Renderings, Concepts, Images and Rumors about the Next MX5
Mazda recently released an official image of the next 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Sadly, it is blanketed. So though we can tell the overall shape of the car (spoiler alert, it looks like a car) we can’t see much else. What we can do though is speculate.
Here is the official Mazda image:
Now, though we all probably want a fancy, blanket draped MX-5, I have a feeling that some of us plan to actually drive it, and not keep it under wraps in our garage. So, I decided to pull from the web some next generatino renderings of the MX-5. Which one do you think most resembles Mazda’s official image?
But, moving on. If you’ve had enough of renderings, let’s check out the engine. This shot of an engine bay is supposedly from a source that found the little Miata mule at a port on the west coast months ago. The big news here is that it’s a turbo. The question, is if this is going in the Miata for real, or if it’s going in the Fiat/Alfa since Mazda has partnered with them. (source)
So, though we leave you today with nothing but more rumors and speculation, we again see some pretty solid evidence of a good looking, and possibly turbocharged, 2016 MX5 Miata.
Oh, and don’t forget this video from Mazda.
(P.S. do you hear a turbo?)
Until Next Time
-Spencer
All the 2016 Mazda MX5 Renderings We Can Find September 13th, 2018CorkSport
We talk a lot about the next Mazdaspeed, will it be AWD, will it be FWD, will it be a 3? the 6? a 2? Though little is known or confirmed, I want to point out a few things we DO know as a fact.
Mazda has been working on their SkyActiv D engines for a few years. They have already shown their SkyActiv D engines, they even race them. What many people fail to realize it that the SkyActiv D runs in the Mazda 6 with a two-stage turbocharger.
The two-stage turbocharger gives you the best of both worlds, it will run a smaller turbo in the low RPM range in order to give you more power and cut emissions, then at higher RPM ranges it flips a lever and runs the bigger turbo to produce more power with no noticeable lag between the two. According to Mazda’s own website “SKYACTIV-D utilizes a two-stage turbocharger in which one small and one large turbo are selectively operated according to driving conditions.” (Source)
What else do we know? Well, Mazda has been actively racing the SkyActiv D engines in several endurance races. This is a mildly modified version of the SkyActiv D that is known to put down about 400hp.
So why would Mazda try and rework a new regular gas powered engine with a turbocharger for the next speed? Why not take the 400 hp Two-Stage turbo diesel that they already have, and pull a little power from it, and release it as a street legal vehicle?
More questions: Why has the SkyActiv D release been delayed? Is it emissions related? According to Mazda their engines pass with flying colors, no treatment necessary. So it can’t be that. In fact when the SkyActiv D was delayed Mazda spokesman Jeremy Barnes was quoted as saying: Skyactiv technology can meet it [emissions] — and it can — but the challenge is engineering a car that delivers the kind of performance that a Mazda needs to have and we’re unable to do that given where we are right now.”
Wait a minute. So what you are saying is that the 2.2L passes emissions, (source) but doesn’t have enough performance? If Mazda has already passed the emissions testing for the engine then why delay it. We know they have released it in the CX-5 in other markets, they even confirmed they will be releasing it in the Mazda 3 in Australia come September. (Source) Along with this the CX-5 has been selling in Japan at a rate of “four 2.2L SKYACTIV-D purchases for every one 2.0L SKYACTIV-G.” (Source) So why would they work on a turbo gasoline variant when the Diesels (which already have a turbo) are already clearly being sold at such a significantly greater rate? My answer? I don’t think they will.
So what’s the delay. My guess is that they plan on announcing the SkyActiv D release date at the same time as the performance oriented version, the Mazdaspeed SkyActiv D which may be a variant of the engine seen above. Even the SkyActiv D that is currently running in the CX-5 pushes 310 lb ft of torque and 173 hp. Still impressive, especially that torque! Imagine bumping the hp by even 100 and the torque would be incredible!
Last but not least, check out these two videos from Mazda that were released almost 2 years ago. Starting at minute 2 they say some interesting things.
https://youtu.be/cK5SQkEUBdo?t=2m
“An exceptionally high redline or 5200rpm. When we were done we had created a beast … delivers the driving performance of a 4.0L V8.”
