Friday 22 November 2013

2015 Mazda MX-5 / Alfa Romeo Spider mule spied for the first time

Our spies have already caught the 2015 Mazda MX-5 on multiple occasions but new details are starting to emerge about the upcoming roadster.

 2015 Mazda MX-5 / Alfa Romeo Spider mule spied for the first time

Mazda's Kiyoshi Fujiwara revealed the next-generation MX-5 will be significantly lighter than its predecessor. Fujiwara declined to go into specifics but the magazine says the car will weigh approximately one tonne (2204 lbs). This will be achieved by utilizing a new lightweight structure which should give the model a better power-to-weight ratio.

In related news, Mazda is hard at work developing the next-generation of Skyactiv engines. Engineers are reportedly trying to make them more efficient than hybrid engines so they could adopt a homogeneous charge compression ignition system which could improve fuel efficiency by up to 30 percent. If everything pans out, the new engines could be introduced in 2018.

Engine options remain a mystery, but the companies have previously said the "Mazda and Alfa Romeo variants will each be powered by specific proprietary engines unique to each brand." Early speculation suggests the Mazda will use either a 1.3- or 1.6-liter SkyActiv engine, while the Alfa could have a 1.4-liter MultiAir engine with at least 120 HP (89 kW).

The Mazda MX-5 is expected to be launched in 2015 and the Alfa Romeo Spider - which could be called the 2C - is slated to follow shortly thereafter.

Source: Al Ain Japan

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