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Bruce Newton5 Aug 2015
NEWS

MX-5 turbo still a chance

Mazda chief engineer says he’s not a fan of turbo, but confirms one may be needed for more performance

A turbocharged version of the new fourth-generation ND Mazda MX-5 has not been ruled out… And nor has a fast and focussed MPS MX-5.

That’s the word from the program manager of the ND, Nobuhiro Yamamoto, the same man who told motoring.com.au at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month that he invited anyone wanting more performance than the new MX-5 offers to “drive another car”.

But at this week’s Australian media launch of the 1.5-litre version of the ND, Yamamoto backed away from being that definitive when reminded of comments given by Mazda global PR boss Kudo Hidetoshi to motoring.com.au at an MX-5 preview event in Spain in February.

Back then, speaking in the context of the ND’s expected 10-year lifespan, Hidetoshi said: “A turbocharged or MPS variant is one of the options we will definitely consider.”

Yamamoto said his Goodwood comments were made in reference to the launch phase of the new MX-5, which goes on sale in Australia from this month. Watch out for our first drive review and the pricing and equipment rundown this Friday.

“It’s not a conflict [between statements by me and Hidetoshi],” Yamamoto told motoring.com.au via interpreter.

“Since the lifespan was mentioned at 10 years it is kind of long years, so thinking what Kudo-san said was just a possibility of having such a variant given the long lifespan.

“It depends on how broad the scope is, what kind of timespan we are talking about. Depending on that I think there are many things you could think of.

“Kudo san talked about this in terms of a 10-year lifespan, but when I was asked the question right after the launching of the ND, I said ‘we have no plan to have a turbo at that point in time’. That is what I meant.”

Asked whether he felt a higher performance version of MX-5, such as an MPS, could be developed without turbocharging, Yamamoto stated: “If you could achieve what we want, to which is great response, very light and powerful with great performance feel with natural aspiration, then we don’t need a turbo.

“But if we want more power because we don’t get satisfied with natural aspiration then we may think about the turbo.”

Two versions of the lightweight two-door soft-top, rear-wheel drive roadster will be sold in Australia; the 1.5-litre four-cylinder which outputs 96kW and 150Nm is launched first, while the 118kW/200Nm 2.0-litre comes in November.

There have been a couple of turbocharged MX-5s launched through its 26-year history. One limited-edition, the 2002-03 150kW SP based on the NB, was engineered and converted in Australia with factory approval for local sale. Another, the 121kW SE, came out of Japan in 2004-05 at the end of the NB generation’s model life.

It would be logical for a future MX-5 turbo/MPS to use the 2.5 litre four-cylinder SKYACTIV engine that will first appear in the new-generation CX-9 SUV and the reborn MPS 3. A production version of the CX-9 will debut in Los Angeles in November, while a 3 MPS concept is expected in Frankfurt before that next month.

Despite admitting turbocharging was still a potential option for the MX-5, Yamamoto made it clear his preference was for the car to remain naturally aspirated.

“Once you put a turbo the car gets heavier, you have to add an intercooler and the reliability of the engine [becomes a potential issue as well]. If you think about all those elements you may think a turbo is not a good idea.”

That said, how much influence Yamamoto will have over a decision on an MX-5 turbo is bound to be limited. The launch of ND signals the retirement of the long-serving project chief.

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