A 4.0L V8!! Just do a quick google search for standard HP from common 4.0L V8s and you should be more than impressed with the results. Is this Mazda teasing us and we just failed to notice?
In the long run, whether we get a Mazdaspeed version of the SkyActiv D or not, I can’t wait until it hits our shores for good. Let’s hope it’s soon!
Until next Time,
-Spencer@CorkSport
2016 Diesel Mazdaspeed 3 Rumors December 18th, 2017CorkSport
We all know Mazda has been working on Diesels for the US market, and that they have already been released in Europe, Australia and other places. We also have seen Mazda’s electric Demios (Mazda 2). Well, now we have just heard from torquenews.com that Mazda might be releasing a Diesel Hybrid.
Mazda hopes to release a vehicle that can hit a greater gas mileage than the Prius C (50mpg) which is the leading seller in Japan (known as the Aqua). Of course, we are doubting that even if this wonder vehicle gets created that we would ever see it in the US, but we can hope. At this point we are still hoping for Mazda to simply release the Diesel CX-5 and Diesel Mazda 6.
Would you trade the extra emissions of a diesel vehicle, for the extra emissions it also produces? If you keep an eye on the current cars that Mazda is racing, we see that the most prominently featured are all diesels. Whether it is the several Mazda 6’s racing with their Skyactiv-D engine, or the Mazda Prototypes #00 and #70 (source) Mazda is definitely focusing on their diesels.
Ultimately we know one thing, the Hybrid Diesel won’t be making it to our shores anytime soon, and it’s unlikely it would make it before their standard diesel.
Mazda to Offer Diesel Hybrids September 13th, 2018CorkSport
Just this morning some images of the next generation, or ND, MX-5 were posted to the internet. There are some interested aspects that can be seen through the camouflage cover it is wearing. Most noticeable is that large backend! We also notice the front seems to slope significantly more than the current generation, and of course, that it’s a soft top. We assume there will be plenty of room in that giant bottom though to fit a PRHT (Power Retractable Hard Top) as an option. It certainly appears to be bigger, and smaller, all at the same time.
I could speculate more on the shape and style, but I’ll just leave these photos here for you to see:
Though the lines are hard to tell thanks to the camo wrap, we also had a teaser from Mazda of the car hidden under a blanket cover. You can see some of the lines more distinctly, though they only give a rear shot.
I think it’s looking good so far, and can’t wait to see it for real! Stay tuned for more info and the official release on September 3rd!
-Spencer@CorkSport
P.S. If you missed this sneak peak video, you might want to check it out!
2016 Mazda Miata MX5 Spy Shots December 18th, 2017CorkSport
CorkSport is happy to announce the release of our long awaited 2014+ Mazda 6 Axle Back Exhaust System. Designed by our engineers to be a simple, bolt on upgrade for the Skyactiv powered 2014+ Mazda 6. The dual tips with the CorkSport logo plates gives the Mazda 6 the missing piece to really make it stand out among the crowd. The exhaust note gives a pleasant tone which is not common with some exhausts on the market which are buzzy sounding. The exhaust features 65mm piping and dual resonators ending with 80mm double-walled exhaust tips constructed from 304 Stainless Steel.
A review from Jerod a customer who tested out the exhaust raves “The exhaust is awesome! The tone is great and it really brings the car to life. The sound is a nice growl at startup and turns into a snarling monster at full throttle. At no moment does the sound become “obnoxious” like other lesser-quality brand exhaust systems… The exhaust is a beautiful sight to behold. It transforms the rear end of an already good-looking car into an aggressive yet elegant cruiser! All 10’s from me “
As with all of our CorkSport exhausts, the Mazda 6 axle back features mandrel bent, polished stainless steel T304 construction for corrosion resistance and a clean stylish look. It has a distinctive performance sound that is mild but noticeable at cruise and idle and a distinctive growl at wide open throttle and free rev.
Want to hear how it sounds? Check out our video clip below:
