NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: More on MX-5

Mazda teased its new 2015 MX-5 sports car at the New York motor show by revealing its chassis, with the car's interior and exterior designs set to be revealed in the Northern autumn, between September and November 2014.

The new MX-5 will be on sale in Australia in 2015, but perhaps the most interesting part of the new platform -- along with its aluminium front suspension -- is that the architecture is scalable and could spawn new models, says Mazda's managing executive officer, Masahiro Moro.

Based on a brand-new rear-wheel drive iteration of the company's SKYACTIV architecture, some readers will find MX-5's underpinnings dull to look at, just a load of metal riveted together, but the new lightweight platform promises much.

It has allowed Mazda to push the driver's seat further aft while maintaining a 50:50 front to rear weight distribution. This will also change the profile of the car to something more akin to a Toyota 86 and should also suit the Fiat Group's stylistic goals, with whom the new platform will be shared.

But the just-released lightweight, rear-drive platform could also spawn further sports car from Mazda, including a born-again RX-7 rotary flagship in 2017.

"Not only is this [rear-drive] platform scalable but also our front drive platform," Moro told Australian journalists at the New York motor show overnight.

"Conceptually yes it's scalable, it is one of the characteristics of SKYACTIV chassis," he added.

Mazda developed the new chassis with flexibility from the get go, as part of its deal to supply the Fiat Group with a new sports car platform -- something of which Moro is very proud.

"The Fiat alliance asked us to provide a platform, and we feel honoured. Mazda is seen as a having careful, quality engineering capability.

"I'm pleased Fiat can enjoy Mazda build quality," quipped Moro.

Although Mazda's top brass weren't keen to talk about the car's powertrain (whether the upcoming Mazda2's 1.5-litre engine will be used or if a larger 2.0-litre four-cylinder is on the cards), we can confirm that a six-speed manual will be joined by a conventional six-speed auto.

Moro also revealed the all-new 2015 MX-5 will feature the Fiat Group's double pinion steering system: "We have double pinion stseering, which is precise and enables the driver to feel the angle. That is unique".

What it won't get is a hybrid powertrain.

"You need to carry big battery, we don't have the space," says Moro.

Turbocharging has been struck off the list too.

"Power is not necessarily a big part of the car. The essence of an MX-5 is how a driver can feel," explained Moro-san.

"What we don’t like to have is a big heavy machine, big power and torque, rocket acceleration, because you lose the connection with the ground. Because of the lighter weight you really feel in control."

Asked if the new MX-5 was faster in a straight line, Moro simply said: "We haven't measured it yet".

The Mazda exec said the new SKYACTIV engines fitted to the MX-5 "depends on the region" and hinted that we could see a quick-spinning engine.

"We can bring it up to 14:1" he said of the engine's compression ratio.

While there are still many questions to be answered, Mazda is confident the new model will offer more driver involvement than ever before.

Watch this space.