These local reinforcements make body shell stiffness of the MX-5 Roadster Coupe comparable to the soft top model. Here as well, developers kept the weight gain as low as possible, limited to 820 grams.

While body shell stiffness of the soft top model is nearly the same whether the top is open or closed, with the MX-5 Roadster Coupe, body shell stiffness is slightly higher with the top up than when it is down. To compensate for this slight difference, developers attempted to keep the difference in perceived handling feel as minimal as possible.


Larger Front Stabilizers and Optimized rear Springs and Dampers Settings

Because there is slightly more weight at the back of the Roadster Coupe when the hard top is stowed behind the seats, engineers optimally tuned the rear springs and dampers. At the same time, a larger front stabilizer is introduced (increased in diameter from 21 to 22.2 mm) along with new settings for the front dampers.

These features give the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe handling characteristics that provide further refinements compared to the agile and nimble handling characteristics of the soft top. This slight difference is ideally suited to the new model and meets the premium quality demands of its target customer.



Powertrain - Two Four-cylinder Engines & Rear-wheel Drive

- 1.8 and 2.0-litre MZR petrols with 126 and 160 PS
- Manual five and six-speed transmissions with sporty shifting characteristics
- Stiff powerplant frame similar to Mazda RX-8 for high rigidity

The new Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe will be launched with the same two lively four-cylinder engines as the soft top model (depending on market). Both are from the MZR family of engines, have four valves per cylinder and a displacement of 1.8 and 2.0 litres respectively. Both engines are installed front midship, placing them closer to the vehicle's centre of gravity than an east-west mounted engine, for outstanding handling characteristics.

The MZR 2.0-litre produces maximum power of 118 kW/ 160 PS at 6,700 rpm and maximum torque of 188 Nm at 5,000 rpm. At least 90 percent of this is consistently available at engine speeds of between 2,500 and 6,700 rpm, making the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe fun to drive, even at low engine speeds. The MZR 1.8-litre base engine produces a maximum of 93 kW/126 PS at 6,500 rpm and maximum torque of 167 Nm at 4,500 rpm. Thanks to aerodynamic refinement of the roadster coupe body style, the top speed is now 215 km/h (+ 5 km/h).

Both engines meet Euro Stage IV emission standards and deliver good acoustic qualities as well. A deep timbre of 500 Hz supports cultivated cruising at mid-engine speeds. Above 5,000 rpm, the engine sound swells to a sporty pitch.

The new MX-5 Roadster Coupe comes with either a five or six-speed manual transmission (depending on engine), both of which are easy to shift with just a flick of the wrist. With precise, short shift travel and low levels of shift effort, these transmissions are perfect complements to the MX-5 Roadster Coupe driving experience.

Like both early generations of the Mazda MX-5, the newest model has an aluminium powerplant frame in the transmission tunnel. This Z-shaped member functions like a strong backbone that connects the transmission and the rear differential. It can be traced back to similar structures in the sports car Mazda RX-7 and the current rotary engine sports car, Mazda RX-8, which is produced on the same assembly line in Japan as the 2006 Mazda MX-5 soft top and the MX-5 Roadster Coupe.

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