Confirmed: Miata next Mazdaspeed Car

[Flat Black]

Well, after numerous debate and speculation, we just got our letters of intent from Mazda NA for sign up for the next Mazdaspeed car. It will be the Miata, and is slated for release in 2004. I cannot state any further specifics, but get ready for the ride of your life.

[Matthew]

im just wondering if you have enough cars

[Black Majik MSP]

My dealer told me that at least a month ago...I think it's supposed to be turbo, rotary, or both.

[Flat Black]

Originally posted by Matthew
im just wondering if you have enough cars

Not quite, I'm working on getting an FD3S as well. Well, at the dealer we had a clue but didnt know for sure. It will not be a rotary.

[Black Majik MSP]

Yeah, I figured it was turbo because the dealer near me had a Miata on display that is supposed to be just like the MSM. The guy had a turbo Miata that he had put together himself with all of the stuff the Mazdaspeed is going to have.

[MidnightMx6]

so the rumors that they were going to use the 3.0 v6 arent true?

[Flat Black]

Okay, just got more info. The miata is going to be a turbo, just so you all know. The next Mazdaspeed car is the 6.

[herbieP5]

Originally posted by Flat Black
Okay, just got more info. The miata is going to be a turbo, just so you all know. The next Mazdaspeed car is the 6.

(uhm) ya just went and confused me with this one

[Installshield 2]

SCC interviewed some Mazda people of Japan when driving the RX-8 over the summer...and got some implications of the MSP Miata being released by summer of 04, with a twin turbo KL series V6...also that it would sell for about the cost of a decently equipped RX-8 ($27,500 or so)...I doubt the KL V6 will be used, I don't think it is in any production cars anymore which they pointed out...but one of the Mazda engineers said Mazda of Japan saw a bit of profit potential becuase of a lot of "extra" KL's being made...hopefully these rumors will be sorted out soon...

In Japan the KL-ZE makes over 200bhp NA, with two production turbo's, RWD, and a good production ECU (hopefully) it would be nuts...especially in a 2500lb car...

[WeldingHank]

the KL is still found in the Millenia. also found in the Suzuki Grand Vitara.

[Installshield 2]

Originally posted by WeldingHank
the KL is still found in the Millenia. also found in the Suzuki Grand Vitara.

I stand corrected...:( ...

FWIW are they 2.5L KLs, or stroked versions? The SCC article stated that no 2.5L KL was currently in production or would not be in production soon...I don't know....it was in the Rumors and Lies section, so it could be completely wrong...

[Sdrotary2]

The 2002 626 V-6 and the 2002 Millenia "P" or base model used the KL-v6 as but both ended in 2002 so no kl's sold now. They sold it in 99-01 mpv's too. all duratech now, and it wont be v-6, i hope turbo but am suspicious of Mazdaspeed bringing a roots supercharged miata with something like 180bhp instead of a FM Miata kit with 220whp. thats what they need to fend off the s2000/z4 crowd and maybe lose some of the uneccisary (gay) nomenclature it has built over the years. we will see, hope for an RX-3, i tell everyone I can @ Mazda about this being the future of compacts. I even was lucky enough to speak to Kobe, the designer of the FE RX-8 and he has had the idea around the office lately, who knows what that means.

[MidnightMx6]

If they use the KL series motors, they should use the 03 from mx6LS/626/ProbeGT.:D

[twilightprotege]

in australia we already have a turbo mx5 (miata) - the mx5 SP :P

[Darin]

How old is this news? It's like Flat Black thinks he's breaking a hot story... :-/

Fwiw - think about things w/ common sense. Mazda ALREADY has a market-tested (and approved) system for the Miata - read the reply right above mine. No Rotary...No V6 - those would be money pits for the company.

And just what is an '03' from a PGT/MX6/626?


In Japan the KL-ZE makes over 200bhp NA
197hp, to be exact, 200ps. All were mated to ATX MX6s, etc.

Most KLZEs brought stateside produce anywhere from 150-170whp. On occasion, with thousands of dollars invested, they've been able to approach the 200whp mark.

