720 lbs. lighter?
 

insideline.com/mazda/mx-5-miata/mazda-miata-dieting-for-the-future.html

That's a lot of weight to lose. Not sure if it's possible.

Wow. Once again, Mazda proves they know me – and sports car lovers like me – better than any other car company. Is it any surprise Miata is the most popular sports car of all time? Even though I've owned three, sign me up now.

Will probably need a strong yet lightweight bonded aluminum frame similar to the Elise.

If they pull it off, it will likly be in the form of a mazdaspeed edition. No stereo, very little sound deadening and carpet materials, maybe even no A/C. No matter what happens, shoting for a low weight is always a good thing.

This article is nonsense. 220 lb reduction would put it at around 2250. That is possible.

720 lb reduction is impossible foolishness.

Paul.

Lightweight parts is a possibility and computers are getting smaller and smaller.

http://www.icis.com/Articles/2011/05...bon-fiber.html
http://green.autoblog.com/2011/02/09...automotive-pa/
http://www.reinforcedplastics.com/vi...tive-industry/
I dont see why its impossible? Expensive in the short term but even if they just do some parts, you could get VERY close to that for a minimal cost increase.

I just read those "news/goals"

it sounds really good, but hmm, they're using 1.4 turbo ? no SkyActiv-G? not small enough for Miata ? what about the SkyActiv-Transmission? thought it's redesign to save weight and faster shifting ?

720 lbs sounds a bit hard, if they're going to use a lot of higher (tensile) strength steel like they said earlier ... but I don't know, 500 lbs is already pushing it, 720 ?

if they can "cut" Miata's weight by 720, I wonder what the next RX gonna be. I'm not greedy, just cut about 500 lbs. you can even keep the same engine. the car will fly.

Truth is, I'll be satisfied if they can lighten it by 200-300 lbs.

I dunno, I wouldn't be surprised if they accomplished it. They seem to feel they can, and they are rather dedicated and committed..

They probably have something in house already, or at least it seems to work on their simulation computers.

For Miata, They can probably do it, if they make the car about 10% smaller, even with same kind of metal/material, it will probably cut 10% of the weight.

Fat people can't sit in it? that's their problem, Look at Z4, that car is really small, did BMW "enlarge" it over the years? nope. well it is a bit bigger than Z3. but it's still small.

I know I'm fat too, but I have been on a diet and lost 30 lbs already. not bad. Oh yea :) hell if it's really 1800 lbs I might just get one myself.

It's no surprise that they won't hit the weight goal--but at least they have a minimalist goal to aim for. If the ND weighs less than a ton, or even in the neighborhood of 2200, it could be a real winner.

So we are talking roughly <500lbs per corner on a track balanced car !? WTF lol (minus driver heft of course)

1800lbs is roughly 815kg, what a s1 elise weights.
That's not gonna happen with airbags, mandatory "safety" systems and the whole load of bs that the car industry demands.
1100kg is realistic though.

no way to tell what Mazda gonna do.

it's probably possible for certain version of Miata, the ones that will sell to certain countries which "does not" require as much mandatory systems and cloth seat.

India anyone ? :rollingla:rollingla:rollingla

The article has a few truths tied up with BS and/or miscommunication with their supposed Mazda insider.

Paul.

Paul ... it's an "internet" article ... what do you expect?

it came from the INTERNET ! it must be TRUE !!!! :eek::SHOCKED:

i think is really easy and possible if it's a race car only,
but for street car....is hard....