. Now that weight reduction has become a dominant factor in automotive development, the time is ripe for it.”

More on the Mazda MX-5 Speedster Concept when it’s officially unveiled later this week.

Technical Specifications

Body Type : Roadster Monocoque
Seating capacity: 2

External Dimensions:

* Overall length: 4,020 mm
* Overall width: 1,720 mm
* Overall height (unloaded): 1,110 mm
* Wheelbase: 2,330 mm
* Track (front/rear): 1,540/1,545 mm
* Ground clearance: 106 mm

Engine: MZR 1.8-litre petrol
Max. power: 126 PS (93 kW) at 6,500 rpm
Max. torque: 167 Nm at 4,500 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Front/rear suspension: Double wishbone/Multi-link
Damper (front/rear): Bilstein® monotube
Tyre size: 205/45 R17
Brake type (front/rear): Ventilated discs/Solid discs
Brake diameter (front/rear): 300/280 mm
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 8,9 s
Fuel consumption (combined): 6,3 l/100km
CO2 emissions (combined): 150 g/km
Min. kerb weight (without driver): 995 kg

Source: Mazda via CarScoop