Mazda MX-5 Roadster MPS

The new Mazda concept, based on the now somewhat venerable MX-5, was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show this year. Having had an MX-5 in Oz before coming to Thailand to live, the report on the new variant I found very interesting.

Mazda MX-5 MPS

Of all the road cars that I have owned (and that’s over 100), two stand out head and shoulders above the others - my 911 Porsche Targa and my MX-5. Both of these were real “driver’s” cars - the 911 very powerful, tricky at speed and incredibly satisfying, while the MX-5 was almost the complete opposite - not very powerful but superbly stable at speed, but again a very satisfying motor vehicle.

With the MX-5, to make it a little closer to my “ideal”, the engine was worked on, suspension lowered and stiffened and larger diameter and wider alloy rims and a good set of rubber fitted. However, it always cried out for more power. Mazda must have heard me and have now produced this MPS version. MPS, by the way, stands for Mazda Performance Series.

The MX-5 Roadster MPS features numerous performance, functional and design enhancements, that employ the racing technology of Mazdaspeed, an affiliate of Mazda Motor Corporation and incidentally the people who built the winner of the 1991 Le Mans 24-hour Race.

The engine is now a 2 litre (the original MX-5 was 1.6, then became 1.8), churning out 147 kW of power. For faster throttle response and higher output, four independently actuated throttle valves and high-lift camshafts have been adopted, giving maximum power at 7,000rpm and maximum torque of 196Nm at 6,000rpm.

The suspension mods include a combination of height-adjustable mono-tube dampers and coil springs, and new construction 17 inch tires, resulting in improved handling performance and greater ride comfort, according to Mr. Mazda. Front and rear suspension mounting points are further reinforced with a large sized lightweight aluminium ladder underbody reinforcement for enhanced rigidity. Whilst the last modification is obviously an “add on” I can imagine it would have been necessary. My MX-5 would definitely show some chassis flex when really put to the test around the race circuit, for example.

Revamped exterior styling includes a front end featuring up-dated headlamp units and a newly designed larger air-intake area to improve cooling. For a more aggressive, lower-and-wider appearance, MX-5 MPS is equipped with new front and rear guards with enlarged wheel arches complete with flares to match the wider track (+50mm in the front, +60mm in the rear), a mono-formed rear bumper integrated into the body with a single extruded silencer, and the lightweight large-diameter aluminium wheels.

Mazda claim the enhanced aerodynamic performance gives optimum balance between front and rear lift forces to improve stability during high speed cornering and straight line running. Concrete measures include air outlets in the guards to lower air pressure inside the engine compartment and reduce front-end lift, and a spoiler on the boot lid to generate appropriate down force.

Major Specifications of the Mazda MX-5 Roadster MPS
Dimensions Overall length 3,925mm
Overall width 1,740mm
Overall height 1,220mm
Wheelbase 2,265mm
Track (front/rear) 1,465mm/1,500mm
Seating capacity 2 persons
Engine Type BP-VE, in-line 4-cylinder DOHC
Transmission Type 6-speed manual
Suspension Type (front & rear) Double-wishbone
Brakes Type (front/rear) 314mm ventilated disc/314mm disc
Tires & wheels Tires (front & rear) 215/40 R17
Wheels (front & rear) 17 x 7J

Yes, the MPS looks very much like the MX-5 I’d design myself. Well done Mazda for improving upon what was a very good concept right from the beginning.

Autotrivia Quiz So to last week’s quiz question. I asked you to study the photograph. I wanted the year, the make and the model. There were no clues, other than it was probably older than you first thought. It was not an AC Aceca as many of you guessed, it was in fact a 1947 Ferrari 166 Mille Miglia Barchetta Touring. And let us see what I can dredge up this week. In the early 1900’s two brothers started building cars in America. They used their surname for the make of the cars, but called them “Their Surname” Kars. Later they changed the name of their brand to “Their Surname” Cars. So for this week - what was the name of these cars and why was it changed from Kars to Cars? For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct answer to fax 427 596 or email [email protected]

Daihatsu YRV

Anyone who has read this column for a while will be aware I am very much a fan of the Daihatsu Mira (her indoors even owns one), in fact, I have been a fan of many previous Daihatsu’s - the Charade being a great pocket rocket fun car, which took off where the Mini left off.

