The design also attempts to heighten the pleasure of driving an open-top sports car by enabling the driver to experience the change in the surrounding environment in real time. When sunlight filters through the trees, for example, or as light reflects when the sun sets.
The powertrain line-up for the Mazda MX-5 includes specially tuned SKYACTIV 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre direct-injection petrol engines paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. It adopts SKYACTIV Technology and a longitudinal layout to match the rear-wheel drive configuration. Developers of the all-new MX-5 pursued heightened levels of direct responsiveness, a smoother revving engine, a better engine sound, and the light shift feel it faithfully inherits from all previous model generations.
Along with the lightweight body, the 1.5-litre engine delivers wide-ranging driving pleasure, whether on city streets, tight winding roads or the racetrack. The 2.0-litre powerplant produces even more torque for ample performance when enjoying high-speed, high-load driving scenes on the motorway. Developers aimed to deliver the perfect acceleration feel and most appropriate sound for each engine, providing the driver with just the right amount of stimulation for maximum driving pleasure. The 1.5-litre demonstrates its true value when negotiating winding roads while the 2.0-litre shines on suburban thoroughfares, on the highway or when cornering at medium to high speeds.
Based on the latest philosophy and knowhow of SKYACTIV Technology, developers of the chassis and body pursued driving pleasure as best suits a rear-wheel drive vehicle. Examples of the results include the lighter, more rigid double wishbone suspension in the front and a multi-link set-up in the rear that help the driver maintain an optimum driving posture when braking.