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SEMA: Mazda's lightweight concepts steal the show | SA Car Fan

If you’d asked us a week ago what would be SEMA’s showstopper, we’d never have said Mazda’s MX-5 concepts. But just like at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show where Mazda teased enthusiasts

SEMA: Mazda’s lightweight concepts steal the show

Mazda MX-5 Spyder made its debut at SEMA

If you’d asked us a week ago what would be SEMA’s showstopper, we’d never have said Mazda’s MX-5 concepts. But just like at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show where Mazda teased enthusiasts with an exquisite rotary-powered concept, on the other side of the world the Japanese carmaker has again stolen the show. And with two cars.

The Mazda MX-5 Speedster (that’s the green one) has a contemporary look on a classic style and is all about saving weight, to the extent that there’s no windscreen and doors and seats hewn from carbon fibre. Factor in the skinny 16-inch wheels and the MX-5 Speedster weights an agile 973kg – 100kg less than the current Mazda MX-5, which itself among the lightest cars in class.

Mazda MX-5 Speedster weighs under 1000kg

Unlike the permanent open-top Speedster, Mazda’s Spyder version (the silver one) is slightly heavier but carbon fibre still abounds for a thrilling power to weight ratio. Handmade leather, 17-inch wheels and other bespoke items give the Spyder an unmistakeable look.

Both cars are powered by Mazda’s 2.0-litre SkyActiv. Mazda design manager Ken Saward said: “Both MX-5 Spyder and MX-5 Speedster are uncompromising designs that highlight the core strengths of MX-5.”

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About Andrew Leopold

mazda mx-5, Mazda speedster, Mazda spyder, mx-5, sema, Skyactiv

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