Mazda Rear Wheel Drive “Mini Roadster”!
August 3, 2009 by Justin Karow
Filed under Japanese News, Latest Articles
Apparently Mazda has been keeping this little RWD open sports car concept quiet due to the current economic climate in Japan, but as soon as things start to get back on track we should finally see this spiritual successor to Suzuki’s Cappuccino break cover.
Unlike most rumors we’ve heard recently, this one short but contains all good news. Mazda is apparently looking at a rear wheel drive open sports car to slot in under the current NCEC Roadster (MX-5/Miata) and hopes to emulate the success of the EA11R Suzuki Cappuccino by offering excellent handling and performance in a segment which is usually occupied by front wheel drive cars. The engine could either be a 1.0 or 1.3L unit making the mini Roadster one size up from Japan’s “kei car” category (capacity under 660cc) and could carve a new niche of sub-2.0L rear wheel drive cars in Japan. There are no hints as to when the mini Roadster will break cover or how much it’ll cost but from our point of view, this is very good news in that Mazda seems to be following Toyota/Subaru down the light compact rear wheel drive route.
Words: Justin Karow
Image: Best Car
This car is quite cute, if they bring it in Europe it will give a strong competition to Opel Tigra Twin Top, still I would rather have a bike then this, something like a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R.
They tried to make the render “like a ball”, that’s how they described it in the BC article… sure it’s cute, but being RWD I get the feeling the big tuning shops will be all over it. Can’t wait to see its Tsukuba circuit time if it does get released
If you ask me there is no market for this car, why not drop that 1.0L engine in the MX-5? If they made it a Kei-car then it would be another story.
Looks like that render is based on the current Mazda 2. Interesting to see the final product, and RWD – awesome!
It should be very interesting to see how it turns out!
Maybe Suzuki can get of their behind and release a new Cappuccino!
A RWD kei car would be an instant hit
The pic looks like a March convertable. They changed the headlights and added a Mazda mouth from a Demio and some lines on the side.
I think it would be sweet and that there would be a market for it in Japan. Maybe not elsewhere.
Derek: I think you’re right about the render, I know they used a Scion tC as the base of an 086A render they did last year.
I know that thing’s going to be RWD, but boy is it ugly.
Let’s hope the actual car doesn’t look anything like this mock-up.
Mazda has nice designs on their production models recently so I am not worried. I imagine it will be sporty looking. I just hope that it will not like any of their recent concepts. They are too stylized.
Maybe we can see one in October. I am getting excited about the Tokyo auto show as the economy is picking up and we may see some surprises.
nissan is gettin SPANKED!!!! toyota AND subaru AND mazda AND hyundai…wow…they dropped the ball AND fell off the cliff (nissan i mean)…wonder how this car would do in the american market where most americans wont touch it unless its got a gas guzzling V8, weighs 5000lbs and has butt massaging seats
@ DorkiDori
How is nissan getting spanked? They have three sport cars the skyline, Z and GTR. That alot more than any of those manufacturers you named!
“…Mazda seems to be following Toyota/Subaru down the light compact rear wheel drive route.”
Very, very light. Anyway by Skyline you mean the 350GT’s yeah? Or in US market G35/G37. Although I find it kind of weird that Nissan/Infiniti is able to create 3 V6 sports cars that cost around $30k+ to $90k+ but not a cheap and lightweight I4 sports car?
Vraiu: Up until a few months ago rumors came thick and fast about Nissan’s comapct and lightweight (kind of) sports car. Seems to have fallen by the wayside with the financial crisis although it’ll be a top priority once the 086A is shown at the TMS I’m sure.
Will hopefully with manufractures like Hyundai and Toyota creating rear wheel drive cars I’m hoping it will encourage Nissan to creat a new Siliva of some sort to compete against Hyundai & Toyota!
mmm.. this wont sell in the states ,europe maybe
i agree the rwd is good on a small car but be dammed if i buy one that looks like a tennis bal .. :S
@ SteveTX: dude, i agree with u. however, i just hope that is just a concept on paper, and many more changes apply to it.
@ Derek: i do agree on your comment until i remember rx8. it’s not a really good design, but still not too bad (on par i mean). hopefully the design didn’t downgrade when it’s on sales (just remember design of rx9).
because i’m a really fat man, i don’t think this car is in my consideration. still i’m like cars that look good. when i’m getting thinner, maybe i’ll look at it since cappuccino is quite old already.
@ DorkiDori: gas guzzling is no longer an option to many of commoner since they change car at least after 3-5 years of use. petrol is getting less and less, so even if i do have v8, i want to trade to something else that cost me less petrol, hopefully hybrid tech is getting better in no time.
i still want to own a sports car.
Looks awesome, i’d roll with it.
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=64109&vf=7&s_rid=smh:rainbowstrip:content2:03-07:mazda_mx_2_r:ababybrotherforthemx-5
I saw that in drive….if it looks like that I reckon it could sell quite well!
@ will: i look at the link. surprisingly look better… compare to the picture above is like different planet. i do know that the design is just a concept, but still, both are not having any similarity at all.
i like the picture in will’s link better than above… hope the new mazda car in the future will have nagare’s dna… awesome
In defence of the Best Car render above, I think the mock up in the link Will posted looks merely like a facelifted MX-5/Miata/Roadster and reduced its dimensions. If anything it’ll include Mazda’s next gen styling theme, like Nagare but one step ahead… not sure what that is exactly, we’ll have to wait until the TMS in October to get a proper idea.