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Mazda will be exhibiting the car above called the Mazda MX-5 Superlight version Show car at the Frankfurt show this September. It’s basically Mazda’s very own club racer speedster – more weight reduction, no windscreen, think Lotus 2-Eleven, Pug 207 Spider or even the expensive SLR Stirling Moss Speedster. Right now Mazda says its only a show car at the moment, and no engine details have been unveiled though its probably the standard Mazda 2.0 engine, but who knows, if the response at the show is good they might go ahead and build it. Can’t be that hard.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
Sleek!
Dude where's the downforce on this thing? If it's still a front engined rear wheel drive, it would need it. To make it light, it looks like its gone all 6061 Alu.
But what a lot of people look forward to is a more 'ahem' man-ly MX-5. Right now, that show car looks 'cute' and would appeal to the alternative livestyle market. Not track day market.
Is it a trend not to have windscreen and drive like a macho-man? Looks very sleek though..
dangerous beb… nanti ada spring melayang kena kepala.. just like massa.. he wore helmet laa luckily.. this car? bersepai otak! hehehee
hmm… no windscreen. as dangerous as massa's f1.
bobdbilder said,
August 5, 2009 @ 10:04 pm
Dude where’s the downforce on this thing? If it’s still a front engined rear wheel drive, it would need it. To make it light, it looks like its gone all 6061 Alu.
But what a lot of people look forward to is a more ‘ahem’ man-ly MX-5. Right now, that show car looks ‘cute’ and would appeal to the alternative livestyle market. Not track day market.
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I seriously disagree on "not a track day market" comment. I have seen fleets of these used by race schools and 1make cup races. In fact I've done some track time on a lightly spec'ed cup car.
The MX5 has single handledly revived the roadster market, first by making it FUN and CHEAP. The sole essence of a roadster. The SLK/Z3/Z4/Boxters owes its existance on the MX5.
Sure it doen't look like a manly car but I wont mind driving one. The reason why it is FUN is because it doesn't have an absurdly amount of grip or power. Originaly shod with rather tiny tyres, these can be made to dance around a track. Stuffing too much downforce, too much power and too fat tyres kills the feeling of lightness that you would from the original MX5.
or the s2k club racer
Actually, what the MX-5 really needs is a roof…
That'll give it more torsional rigidity, thus allowing the possibility of a higher powered version that doesn't fold in half when you arrive at the first corner.
There would even be the possibility of some space behind the seats to chuck a gym bag / little children, since the folding roof assembly won't be needed.
Besides, almost every gen-1 MX-5 I've seen in Malaysia has a bolt-on roof. I'm sure the MX-5 makes sense in markets where to walk under the sun is considered cool.
But in markets like ours, a fold-down roof is totally irrelevant ~ unless you're one of those posers in Sri Hartamas/Jalan P Ramlee/Bangsar who drive their BMW Z4s with the roof down at night.
I am sure this car can smoke by takumi only by using his friend AE85 with one hand tied on the steering wheel.Tengku Djan also can do the same with his R3 waja.I'm driving since i was 16 years old tak pernah pulak nampak spring terbang kat jalan
kalau tayar LRT terbang ada la
totally agree with 4G63T DSM…
This MX5 is built for the track