What's the news?
You could hardly accuse the fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 of being heavy but here are two excellent variants of the roadster that get rid of even more bulk.
Displayed at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the Spyder and Speedster concepts focus in on open-top, lightweight driving pleasure. The Mercury Silver-finished Spyder is the one that might more likely make production (although there's absolutely no intention from Mazda to green-light either of these cars as yet), given its 'bikini top', carbon fibre aero kit, extra grille intake and beautiful 17-inch Yokohama Advan Racing RS II wheels. Inside is a Spinneybeck Prima full-grain leather interior.
The Speedster, finished in Blue Ether, goes one step more extreme, doing away with either a roof or a windscreen - you get a small wind deflector instead. The doors and seats are made of carbon fibre, while custom 16-inch Rays 57 Extreme Gram Lights wheels are used. Finally, the Speedster has adjustable K&W coilover suspension that lowers the car 30mm compared to the road-going MX-5.
With both concept MX-5s using the more powerful 160hp 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G unit, their kerb weights of 1,043- (Spyder) and 943kg (Speedster) are 32- and 132kg down on the regular 2.0 Roadster model's 1,075kg. Both cars also have Brembo four-pot calliper front brakes.
Anything else?
"Both Spyder and Speedster are uncompromising designs that highlight the core strengths of MX-5," said Ken Saward, design manager at Mazda North American Operations, who - along with colleagues - worked with various aftermarket automotive companies to create the concepts. "With the all-new 2016 MX-5, we have a clean sheet to show how the aftermarket can go wild on our flagship sports car while staying true to its mission."