Search the Community

Fresh details have emerged on the 2014 Mazda MX-5 and its sister car, the Alfa Romeo Spider. Although an agreement has been reached for Mazda to build the Alfa Romeo roadster on the next MX-5 platform, both cars will be offered with its own set of engines. Mazda plans to fit the upcoming MX-5 with a new naturally aspirated 1.6-litre SkyACTIV engine with an output of approximately 130bhp. Mazda is insistent that the new MX-5 will not go the force-fed route although there were turbocharged versions of previous generation MX-5. For the Spider, it will probably use Alfa's turbocharged 1.4-litre 'TB' engine rated at around 120bhp. The more powerful 1750 TBi may also be offered with output of up to 296bhp. Both cars will probably come fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard but a six-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters could also be offered. Mazda intends to keep the size of the new MX-5 the same as the original version. New material and design will aid in the weight reduction while meeting the current crash regulations. The Hiroshima-based automaker hopes to achieve a curb weight of just 800kg.

Hiroshima-based carmaker, Mazda, has got a good reason for celebration. The company returned to profitability for the fiscal year that ended on 31st March 2013. This is after four years of losses, including a loss of US$1.14 billion (S$1.41 billion) for FY2011. Mazda posted a global net profit of US$364.3 million (S$450 million) for FY2012. Mazda CEO, Takashi Yamanouchi, attributed the result to restructuring and a falling Yen, which has depreciated by 21 percent against the US dollar since November last year. This helped to improve Japanese exports. However, the North American market continued to bleed in fiscal year that had just ended, posting an operating loss of US$519.1 million (S$641 million) although all the other regions remained in the black. Sales in North America also fell short of the company's forecast. Looking forward, Mazda expects the region to get a boost from the full year impact of the all new Mazda6 and the debut of the next generation Mazda3. For FY2013, Mazda expects global net and operating profit to double in the wake of the Yen's decline and the rolling out of more vehicles equipped with the company's latest Skyactiv engine, transmission and chassis technologies.