I did some research the other day on the NC, and I didn't know that it had aluminum A arms up front and aluminum knuckles in the rear. The multi-link are all tubular links, too.

A bunch of people were shitting on the idea that the ND could lose a not insignificant amount of weight over the NC, and Emilio touched on it: the ND isn't being built from the ground up as a shared platform for a much bigger car. I remain hopeful for the best for a 2200ish curb. I mean, my 1994 Miata had a curb of 2290lbs and my 2012 Mazda2 has a curb of 2306lbs; 2200-2300lbs should be doable.

That touch on complicating issues for the aftermarket on these engines, the margin for errors become smaller.
Not to say that "Mazda knows best", but when the compromise have less margins and needs better control, running things with a half-assed tune will work less well (a low CR BP can survive a lot in comparison).
Whats the aftermarket for the current Mazda3/6 engines (asking without even searching...)?

Imagine when Mazda gets their 18:1 SkyActiv2 engines out there (but that's several years after the ND), things will behave very differently and a BP will be very old-school.

BP was old school when it was released in '94

The S2000's "X-bone"(?) chassis - how come the ND and other cars don't use it? What are its downsides?

I'm guessing weight, but that's a completely wild guess :P s2k are a bit on the heavy side for their size.

Honestly with the NC dropping in price after the ND release, i think i'd go with the NC > s2k and modify the NC a bit. Those 2.5 swaps are looking tasty.

If the ND looks anything like the mess that is the NC under the hood, I'll never want it either.

I agree with stealth, I love the simplicity of the na/nb. I've never had huge problems with working on the car. Well until I had to remove the stock downpipe off my msm..

Especially considering Honda was doing this with a 1.8L at roughly the same time.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399389574

Admittedly it did come at a significantly higher price tag.

+1
After autocrossing a C6 Z06 I had the same revelation; of all the car's I've driven that one felt the most like a bigger miata - very similar in responsiveness, rotation, turn-in manners... I was pretty surprised.
Lotus Elise, NC, s2k, etc... all the stuff people 'think' would be similar to a NA/NB feel and behave distinctly non-miata.

-Ryan

I wouldn't get too upset about electric steering. The first use of electric steering was on the Suzuki Cappuccino and it worked well there. At the cost of a little more output in the alternator that might weigh a pound more, the power steering hydraulic pump and lines could be removed, so it was a legitimate weight savings.

Your ban is coming in 3......2....

All the S2K driving I've done has been on the street and it feels like an overweight Miata as far as regular driving is concerned. I would love to auto-x one and see what it's like.

As far as turbo goes, nice to see the alternator on the cold side. Opens up some room for the manifold. Alternator placement on the NC is making manifold design pesky.

Current speculation is saying that the ND reveal is going to be at Mazda's at Mazdaspeed Speedway Laguna Seca, and there's a nonzero chance Mazda will pull what they did for the Mazda6 by selling it in January 2015 as a 2016 model.

There's some documentation talking about delivering two new Skyactiv models to market before March 31, 2015. The ND could fit the bill.

That's the perfect place!

One good thing about the RX going away is the the Miata is now Mazda's lone halo/sports car. I always thought that having both the RX and the MX in the past was diluting Mazda's resources too much.

would rather they stuck with a coupe honestly. A mazda rwd coupe in the price range of the miata...at least we can dream of it.

An optional structural roofed coup on the MX would not hurt, especially a club sport version.
Dreaming of a low volume version selling at a loss, but probability is null. :-P

10/10 would buy. I've already limited myself to PRHT versions. Never was a big convertible roof fan.

This is some exciting news! can't wait for the next generation miata

That's kind of what I was getting at. If the MX is the only true sports car product, then Mazda could do a coupe without robbing sales from an RX line. Not that they would necessarily, but it becomes much more viable.