Mazda Reveals the 2016 MX-5′s Curb Weight

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata (Credit: © Mazda)

On March 12th, Mazda announced that the 2016 MX-5 Miata will be available as a free download on Forza Horizon 2. Along with that announcement came the official announcement of the new roadster’s curb weight, which has been the center of attention since Mazda announced its horsepower and torque ratings.

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When equipped with the manual transmission, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 will tip the scales at 2,332 pounds, which makes it 148 pounds lighter than the base 2015 model – 179 pounds less than the 2015 model with the six-speed transmission. While I appreciate the weight loss, that is 52 pounds short of the 200-pound weight loss that the brand touted earlier.

Additionally, this means that the outgoing base model’s power-to-weight ratio is 0.49 pounds per horsepower better than the 2016 model. That is comparing a five-speed manual in the 2015 model, whereas the 2016 model comes standard with a six-speed transmission. Comparing apples to apples (six-speed to six-speed), the 2015 MX-5 still slightly beats the 2016 model at 15.035 pounds per horsepower to 15.045 pounds per horsepower.

With the automatic transmission, the MX-5’s curb weight jumps to 2,381, which is 130 pounds less than the 2015 model. With the auto transmission, given the 155 horsepower remains unchanged, the 2016 MX-5’s power-to-weight ratio beats the 2015 model by 0.53 pounds per horsepower.

One thing that we all need to keep in mind here is that horsepower is not the end all be all in performance. In fact, torque heavily influences on-street performance, and this is where the 2016 model wins hands down. With the six-speed transmission, the 2016 model has a ratio of 15.75 pounds per pound-foot of torque, whereas the 2015 model is rated at 17.93 pounds per pound-foot of torque. That, my friends, is a huge difference and will likely make the 2016 MX-5 a more exhilarating driving experience.

I still think that Mazda could have done better in the horsepower department, but now that I can combine a lower weight with the reduced horsepower, I feel more satisfied. Additionally, the reduced pounds-per-pound-foot ratio will likely lead to plenty of smiles.