"Yossarian" (ajmobile)
02/02/2015 at 15:47 • Filed to: None
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"Yossarian" (ajmobile)
02/02/2015 at 15:47 • Filed to: None | 0
| 9 |
Even with the weight loss, everyone is still disappointed with the ND having less HP than the previous 2.0L in the NC.
With Fiat also getting an ND variant I think it'll be the one most enthusiasts will want to buy, especially for those looking for more power.
I predict the Fiat ND will get the 1.6 turbo from the Abarth, making it a tuner's dream. I don't think there would be much of a weight difference between the two models, and the extra power would offset it.
But imagine, a Fiat designed Miata, possibility of over 200HP, in a roadster body style that would still be lighter than anything else out there.
norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
> Yossarian
02/02/2015 at 15:50 |
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I, for one, am not disappointed in the ND having numbers of 155-148
Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
> Yossarian
02/02/2015 at 15:53 |
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Mazda and Fiat all in one. it's like my car and my wife;s car had a baby....10/10, if it happens, I will hoon!
Milky
> Yossarian
02/02/2015 at 15:53 |
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I hope you're right.
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Yossarian
> norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
02/02/2015 at 16:02 |
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There's a lot of people that are though. Hopefully the Fiat version gives us another option.
BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
> Yossarian
02/02/2015 at 16:03 |
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If it looks half as good as the Kappa-based Duettotanta concept, the italian badged and styled car with Japanese build quality might well be *the* car to get.
it is an Alfa, rather than a Fiat-badged car, FIAT/FCA being the parent company for both brand names.
I thought Alfa was going to be brand name getting the ND-based roadster, anyway, with their established roadster history, although the Fiat 124 Spider was a nice car also, in addition to the original Alfa Duetto. (the car from the movie "The Graduate", spoofed by many, including Waynes World 2)
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Yossarian
> BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
02/02/2015 at 16:16 |
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Alfa has stated that their Spider will not be based on the Mazda. It's going to be a Fiat badged car.
ranwhenparked
> Yossarian
02/02/2015 at 16:38 |
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I tentatively agree with this sentiment. I'm also really interested to see what they may do as far as styling changes as well. An Italianate Miata could be quite fetching.
Tapas
> BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
02/02/2015 at 16:46 |
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Oh man! I sooo hope it looks like that design. I would forget the power figures if it was that gorgeous :) I wouldn't mind even if they named the car Maz-Fiat Miata-tanta
I don't understand how people aren't a little off-put by the numbers.
Its a sports car. The threshold of what is a "considerable amount of power" has increased since the last Miata came out. So if they took the effort to update the design, they should have updated the power too. Also, the 200 lb weight saving doesn't make up for the lesser power, in my opinion.
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BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
> Tapas
02/02/2015 at 16:53 |
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I agree, and have commented frequently about it, in regards to the newer miatas, and the FT-86 cars from Toyota/Subaru, including this, yesterday.
http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/Miata,
The FT86 cars, and Miata (first hand experience on the mazda, at least the NB generation), handle better and more intrinsically than any FWD car I have ever driven, and I have driven V6 and turbo I4 front-drivers with MUCH more power than Miata, and all that does is exacerbate the problems of front-biased handling and power delivery, such as weight bias, lack of traction availability for both steering and torque application, propensity for understeer, a torque-induced steering action, and general lack of feedback or assistance from the rear axle being dragged along.
I am a long-time Miata owner, but make no bones about it being under-powered, and I was likewise disappointed to hear that it doesn't have more power for 2016 than it apparently does.
I have been a critic of the FT86 project since I found out that the development was not going to include the options for an H6, or AWD, and since then, with their refusal to use a turbocharger on the car, from the factory, or a convertible or targa roof. I knew before the concept cars, that the appeal would be limited, and the sales would drop off after the initial novelty and hype wore off.
For an all-handling car, AE86 was not the car to revive for that. MR2 would be the car to revive for purity of handling, and they could have done that more easily, using existing Subaru transaxles with the center diff and rear output shaft deleted, just as they did for FWD in the 1990s.
I can see the point about less power than their potential suggests, though.
It comes down to three questions.
1: Can the chassis properly utilize more power without over-powering the brakes and suspension, and without the engine gaining much physical size or weight... YES
2: If the car were equipped with higher power levels, and all else being equal or similar, that doesn't over-power the chassis, or add significant mass, would the car sell better as a better performing sports car? Obviously, YES .
3: With the actual lower power level, leaving more to be desired, and under-delivering on the vehicle's potential, does the car stand to have enthusiasts pass the car by, and not buy it in favor of something more massive, but also significantly more powerful... I suggest the answer is also Yes.
With all three questions answered affirmatively, more power would help, not hurt, and it is therefore unfortunate that the cars aren't actually more powerful, and delivering more of their potential.