Mazda MX-5: can it beat it's predecessor?

When most people think of a sportster, there is usually only one that springs to mind. A car that has sold almost a million units since the first gen model of 1989. This new fourth-gen model is practically all-new, and therefore has a massive responsibility to better an already near-perfect sportster.

This new car attempts to achieve the task of bettering its predecessor by capitalising on the very things that made it so popular in the first place. It is lighter by over 100kg, by shedding a few grams off all of the components, which all adds up to the new car losing 10% of the old car's weight, which wasn't very much anyway. Also the fourth generation is shorter than its predecessor, meaning that overall the weight distribution is even more balanced, and the centre of gravity is even lower, meaning even more agility and handling prowess. The engine remains as a small 1.5 litre four-cylinder, with only 129 BHP, but the engine  manages very good economy, even when it is driven like it should be: flinging it around all over the place. And despite the prices starting at around £19,000, the interior isn't exactly lacking in gadgets, and definitely doesn't feel cheap.

So, the new MX-5. a car that manages to be smaller, lower and lighter than the original, while staying true to the original by retaining a small engine. And with that lightly aggressive styling, I think the hairdresser car stereotypes are a thing of the past.

Nev