► Two new lightweight Mazdas
► World debuts at SEMA 2015
► MX-5 Spyder and Speedster
Mazda has sent its MX-5 roadster on the SEMA diet – and the lightweight MX-5 Speedster and MX-5 Spyder are the rather tasty results.
They’ve chunked out a load of bulk from the already-flyweight convertible by some pretty extreme changes, wrought with the help of the tuning fraternity. So the Spyder is fitted with a pared-back ‘bikini’ roof and lightweight custom 17in Yokohama alloys while the lower-slung Speedster features carbonfibre doors and seats, small 16in rims and even drops the windscreen and hood altogether.
So how light are the SEMA MX-5s?
The Spyder (pictured above, left) weighs 1043kg while the more pared-back Speedster comes in at a feathery 943kg. Both cars are still powered by the bigger 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with regular power, but Mazda has not issued any performance figures for either roadster shown at this week’s SEMA tuning fair in Las Vegas.
‘Both MX-5 Spyder and MX-5 Speedster are uncompromising designs that highlight the core strengths of MX-5,’ said Ken Saward, design manager at Mazda North American Operations. ‘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.’