Next Miata Targeted at 1760lbs?
06-09-2011, 04:10 PM
#21
Could not agree more!
Looking forward to seeing how close they get. If they only shed 100 lb., that's at least a step in the right direction. Automobile development is rife with attempts to shave 100 lb. resulting in a 200 lb. weight gain. You MUST make minimizing weight a DRIVING priority from the get-go or you *will* end up overweight. Funnily enough, of all sports cars only the Corvette development team seems to understand this and keep weight in check. Here's hoping Mazda can get the Miata back down closer to 2200
06-09-2011, 05:40 PM
#24
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Do they just sit there and make things up all day? 
Cutting 760 lbs from an already-light roadster is impossible without doubling or tripling the cost. It would mean doing the basic Elise formula and then some. Bonded aluminum + carbon fiber chassis, no amenities, no interior room, no sound deadening and smaller motor, to name a few. I'm not sure a turbo 1.4 would weigh any less than the current 2.0L, even, after you consider the cooling upgrades and extra plumbing vs a slightly larger block.
Cutting 760 lbs from an already-light roadster is impossible without doubling or tripling the cost. It would mean doing the basic Elise formula and then some. Bonded aluminum + carbon fiber chassis, no amenities, no interior room, no sound deadening and smaller motor, to name a few. I'm not sure a turbo 1.4 would weigh any less than the current 2.0L, even, after you consider the cooling upgrades and extra plumbing vs a slightly larger block.
06-09-2011, 07:10 PM
#25
And their buyers would drop 90%. Hardcore auto-x and trackday guys would love it, though!
06-09-2011, 10:00 PM
#26
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Yeah, its obviously fat fetched for them to actually hit 1700 lbs but its great that their going for it. If they can hit 2000-2200 lbs and keep power at 160hp+ i'd be a great track/fun car.
06-10-2011, 08:12 AM
#28
MR2 Spyders were only 2200 pounds as recently as 2005 and were nothing exotic. I think they have a good shot getting under 2200, but under 2000 pounds, believe it when I see it.
06-11-2011, 05:32 PM
#29
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Just considering the amount of work to get an NA Miata under 1900lbs, (full strip of everything, and I mean everything) there is no way in hell that the new miata will be under even 2000lbs. If they could somehow do 2250lbs like to original NA, without losing any of the comforts that they have now, I would call that a huge success. There is no reason to make a goal which is obviously BS. Now, even if they do make it 2200lbs, people are going to say that they are 400lbs over weight...
06-11-2011, 07:38 PM
#30
Registered User
Idea #2, the five gallon fuel tank! lol
Vader's point about the MR2 is worthy though. It wasn't an expensive car, just ugly. Couldn't they beat that with new materials or techniques (e.g. hydroforming)?
Vader's point about the MR2 is worthy though. It wasn't an expensive car, just ugly. Couldn't they beat that with new materials or techniques (e.g. hydroforming)?