Thursday 16th October 2003

MX-5 Coupe

Japanese get coupe version of MX-5

---

Mazda has taken the world's most successful roadster - the MX-5 - and moulded on a roof to make a coupe.

The 'Roadster Coupe' will only be available in Japan initially with no word on exports.

The roof not only keeps your bouffant dry but improves the structural rigidity of the car which should make the driving experience even more of a pleasure. Overall weight is up by just 10 kilos.

Other changes are limited to the lights and bumpers.

[xsaravtr]

Looks a bit MR2 from the back...

[johnnystorm]

Hmm, changes to the lights seem limited to those "you're not fooling anyone" plastic covers that make hundreds of novas, escorts and astras "appear" to have quad-lamps....yuk!

[bobfrance]

Miniature XK8 or MX6 anyone?

I quite like it, though I would like to see it from a sensible angle.

The lights are a bit questionable though areny they. Still perhaps you could put the old ones back in.

[shadowninja]

bobfrance said:

Miniature XK8 or MX6 anyone? I quite like it, though I would like to see it from a sensible angle. The lights are a bit questionable though areny they. Still perhaps you could put the old ones back in.

or just remove the velcroed-on light plastic surrounds

and yes its very mx6 or rx7

[XM5ER]

Bloody 'ell, did the stylist see a maxxed up MX5 and think, "now that looooks goood!"

[JonRB]

Looks like a Maxda MX-6 actually. Which is a bit ironic really.

[golem]

With the disappearance of the 200SX/Silvia, if Mazda put the MZR alloy 4 in the MX-5 coupe, I reckon they'd have a hit on their hands in any country. The coupe looks good. Without the crappy placcy trim it'd be very successful I feel.

[Pierscoe1]

hmm.. do like that.

doesn't quite reach rx7 quality.. but very good none the less, and would also be great for chassis stiffness I presume...

now couple that with the (also Jap-Only) new Turbo engine...
http://response.jp/event/tms2003/list/maz_rsturbo.html
187bhp + 193lbs/ft or something similar

now THAT would do the job nicely!!

edited to add:

as requested... decent pics, from Mazda Japan website..


>> Edited by Pierscoe1 on Sunday 26th October 21:34

[Mr E]

That second bunch of pictures make me like it a bit more......

[GOAT]

parts of it remind me of an old 911

[Pierscoe1]

that'll be these bits then...



as Gazboy says.. cover up the front and rear bumpers/lights, and the bit in the middle looks rather like a 911 silhouette