Word has been circulating for weeks, and this week the rumours were confirmed: the 2019 version of the Mazda MX-5 will benefit from a boost in power. Fans of the sporty little Mazda are jumping for joy.
Road and Track reported the news, but interestingly its sources for the piece are confidential documents that had been given to Canadian Mazda dealers.
Concretely, the 2.0L 4-cylinder that powers the popular roadster will be able to produce 181 hp in the 2019 edition, for a gain of 26 in relation to the current model. Maximum torque, meanwhile, goes from 148 to 151 lb-ft. To arrive at these new numbers, Mazda tweaked the car’s mechanics, for example by incorporating ultra-light pistons and rods as well as a new crankshaft. The engine will also benefit from a larger intake manifold and exhaust tubes. Other, more technical improvements have been implemented as well. But what counts for motorists is the final result, and that is a more performance-minded MX-5.
As part of this mid-cycle refresh, Mazda is also offering new elements such as a backup camera and the Mazda Smart City Brake safety module. The latter enables the car, when in slow-moving city traffic, to prepare the braking system if a pending collision is detected; when the driver applies the brakes, maximum power is then deployed to stop the vehicle. If the driver does not react, the system will apply the brakes on its own to try to prevent the collision or at least reduce the force of the impact.
Among the other changes, the CD player is out, as is the GX base model. Also, the steering column finally becomes telescopic.