Future Cars: Revitalizing Mazda’s Next-Gen 2016 MX-5 Roadster

Mazda’s long serving MX-5 Miata is what you would call a true, pure drivers car; an affordable rear-drive, front-engined roadster with a fun value dialed to max. It’s still one of the bestselling roadsters on the market today and retains a strong, loyal following.

Nevertheless, the Japanese carmaker and Alfa Romeo are co-developing a successor to the MX-5 that stays true to the original formula (the Italian manufacturer will get their own distinctive Spider version). So with that in mind, it was decided to digitally envisage how the next MX-5 could look.

Design:

First of all, I’ll make no secret that the design of the original MX-5 never quite appealed in my mind. Sure, it looked like a cute British roadster; yet it was too feminine, barbie-like to seriously consider for my driveway. Successive generations have improve the appeal somewhat, with more gender-neutral styling gracing the current two-seater.

This design study is heavily influenced by Mazda’s ‘Kodo’ design language, with the aim of making it more masculine whilst retaining those classic sports-car proportions.

So starting at the business end; the long, dynamic hood sweeps down into the bumper. Below this is Mazda’s new corporate grille flanked by headlights that pay homage to prior generation MX-5’s with their smooth, rounded edges. Further down, a heavily flanked lower bumper extension skirts around the sides, helping emphasize the car’s planted stance.

Sharp creases dominate the front fenders as they sweep backwards into the doors - mimicking the effect seen on the Mazda Takeri concept. While the first three generations of MX-5 have had rather upright windscreens, this proposal takes on more of an speedster approach with its heavily raked frontal glass.

One area where the MX-5 has disappointed in the past is in the hindquarters - drab is a word that comes to mind. Anything with a strong frontal presence should equally look great from the rear too; while not illustrated here, the taillights sit neatly into the crisp rear fenders, separated by an aggressive duck-tailed trunk lid.

Interior:

Mazda has been advancing well with its interiors in recent years. Compared with what they were pumping out in the late 1990’s, most of their lineup now boasts premium switchgear, materials and build quality.

However, there is always room for improvement - the MX5 needs to push the envelope further with striking design and sublime detailing. Think about what’s currently found in the Jaguar F-Type, Audi TT and BMW Z4 (but on a budget); such a cabin should make the driver feel special - not the opposite.

Don’t expect cabin real estate be vast; but rather incremental improvements to comfortably seat its occupants with improved hip and legroom. For those rain-doused fast get-aways, a quicker folding ragtop mechanism should help stop upper-body moisture and dampness issues.

What Could Power It:

Of course, a Rotary should - what else? However, back on earth, the next MX5 could use a new 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter fours in ‘Skyactiv-G 2’ configuration. Say what? This is an extended development of current Skyactiv premise that brings Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) to the table. Along with improvements in cooling (which is a challenge with HCCI engines), this second-generation setup brings diesel-like efficiency to the petrol engine without having to utilize hybrid technology.

Platform & Handling:

This conceptual study rides on the same base that underpins the Alfa Romeo’s upcoming Spider, so you can bet on one hell of a driver's package. Power will still be fed to the rear wheels via six speed manual or six speed automatic transmissions.

Usually car manufacturers like to get a good balance between ride and handling; for the MX-5, this means additional wheelbase length to help with stability whilst maintaining acceptable ride quality. The Skyactiv philosophy will also target weight reduction in the aim of improving nimbleness for an more engaging drive.

While its Alfa Romeo platform-sibling should provide equal amounts of driving fun, direct competition is expected to arrive in Toyota/Scion GT-86 format. However, until those gas torches finally tackle the GT-86’s roof, Mazda has a relatively clear playing field (unless MX-5 pricing skyrockets).

In summary:

The design proposition may appear as a departure from MX5’s of yesteryear, yet I’d ague that change was needed to captivate a broader audience. What emerges once Mazda rips the covers off its next roadster could be an interesting surprise - that 2015 Chicago Auto Show can’t come soon enough.

Future Cars: Crystal Ball-Gazing Porsche’s Next 928

 

When you think of Porsche, images of its racing heritage, the Carrera GT and the iconic 911 usually come to mind - and of course some will think ‘glorified beetle’ as well. One of the German manufacturer’s more forgotten models is the Porsche 928 - a response to dwindling 911 sales back in the late 1970’s. It was a car that never quite emerged out of the 911’s shadow, even though it did survive an eighteen-year production cycle.

Today, the marque’s range is swelling with SUV’s to hybrid supercars - plus the legendary 911 and Boxster offerings. Yet one could argue that there’s still room for a two-door “grand-tourer”. So, what if the 928 made a return and what could it look like? First of all, lets go back to when Porsche launched its first SUV - the Cayenne. From a design standpoint, it was a good example of how to ruin a brand’s design DNA. Sure, it had 911-like headlights and grille, but the way these elements were translated into an SUV body made it look like a complete Monkfish.

Fortunately, Porsche has put a bit more effort into its new models of late, so a revival of the 928 shouldn’t resemble any ocean-dwelling creature. Building on this progress, my illustrated example below uses the best bits from the 918 Spyder and massages them into a package in-keeping with the 928’s heritage and the brand’s current design language.

The face is an evolution of 911 and 918; incorporating side intakes that flick up into the headlights, with functional lower cut-outs for cold-air induction. Viewing the long, sweeping hood emphasis the car’s sporting pretences - heck you could even say there’s an hint of ‘C6 Corvette’ in there too. Glancing your eye over the side bodywork will yield two distinct features; first are the lower door scallops that incorporate deep horizontal channels. Second is the daylight opening area that pays homage to the first 928.

You could say the cabin is a mixture of old and new; especially the roofline appearing semi-floating in nature. This is due to the B-pillar being separated on top by a sweeping pane of side-quarter glass, whilst retaining its original forward-leaning position. Under all this polished sheet metal (or aluminium and other exotic materials) will most likely lay a shortened platform that underpins the Panamera. Utilizing this will enable a front-engined layout and cost savings through shared suspension and drivetrain components. Speaking of the latter; propulsion would most likely come from the Panamera’s V8 engines as opposed to the flat sixes found in other models.

If this model were to get the green-light, it would face competition from Ferrari’s California, Aston Martin DB9 and Jaguar XKR-S, amongst others. There have been plenty of rumors and talk about a modern GT model by Porsche, but nothing solid yet.

For now and until Porsche makes up its mind, what do you think of this design study; Is it good, or should it be chucked back in the ocean? Let us hear your feedback in the discussion area below.