Mazda unveils new Roadster

Very nice and beautiful! I wish I could buy one.

I do not need a car here, but that is a pretty machine.

Wasn't this the Miata? Sweet little thing

@Kaerimashita

Miata is the US nameplate. It's the Roadster here and The MX-5 in Aus/EU.

Mazda has already started production of the USA version with the more powerful 2.0-liter Skyactiv engine--in fact, we'll find out what the first driving impressions are like with the new MX-5 Miata in early June 2015.

The ND chassis is the first Miata that I consider attractive. I don't like convertibles in general, so I'd like to see how it looks with a hard top.

Look at the front carefully. The resemblence to McQueen is uncanny. Well, after all he is part Mazda.

Hmmmm.... looks like the Miata to me.

2.0L to 1.5L? Hmmm...sounds kind of weak unless they've done something very funky with that engine.

as much as i like sports cars and this model looks good, but 1.5L common, even the 2L Roadster was average at best. Ill keep my Evo with 340hp AWD. not many cars other than GTR / WRX that can keep up with it on the track

I'd like to see this car with a nicely designed hardtop.

These cars aren't for the tracks.They perform best at winding downhill roads where their light weight becomes an advantage.

Interestingly, the best thing about the new MX-5 Miata (as the Roadster will be called outside Japan) is the fact you're NOT driving a car with overwhelming power like most real sports car tend to be nowadays. It's more a car for driving winding rural roads, just like the legendary old-time British sports cars like Triumph and MG (but with vastly superior reliability). I wouldn't be surprised within a few years this new model will get a true dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters.

I find people could have more legal fun in a car like this.

Lets face it if you tripled the KW output where can you use it ?

Japan has low speed limits and Australia we have an incredible amount of mobile and fixed speed cameras awaiting anyone enjoying their car a little more than normal.

Yes this car will handles corners well based on it's models past DNA.

Agree with the hard top comments - if they could make the top store well. If not - how about a sunroof where the roof splits and half travels front the other half back I've seen elsewhere. That would be cool.

Am I the only one who sees a Noddy car?

http://www.flipkart.com/noddy-race-cars/p/itmda5w9yyfp2udb

@triring lol what do you think a track is, ive never seen a fast roadster that didnt have a turbo, they also have a lot of oversteer in the corners. the best handling cars on the road and track are AWD and turbo, ive race at many of the circuits through out Japan and its the Evos WRX and GTR that dominate, RX7 FD are the best handling RWD. and where talking about road/track cars not full on race cars where money is no object

wtfjapan May. 22, 2015 - 03:52AM JST the best handling cars on the road and track are AWD and turbo, ive race at many of the circuits through out Japan and its the Evos WRX and GTR that dominate, RX7 FD are the best handling RWD. and where talking about road/track cars not full on race cars where money is no object

You might be better off with the $75K rear wheel drive Corvette Z06 or Ford GT.

I can hear you now. Many are griping that the Miata doesn't have 300 horsepower, or that it doesn't have 200. Well, two hundred horsepower means a few things. It means stronger running gear, five-lug wheels, a heavier differential, bigger wheel bearings. All of those things add weight, which means that you need a heavier suspension. Which means that you need a thicker body. Which means that pretty soon you've got a BMW Z4. Which is currently for sale at your local dealer with a minimum of 240 turbocharged horsepower and a curb weight about a thousand pounds above that of the Miata. It's out there. You can buy it. Right now.

What you cannot currently buy is a trim and fit roadster that weighs just over a ton and is a true pleasure to drive even with 131 horsepower, to say nothing of 155. You cannot currently buy a roadster of that size and weight from anyone, really, and you certainly cannot buy one that carries on a tradition of exceptionally durable and reliable vehicles Miata. Sure, it would be great if the Miata had more power, but adding power wouldn't be without consequences and changes and adjustments. There are still drivers out there who can recognize and appreciate a traditional sports car.

I looked it up. They will also be offering a 2L version later that will have close to 170hp. The 1.5L version will have 99HP..Really though, there isn't too much you can do with 99HP in terms of sports driving.

The Civic Type R will be interesting. Honda claims that it actually lapped faster than the GTR at the Nurburgring.

http://www.car24news.com/the-new-honda-civic-type-r-is-faster-than-the-nissan-gt-r-and-gallardo-lp-560-4/

Heavier car has more inertia. On a downhill course it becomes a burden. A nimble light weight sports like this Roadster is much more easier to handle where you actually feel man-machine unity sliding down the hill. With the heavy weight high power machines it's more like forcefully conquering the road with strong breaks and high power engines, tail slide and all.

@sftp330 why would i want to buy a Z06 or Ford GT when I can get cheap Evos GTR WRX here in Japan. Roadsters are posers/ hairdressers cars, even in the US Miatas are underpowered and people put the Chevy V8s in them to give them decent performance. anybody who thinks a Roadster can hold itself on the road or track has never really raced cars before.

A nimble light weight sports like this Roadster is much more easier to handle where you actually feel man-machine unity sliding down the hill. With the heavy weight high power machines it's more like forcefully conquering the road with strong breaks and high power engines, tail slide and all.

The first gen Roadster was light; weighed less than 1000kg. Nowadays, with all of the required safety features and the amenities that daily drivers demand, the Roadster isn't that light weight. Its about 200kg heaver than the first gen, and yet the power output is only slightly more (less on the 1.5L models)

@mirai the time for the type r civic is for the 2015 version, the Nurburgring lap times for the other cars are 7 years ago. the 2015 Nismo GTR has a fastest time of 07:08.679. no FWD Honda will come close to that. check it out on youtube

The first gen Roadster was light; weighed less than 1000kg. Nowadays, with all of the required safety features and the amenities that daily drivers demand, the Roadster isn't that light weight. Its about 200kg heaver than the first gen, and yet the power output is only slightly more (less on the 1.5L models)

talk about ignorance the lightest grade of the new Roadster, the S grade weighs only 990Kg, the heaviest S Leather package only weighs 1060Kg. The most impressive feature of this model is that it obtains maximum TORQUE of 150Nm（15.3kgm） at only 4,800rpm which is within the normal usage range.

As for horse power, if you're competing on a winding down hill race it really doesn't matter since Hp is basically used to measure top speed not acceleration rate which is more about TORQUE.

Mazda are great cars that have brought me much joy over the years. I've owned 4 Miata/Roadsters, though I finally moved on to my BMW. I recommend them though, they're much better when you hit middle age than getting a mistress!