A Slightly More Powerful Mazda MX-5 Could Be On The Way
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? 😂
A new MPS? sign me right up
What’s that? A more powerful MX-5 and 124?
Probably an attempted to reinvigorate sales. It’s getting late in the product cycle, a small refresh could really help them do this.
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?
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.
Stick rotary or V6 in it and it’ll be interesting.
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…
Honda managed 241 out of a 2.0 engine in the s2000