New Miata Power Numbers

Autoblog is reporting the same HP numbers from their time at the same test as driving.ca, so maybe they did get a somewhat official statement. Also the 7500rpm redline that made me more skeptical was apparently specific to the 1.5L engines they drove, so maybe the 2.0L will have the same 6800rpm redline as the Mazda 3. It almost makes me wonder if the 1.5L would have a little more 'character' than the 2.0L.

Keith also makes a good point regarding the ease of adding power vs shedding weight...That's the main reason the Hellcat exists.

Driven5 wrote: Keith also makes a good point regarding the ease of adding power vs shedding weight...That's the main reason the Hellcat exists.

That's why Lotus exists!

DeadSkunk wrote: I thought it looked better in person than in photos, largely because the pictures are done from a lower angle than I view the car standing near it. It's not "OMG' beautiful, but it a very,very nice looking car.

That was my reaction too. When photographer's do those "Sports-car/Super-car" unnaturally low vantage point, some of the angles look a little odd. When you see it in person it looks considerably better.

I have held off judging a lot of the new sports/super cars like Honda' NSX that some have called ugly until I can see them in person.

My biggest ND related question is how well will I fit in it. At 6'3" tall, fitting in an MX-5 has always been a challenge for me.

I'm really excited by what people are saying.

The composite-web seat material sounds cool as hell for saving weight, wonder how that's going to hold up vs. conventional springs. Wouldn't be surprised if it lasted longer before sagging..

Keith Tanner wrote: Cue inevitable whining from the internet. It could have had 250 hp, there would have been inevitable whining from the internet.

I disagree completely. Why only 150hp? Why NOT 250hp? Why not 200hp? Why not 175hp?

There is absolutely no rhyme or reason as to WHY it only has 150hp. Saying that its 2200lbs and "thats enough" is not a good reason. The focus RS will have 325hp and awd, why? Why the hell not?

Show me a rwd car, under 3k lbs, with more than 200hp, and explain why we can't have it? I understand to a certain extent horsepower costs money, but they literally have a developed motor sold worldwide in hundreds of thousands of cars that would FIT and should therefore cost about the same amount.

You can have it.

You'll just be paying more than $25k for it.

What motor does Mazda have right now that makes more than 200hp?

Note that it's the Euro, 1.5L version that's 2200 pounds. The US spec version is going to be heavier, both because of the bigger motor and because the US spec for measuring curb weight is different than the Euro one (needs to include more options, I think). 155hp is 12 less than the NC, and if the US spec weight goes up to 2300 (which I wouldn't be surprised by) then it'll have a slightly worse power/weight ratio than the NC does.

I also think it's kind of odd that the 1.5L gets 132 hp (a 20 hp bump from the 1.5L skyactiv motors in other Mazdas) but the 2.0L is the same 155hp as the current Mazda3/6/etc.

This thing is gorgeous and actually shorter than the original. Bravo, Mazda, for finally making something smaller than its predecessor!

Miata owners claim to be all about power levels, but when they call it turns out they're looking for torque - or "low end power" as it's usually expressed. Not just the V8 guys, it's the standard request. This engine delivers a good torque number, so that's good.

I've been tuning out all the ND whining for about three years now. Expectations for this car are so ridiculously high that nothing will possibly satisfy. It looks like a little F-type Jag. It's small. It's light. It has a lower CG. It has LED headlights. Seriously, it's an awesome little thing. According to R&T, it handles too.

As for the typical "but what about minivans?", Miata owners have also been saying that for 25 years now. The Miata has always been slower than a minivan. Which would you rather drive?

I'll believe the actual power numbers when they come in a press release from Mazda. It may be only 155, I'm okay with that. Power's not everything - I know I have a 525 hp Miata, but I also have a 91 hp CRX. And they're both fun to drive.

As soon as the MSRP is announced, we're going to go through a new round of whining. "$XX,000 for a Miata? Are they nuts?" I'll just put this here: adjusted for inflation, a base 1990 Miata with steel wheels and no radio cost $26,346.43.

HiTempguy wrote: There is absolutely no rhyme or reason as to WHY it only has 150hp. Saying that its 2200lbs and "thats enough" is not a good reason. The focus RS will have 325hp and awd, why? Why the hell not?

Because their fleet gas mileage has to be meet certain minimum numbers when it goes out of their door. The insurance companies are usually also very interested in how much power a car has. Lastly, the more power you add, the more problems you can have with reliability. Most drivers of the Miata are going to take the drivetrain it as delivered and drive it that way until they sell it.

There is nothing that says you cant add more horsepower when it comes to your door, provided you remain emissions compliant.

In any case, more power is what a Mazdaspeed version will be for.

I need it. Someone get one and let me be the first to run a 14 sec time with it bone stock.

Keith Tanner wrote: As for the typical "but what about minivans?", Miata owners have also been saying that for 25 years now. The Miata has always been slower than a minivan. Which would you rather drive?

That said, more Miata owners have added forced induction to cars than practically any other make & model.

