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Mazda’s design boss has told Autocar that the company is planning a radical rethink of the MX-5.

“The next MX-5 needs to be a big step,” Lauren Van den Acker said. “The last one was too conservative and we can’t do another car like that. We need to make it more dramatic and give it some balls.”

However, Van den Acker admitted that nothing would be done to change the MX-5’s core character. The fourth-generation car, due to appear in around 2012, will still be a no-nonsense small rea...Read the full article

Autocar:

“The next MX-5 needs to be a big step,” Lauren Van den Acker said. “The last one was too conservative and we can’t do another car like that. We need to make it more dramatic and give it some balls.”

 

Nice one - insult the owners of the current model - that'll win you sales ;-) 

Autocar:

“The last one was too conservative and we can’t do another car like that. We need to make it more dramatic and give it some balls.”

However, Van den Acker admitted that nothing would be done to change the MX-5’s core character

Kinda a contradiction there...the MX-5 never was a hardcore racer, more of a cruiser which puts a smile on your face

I'd never describe the MX-5 as a cruiser. I owned a MK1 model and it was loud at a cruise, with relatively short gearing and lots of wind and tyre noise, it felt far more at home being thrown down a twisty road. Couldn't agree more about the "smile on your face" bit though, I've driven cars with twice as much power that were half as much fun.

They do need to make it lighter though. I had a go in a MK3 and it definately felt a lot heavier, the driving position was significantly higher as well, and the steering was too assisted. I just felt a lot less connected with the road.

Mazda are one of the few who are making the effort to reverse the recent trend to bigger, heavier cars. They have recognised that a light car can still be strong enough as withstand the obligatory crash tests, but not have the penalty of high fuel consumption and dull handling.

2012 will be about the right time for me to consider another MX5 if I don't buy an Elise before then.