Remember the funky-looking Ibuki concept car
that broke cover at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show? At the time, it was
touted by the Mazda suits as the concept car for the MX-5 that's in
showrooms now. But, as one insider revealed to us, the truth is more
complex. This topless coupe turns out to be the base for the
next-generation MX-5, reportedly slated to make an appearance in
concept form at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Depicted in these
illustrations is one artist's impression of what the new roadster is
expected to look like.
Our
insider says the new roadster will employ the RX-8 philosophy Mazda
bills as a "super front midship four-cylinder layout." In Japan-speak,
that refers to a four-cylinder engine mounted aft of the front axle for
optimum front/rear weight balance. The fuel tank and main exhaust are
located forward of the rear axle, meaning that all critical components
are situated inside the wheelbase.
By
employing a revised version of the RX-8's twin-backbone frame, Mazda is
aiming to create a coupe with the chassis rigidity of a closed-top car.
Our insider says much of the new car was already featured on the Ibuki,
whose specifications and body structure are increasingly appearing in
patents in the U.S. and Japan. And we have also seen what Mazda is
planning for its next design theme, as witnessed in the Shinari concept
car that debuted in August at a Milan workshop. News coming out of
Hiroshima suggests that the Shinari contains strategic design elements
of future Mazdas, especially the new MX-5. We'll see the Shinari
concept at next month's L.A. auto show.
When
asked about the relevance of the Ibuki, one Mazda engineer went so far
as to say, "The Ibuki is not a one-off future concept car. It contains
crucial aspects of the next-generation roadster." He said the R&D
team is aiming for a sub-2200-pound curb weight, making it far lighter
than the current car. We can also expect to see shorter overhangs and a
smaller capacity engine from the all-new SKY engine series, with the
1.5-liter variant mentioned as the car's engine of choice.
Mazda
is developing the next car with a combination of weight and power that
will take the MX-5 back to its 1989 origins, roots that second- and
third-generation MX-5 chief engineer Takao Kijima says "must always be
lightweight sports. The car got bigger and heavier over the last
decade, but it's now time to reverse the process and get back to
basics, and build a coupe that handles like no other."
By
employing a revised version of the RX-8's twin-backbone frame, Mazda is
aiming to create a coupe with the chassis rigidity of a closed-top car.
Our insider says much of the new car was already featured on the Ibuki,
whose specifications and body structure are increasingly appearing in
patents in the U.S. and Japan. And we have also seen what Mazda is
planning for its next design theme, as witnessed in the Shinari concept
car that debuted in August at a Milan workshop. News coming out of
Hiroshima suggests that the Shinari contains strategic design elements
of future Mazdas, especially the new MX-5. We'll see the Shinari
concept at next month's L.A. auto show.