Mazda will offer the new MX-5 in three trims: Sport, Club and Grand Touring. The Sport will come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, LED headlights, USB audio input, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, a leather-wrapped shift knob and power door locks. The Club edition (set to be revealed in New York this week) will cater exclusively to driving enthusiasts.
“The Sport model is for those desiring a pure, lightweight, unadulterated wind-in-the-hair driving experience. MX-5 Club is for those seeking a more aggressive appearance and driving experience and Grand Touring models are for loyal MX-5 owners who seek premium amenities and a driving experience that only MX-5 can deliver,” said Rod McLaughlin, MX-5 vehicle line manager, MNAO, in a statement.
“As we get closer to the MX-5′s summer on-sale date, we’re seeing a surge in interest and excitement from enthusiasts and journalists,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO. “Already, early MX-5 reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, and we expect the momentum that MX-5 has garnered to continue to build as drivers get behind the wheel of our fourth-generation sports car.”
Production of the 2016 MX-5 began earlier in March and the first retail units will be delivered to Japanese-market customers in June. Worldwide deliveries will begin following the home market introduction.
When equipped with a manual transmission, the Miata will tip the scales at just 2,332 pounds. Checking the MX-5′s automatic gearbox option will push the car’s weight to a slightly more portly 2,381 pounds.
In comparison, the lightest version of the outgoing MX-5 was about 2,480 pounds, with the heaviest models checking in just above 2,600 pounds. The 2016 MX-5 isn’t quite as light as the 2,070 pound original, but it’s pretty darn close considering its modern safety and luxury features.
And while the 2016 MX-5 is down on power compared to the previous car (155 horsepower vs 167 horsepower), the new model actually boasts a better power-to-weight ratio thanks to its featherlight curb weight. That should translate to a 0-60 time in the low six-second range. Mazda executives have also hinted that a more powerful–likely turbocharged–engine could be in the works.
A hardtop variant may also be in the works, and could arrive before a more powerful engine is offered.
Photo by Brian Williams.
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