Although the Mazda MX-5 has packed on some pounds since its first model that debuted at just under a ton, the weight gain is slowly eating into its core function as a simple and no-frills roadster that could be chucked around bends for thrills.
Now in its third generation, the nimble little roadster still clocks in at under 1.1-ton but the next generation, scheduled to arrive in 2012, is going to be put on a strict diet by Mazda to return it to the scant ton mark and bring back some of its original handling prowess.
While it might be just a few kilos on the heavier side compared with the first generation NA model, the key 50-50 weight distribution will remain to maintain the famed balance of the roadster.
Part of the weight-loss equation is the use of Mazda’s Sky-G engines that the company claims will improve fuel efficiency by 15 per cent while eturning higher power outputs over older engines. Mazda has even gone so far as to predict that the next-gen MX-5 will return mileage in the region of 21km/liter, something that is still followed by a gasp in these times.
Source: Autocar
