A Slightly More Powerful Mazda MX-5 Could Be On The Way

A document picked up by Road & Track suggests that the 2.0-litre MX-5 could be in line to have a power increase to 178bhp

Matt Robinson

02 Mar 2018

Like the idea of a more powerful ND MX-5 but don’t fancy going the aftermarket route? It looks like Mazda may have something up its sleeve which will interest you.

A document filed to the NHTSB this week by Mazda - and subsequently picked up by Road and Track - lists the power of the 2019 model year 2.0-litre version as ‘181 HP’ (178bhp). Considering US-spec 2.0-litre NDs make 155hp (153bhp), not a hugely dramatic bump, but a very healthy increase for such a light car.

The question is, where is this newfound power coming from? If Mazda was adding a turbocharger or supercharger, the gains would almost certainly be more substantial than that, and we doubt that the company’s new SkyActiv-X engine is being added - Mazda Europe CEO Jeffrey H. Guyton told Car Throttle recently that the unit will only be added to new models.

The ND’s 2.0-litre engine does have potential without forced induction however - UK tuner BBR GTI managed to push its power up to 190bhp using only breathing modifications and a remap, so presumably it should be possible for Mazda to unlock more modest gains and stay within its more stringent tolerances.

However they do it, we’re sure as hell up for a pokier ND MX-5. How about you?

Source: Road and Track

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

178bhp?! Jesus mazda overkill much? 😂

They did it before with the NB, so I’d say…no. Xd

A new MPS? sign me right up

*Mazdaspeed

(Yes I know what MPS means)

What’s that? A more powerful MX-5 and 124?

I have a feeling that fast, light convertibles are making a comeback!

Actually the 124 already had 178bhp in the form of the Turbocharged Abarth, but yeah, I’m hyped

Probably an attempted to reinvigorate sales. It’s getting late in the product cycle, a small refresh could really help them do this.

You say ‘late in the product life-cycle’, but there was a decade between the current ND and the previous NC’s launch date. It’s only been 2-3 years for the ND, and the RF is even less.

These days, 400hp isn’t seen as much, but 178hp from a new stock MX-5 might just be enough! (Especially to start with)

Will it blow up like a certain type of Miata?

Not until you blow 15 psi in it, like a certain type of Miata.

It’s better, but come on only 181 HP from a 2l engine, a Clio RS 14 years ago managed to do better. I understand the concept of not doing the race to power, but if you are willing to make a more powerful/sport version, do it completely.

Clio RS was and still is turbocharged, the miata is naturally aspirated

Stick rotary or V6 in it and it’ll be interesting.

That would totally destroy the weight distribution and fuel economy

Well there was a JDM spec NB Miata with a 1.8l N/A Inline-4 that made 160PS/7000rpm (in the Miata RS) and then there was the turbocharged NB Miata 1.8l which made 172PS/7000rpm (in the Miata Turbo) but you can hardly get your hands on one of these and they are pricey…