HANDLES LIKE A DREAM

PERFECT 50:50 WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND MINIMAL YAW INERTIA MOMENT

As well as the car lightness and a high rigidity, it is a prior for lightweight sports car to improve the steering wheel operation that the weight balanced 50:50, the lowest possible center of gravity and the lowest possible yaw-inertia-moment. The optimal perfect 50:50 front/rear weight distribution (Get on two people) is achieved with the engine moved rearward by 135mm, the fuel tank moved lowered 120mm from its previous position, and the battery moved ahead of the engine diminishes. At the same time, the net change in the center of gravity, height is a worthwhile 18mm, and the yaw-inertia moment is 2% smaller than that of the second-generation MX-5.

THE DRIVING POSITION AND ENVIRONMENT

The bucket seat frame adopts the cushion spring and has improved the insulation of the road vibration more. The rigidity is improved by adopting light and high strength the high-tensile steel board for the seat frame. When cornering, accelerating and breaking the new developed seats control the driver's body.

Furthermore, to make a natural driving position for driver, the steering wheel can be tilt-adjusted 32mm upward and downward.

THE ULTIMATE WEIGHT-SAVING IMPERATIVE

From the packaging point of view, lightness, rigidity and optimal weight distribution are key to achieve a fun-to-drive personality called Jinba ittai, oneness between the horse and the rider. To evolve this concept that had been made to give priority than all MX-5 since then, the following parts were made aluminum as a big weight loss. *The bonnet *Boot lid *P.P.F (Power-plant frame) *Front suspension control arms *Rear hub carriers *Rear brake calipers *Rear suspension spring seats. What's more, the new engines and camshaft cover are molded of lightweight composite-plastic materials and net weight savings attributable to the engine alone is a substantial 19.1kg compared with old model 1.8L engine including accessories. The engineers pursued the tradition "Gram strategy" whereby they assessed weight in the smallest possible increments and made every 1-gram. It succeeded in the MX-5's base curb weight is only increased by approximately 10kg compared to the previous MX-5.

ENGINE

SPECIALLY TUNED MZR 2.0 ENGINE

The new MX-5 equipped with small MZR 2.0 newly developed engine. Thanks to the following elements, the power feeling and exhilarating engine note are achieved.

• * S-VT (Sequentially Valve Timing) system, which continuously optimizes valve open/close timing according to engine speed and air intake for enhanced power.
• * VIS (Variable Intake System), which brings linear, smooth torque feeling in either low or high rpm.
• * The higher compression ratio (10.8)
• * The light weight flywheel (manual transmission car)
• * The large electrically controlled throttle

The engine sound emphasizes the lively and linear performance feel with the adoption of the optimization of shape and thickness in the serge tank inner wall located in the intake manifold upstream and a dual tail pipes etc.

SIX-SPEED ACTIVEMATIC TRANSMISSIONS

The electronically controlled six-speed Activematic is possible to select. A wide choice of gears with the benefits of automatic and automated manual shifting has brought linear shift response, a smooth acceleration, the greater fuel-economy and the improvement of high speed and quietness. Steering-wheel shift switches, which allow the driver to change gear without letting go of the steering wheel, are available with the Activematic transmission car.

CHASSIS

THE NEW POWER PLANT FRAME

The new MX-5 has a lightweight aluminum Z type sectioned P.P.F (Power Plant frame) rigidity linking the power unit and the rear differential as a single unit. It ensures that the driver's accelerator pedal inputs are directly communicated to the rear wheels.

DOUBLE-WISHBONE FRONT SUSPENSION AND MULTI-LINK REAR SUSPENSION

The development team sought a balance wherein the rear of the car maintains an unshakable grip with the road for maximum stability while the front of the car is solely responsible requested by the driver. The light aluminum long armed Double-wishbone front suspension and newly developed multi-link rear suspension with five links achieved linear handling.

THE DAMPER

The dampers are a gas-filled monotube design. The car, which has Bilstein shock absorbers, expands the piston diameter of a rear damper compared to standards and front/rear desk rod diameter, thus Bilstein shock absorbers give consistently effective damping for high controllability.

BEST TUNE FOR RETRACTABLE HARD TOP MODEL

At just 37kg heavier and 1cm higher than the soft-top version, Mazda MX-5 RHT offers the same compact size, with body stiffness and front/rear weight distribution virtually unchanged to maintain the characteristically stirring Jinba Ittai response. The suspension is tuned to give excitingly sporty handling with a ride slightly smoother than the soft-top model's, ideally suited to people who appreciate the Mazda MX-5 RHT's premium quality.