[1sty]

THe info on the Mazdaspeed miata coming in 2004 os about 3 months old, as is its having a turbo.

however Flat is the first one to confirm it with written proof to a dealership.

[Darin]

Originally posted by 1st MP3 in NH

however Flat is the first one to confirm it with written proof to a dealership.

Nevermind the press releases, etc? heh

(wiggle)

[1sty]

Like I said, first proof from a release to a dealership.

[Keith@FP]

But no real info. Twin-turbo V6? Rotaries? Dreams.

Here's the real poop. This is from Mazda with some commentary by insiders.
http://www.miata.net/news/editions.html#turbo

Keith

[pdhaudio83]

good site keith. thanks.

[Keith@FP]

Miata.net. It's the motherlode.

Keith

[LinuxRacr]

Looks like Ford is in the mix on this one again limiting the HP to 170. :wtf:

[Keith@FP]

We had some discussions on how you can turbocharge a Miata engine and only end up with 170 hp :) But they're not stupid. There's a big difference between a modified car owner and a stock car owner. The latter will abuse the car much more and not a single thing is allowed to go wrong. The rods in those cars are not as strong as they could be and the compression is high. The life expectancy of the transmission and rear end also has to be taken into account. The rod strength is probably reflected in the 6500 rpm redline, down about 800 rpm from the other versions.

Also, there's a lot more to life than peak numbers. Response is very important in an OEM application - look at the bad reputation the WRX has obtained for having lag and slow spoolup in stock form. Torque is also far more useful in a street car. Wait until we see some dyno graphs - we don't even know if that's on 85 octane pump gas or not.

Keith

[Darin]

It is worth considering Mazda may be worried about 'within brand' competition. $30k puts the miata square on the heels of the RX8. If the car HAD the Aus-version power, of 200hp, I'm sure it'd out-perform the RX8 in most areas. People paying MORE for a RX8 may not like a less-expensive car which can do more - with less.

Just thinking outloud.

[Keith@FP]

The RX-8 and the Miata occupy very different segments of the market. The RX-8 is not simply about straight-line performance, and the fact that the MS Miata would have a better power/weight ratio (which it may very well have anyhow) is pretty much irrelevant. One is a four-seater coupe thing, one is a two seater convertible.

Some speculate that the output of the 1.8T Golf was underrated to avoid overshadowing the more expensive V6 model. In that case, it's quite possible as the two cars were very similar.

From what I know of the Miata internals and given the production numbers of the turbo, I suspect it's more of an engineering/cost tradeoff. Remember, we're talking about an end-of-life upgrade to a fairly old engine being made in small numbers.

We also have to take into account the two recent black eyes Mazda received from overstating hp numbers :)

Keith

[Installshield 2]

I agree...the MSP Miata and RX-8 will be two very different cars...Even if the Miata ends up being faster, lighter, and a better handler...people looking at the RX-8 will probably still want an RX-8 over the Miata...

Porsche is running into the same thing...There are rumors and specs of a new 928 coming out by the end of 2004, and a new version of the 911...Both are speculated to possibly use a similar V-8 engine (this will through the 911 community into a shit throwing contest, remember what happened a few years ago when it merely got a water cooled engine?)...the 928 will have a base price of around a moderately equipped 911, be slightly more powerful as well...And everyone at the Porsche forums are saying that "no one will buy a 928, it won't be as fast or as light as the new 911"...but IMO that isn't the point...the 928 will be a GT car with more room, luxury, and a softer suspension...and the 911 a sports car with less of all of that...

The RX-8 will clearly be bigger than the Miata physically, and has adequate room for kids in the back (if they are a year old)...and is therefor in a completely different buyers market...If people were only worried about performance, they would ditch both ideas and buy an EVO...

[03MSP]

Originally posted by Darin


And just what is an '03' from a PGT/MX6/626?

It means the KL-03...that was the engine code for the V-6's in the 2nd gen MX-6's, 626's, and Probe's.