Mazda wants its next-generation MX-5 to be as light as its great grandfather and every bit as nimble. That much is no secret, with project chief Takao Kijima confirming a goal that would see the new model debut with a kerb weight under 1 000 kg.
New reports out of the U.S., however, suggest Mazda wants to go even lighter – lighter, even, than the original 950 kg MX-5. According to Inside Line, Mazda’s engineers have been instructed to shave some 325 kg from the weight of the current model – a directive that could result in a ridiculous 770 kg, figures that even the MX-5 Superlight concept couldn’t come near. In reality, this figure is unlikely to be achieved. Even with today’s ultra-lightweight materials and construction methods, affordability will still be the MX-5′s driving strength – and the growing list of safety features in modern cars also makes for a hefty weight penalty.
More likely is that Kijima has issued the new weight goal in an attempt to stretch the project’s engineers – a move that could well result in a new MX-5 that does weigh-in below the 1 000 kg target.