Keith Tanner wrote: As for the typical "but what about minivans?", Miata owners have also been saying that for 25 years now. The Miata has always been slower than a minivan. Which would you rather drive?

I'd rather drive a Miata that blows the doors off a minivan. Your employer enables that. :)

Not just enables, but encourages

The average lifespan of a Miata model is around 8 years or so. I know that Mazda isn't looking at this as a 2016 model, they're looking at it as a car to take them to 2024 or so. The same way the 1990 Miata is more 90's than 80's - see the Capri as an example. So they probably are looking forward to what CAFE has to bring.

Is this where I complain about Mazda not putting a proper fixed roof on the car? Or is that a different thread?

C&D Reported this: Displacement: 122 cu in, 1998 cc Power (est): 155 hp @ 7000 rpm Torque (est): 148 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm

The Mazda3 variant makes: 155 @ 6,000 rpm 150 @ 4,000 rpm

No one has tested the 2.0L miata engine yet. I wonder if mazda is lying? Why would it make less torque and the same power at a higher rpm?

In all seriousness it does beg the question why they didn't use at least use the 2.5L and try to find a few extra HP? It doesn't really cost a manufacturer more to produce a slightly larger displacement engine with the same feature set. Yes there are drivetrain and cooling considerations, but we're talking about fairly small differences. A direct injection turbo engine on the other hand costs them a LOT more.

Mazda hasn't said anything officially.

mazdeuce wrote: Is this where I complain about Mazda not putting a proper fixed roof on the car? Or is that a different thread?

Miata.net has an entire forum section devoted to moaning about the ND. Hop on over there, it'll fit right in. They're quarantined to keep all the other Miata owners from getting tired of it.

Keith Tanner wrote:

mazdeuce wrote: Is this where I complain about Mazda not putting a proper fixed roof on the car? Or is that a different thread?

Miata.net has an entire forum section devoted to moaning about the ND. Hop on over there, it'll fit right in. They're quarantined to keep all the other Miata owners from getting tired of it.

I'll admit I am one of the moaners but I do find it hilarious that you work for a company that puts LS V8s in this car and then are bashing people who want 20-30 more horsepower.

I love my modified NC so I certainly don't need to buy an new MX-5 but I can assure you when it does come time to buy another toy it probably won't be an MX-5. Of course I am waiting until I drive it and will monitor what the aftermarket does to wring more power (that doesn't involve and engine swap or FI) out of it but I don't have my hopes up.

Keith Tanner wrote: Mazda hasn't said anything officially.

In the same article C&D said: "...we at least got officials to divulge that it will have 155 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque when the American Miata arrives this summer."

I saw the Miata on the weekend at the Detroit Autoshow. I was very impressed.

In reply to sjd:

Bashing? Strange use of the word.

Swank Force One wrote: In reply to sjd: Bashing? Strange use of the word.

Belittling? My point is that I think he's speaking in derogatory terms to those of us who are disappointed with the new MX-5's output.

I'm tired of the complaining. It's not going to make Mazda go "oops, sorry, we'll just change this and it'll make 200 hp". It's just complaining. I'm sure Mazda has good reasons for doing what they're doing - I know enough guys at Mazda to know that there aren't that many idiots working there. The entire saga of the ND has consisted of onlookers setting imaginary goals and then complaining about everything. Deal with that over five years or so and you'll get exhausted. No matter what the output was, there was going to be complaining.

Sure, for those who want more power, we'll happily come up with options. Without knowing more about the engine, I can't say what those options will be. No matter what power level the car has, there are always those who want 20-30 hp more. We even get that with our V8 swaps, guys who decide that the normal 430 hp just isn't going to be enough. Usually before they actually drive the car, but still.

Personally, I don't trust any info I find online unless it comes from an authoritative source (which does not include journalists who are hoping to be the first to break the news) or I can confirm it. Back in 2006, everyone "knew" about the upcoming NC Mazdaspeed MX-5.

20-30 hp is not an easy thing to get out of a modern engine without forced induction. The days of engines picking up 40 hp with nothing more than a less restrictive air intake (seriously, we saw that on our dyno once) are long gone with a few notable exceptions such as the MINI One.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

Your point is taken Keith. You are in position to hear the complaints more often than most of us. I do agree some complaints are unreasonable. I know Mazda is full of car enthusiasts (and have met many of them and worked with some of them as well) and am happy they build the cars they do. I've owned several Mazdas for that reason. But another 20 horsepower wouldn't have ruined this car just as an LS doesn't.

I'll also admit that while I love the NA and NB Miatas I had no desire to own one once I drove the NC. Its a better car in everyday except for cost. And while I haven't driven the new one, I am concerned that all they've done is created a new NA. So I don't think I am the target buyer.

I love my NC2 but it needed some help in the suspension department and power department before I did. I think getting power out of the engine is going to be very difficult like you said, modern engines are pretty efficient, especially the Skyactiv ones.

But that extra 20-30hp might have ruined the price.