One of the newest Daihatsu offerings which I believe will come here is the Daihatsu YRV. Our Down-under correspondent, my old mate the irascible John Weinthal, has just spent some time with the new Daihatsu and has come up with an unqualified “Why”, rather than “YRV”. Here are the Words from Weinthal.

“On hearing that we were to travel by Daihatsu YRV last weekend a mate suggested that it was odd to name a vehicle with a question - like, he said, Y RV? He promptly responded to his own thought saying that it was tempting to come up with an answer. Joking he may well have been. However, he’d sewn a thought and I couldn’t leave it alone as the week dragged on.

“Here was a 64 kW, 1.3 litre wagonette with rather cutesy frontal styling which rapidly deteriorated to near pug-ugly from the B pillar back - that’s the pillar behind the front seat. It’s one of the current crazes for high riding, short vehicles with fold-down rear seats which can also be removed. I am sure they have a purpose - indeed I did carry a small bookshelf across town - one which I couldn’t slide into the leather-clad 70 grand Lexus IS 300 a couple of weeks back.

This Daihatsu was a five door manual gear model and it cost AUD 18,000 - auto would have added $1800. And that’s the total YRV range - five doors, manual or auto. And they certainly have showroom appeal with standard air con, central - but not remote - locking, power mirrors and front and back windows and decent sized glovebox and door bins.

But the question remained - Y RV? Why this YRV? What was it for? Was it any good really? Sadly, one concluded just a short distance down the road that showroom appeal was about all it really did offer. The ride was crude and crashy. It leaned into corners and really suggested it would rather proceed in a straight line, thank you very much. It rattled and buzzed. The engine was more than willing, but contributed its own racket as you piled on the revs. This car was a blast from a none too pleasant past.

However, it was some time since I had driven others of its kind. The recent Holden (Chevrolet here) Zafira was in quite a different price class - and offered seven seats even if three were best suited to kids.

No, I had to recall some from the past - and one I hadn’t tried. For many thousand dollars less I recalled the Daewoo Matiz. Just three cylinders and 800cc, but I remember it as a real car; one to enjoy both as driver and for its practicality and features list.

Toyota’s Echo (AKA Yaris) is another of the high-riding brigade but it doesn’t really fit the wagonette theme, and it is heaps more expensive for a car I remember as feeling pretty lightweight and most unToyotalike.

Then there was a car I hadn’t driven. A call to Suzuki saw me in the closest thing to the YRV there is, even though it undercuts it pricewise by around a grand. I borrowed the Suzuki Ignis for a day just to see how wrong I might have been about the YRV. Perhaps I’d had too many over 50 grand lushmobiles lately. Sorry, Daihatsu. I was right - so I still say Y RV, and say no to the YRV.

The Ignis felt like a real grown up car. It had a degree of refinement the YRV made no effort to aspire to. It went around corners happily, and wasn’t badly upset by the sort of suburban ruts and bumps which had the YRV thudding and bumping along.

I still question whether these crossover wagon/cars will really catch on, but am in no doubt that the best of them all - and easily the most expensive is the Holden (Chevrolet) Zafira with the Ignis probably second to the smaller Daewoo Matiz.

Sorry Daihatsu. This YRV is best left in the showroom. Well done Suzuki - now, start telling the world more about your Ignis.

Natter, Nosh and Noggin Monday 12th This coming Monday we will have the monthly meeting of car (and bike) enthusiasts at Shenanigans Pub on 2nd Road at 7 p.m. Kim Fletcher generally puts us in the little conference room next to his office, but just ask any of the girls where Dr. Iain and the car club people are and they’ll point you in the right direction and give you a push. It is totally informal, bring all your memories, books, photos and yourself. All welcome. We generally chat over a beer and one of Kim’s 195 baht steaks.