| January 8, 1998 |
MAZDA INTRODUCES NEW ROADSTER
- A lightweight, open two-seat sports car designed for real driving pleasure -
Mazda Motor Corporation today released its fully remodeled open two-seat sports car, a new "Roadster", in Japan.
The first generation Roadster was released in September 1989. Highly acclaimed for its fun-to-drive qualities and distinctive styling, it generated a market for lightweight, open two-seat
sports cars. During its eight years of production, the popular Roadster has received numerous awards around the world and its total production has exceeded 430,000 units.
The Roadster was remodeled to better address today's needs in areas such as safety, and to establish a new benchmark for lightweight, open two-seat sports cars. Mazda remarkably improved driving performance while raising comfort and convenience to attract more drivers to the pleasures of open-air motoring and the feel of oneness with the car. Safety equipment and body rigidity have also been enhanced, yet overall weight has barely increased due to rigorous weight-reduction measures.
Five main features:
1. Compact, fun-to-drive package.
2. More sporty look and feel both interior and exterior.
3. More powerful and responsive 1.8-liter and 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder DOHC engines as well as newly-developed six-speed manual transmission for the 1.8-liter model, which contribute to fun-to-drive qualities.
4. Superb passenger protection by highly rigid MAGMA (Mazda Geometric Motion Absorption) * body and driver/passenger SRS airbags which are standard on all models.
5. Greater functionality in daily use thanks to new features like a larger trunk.
The new Roadster, offering the above features and more at a reasonable price, is an excellent value.
Monthly sales target is 1,000 units.
(*)The expression of MAGMA is used in Japanese market only. In overseas markets, it is known as Mazda Advanced Impact Distribution and Absorption System.
Roadster 1.6-Liter DOHC Special Package
Roadster summary
A lightweight package, balanced for driving pleasure
Mazda made extra efforts to minimize weight. The front and rear overhangs are lighter and mass has been moved wherever possible toward the center of the vehicle to achieve excellent yaw inertia moment and weight distribution.
1. Compact body
The body measures 1,235mm in height, 1,680mm in width, 3,955mm in length, and features a 2,265mm wheelbase. Except for the 5mm increase in width, the new Roadster maintains all the compactness and maneuverability of the original Roadster.
2. Snug interior
The interior size is almost the same as that of the original Roadster's and features a close, comfortable fit that, coupled with a low driving position, enhances the feeling of oneness with the car.
3. Superb handling and weight balance
The body layout is based on a front-engine, rear-drive design, which offers excellent front and rear weight distribution and vehicle control by rear wheels. The engine is mounted behind the front axle in a midship configuration. To help lower the center of gravity, the battery and spare tire are stored beneath the trunk floor.
4. Light weight achieved through uncompromising efforts
To offset weight increases from enhancements in equipment and safety, Mazda meticulously reduced weight in many areas. For example, the retractable headlamp system of the original Roadster is replaced with a lighter, fixed design. Improved driving performance and lower fuel consumption are the results.
More Sporty look and feel
The body is attractive from all angles and retains the Roadster's distinctive design motif. Its sporty look is enhanced by lines that stress the wide and low design. Inside, the cockpit is simple and more functional.
1. Exterior design
In front, the Roadster retains the air intake design that has been one of its identifying traits, but the retractable headlamps are replaced with fixed headlamps that reduce weight and improve front visibility and aerodynamics.
On the body sides, the front and rear blister fenders were accentuated to improve the car's dynamic image and aid the driver in gauging the corners of the car.
In the rear, oval taillights, designed around those of the original Roadster, help maintain the car's identity. The trunk lid's raised center edge and duck-tail lip improve aerodynamic performance.
2. Interior
The new Roadster adopts the T-shaped instrument panel design which features by many Mazda sports cars. The wide center console and low seats give the driver and passenger a snug fit. Refined yet sporty, the gauges are easier to read thanks to strongly contrasting white scales on dark blue backgrounds. Models equipped with the six-speed manual transmission have a specially designed speedometer and tachometer whose sporty red needles rest at the six o'clock position.
The steering wheel, which was jointly developed with NARDI, is small and sporty yet contains an airbag (standard for S and RS models). High-back, bucket-type seats with an excellent body-hugging design enhance the feeling of oneness with the car.
The top model in the new Roadster lineup, the VS, comes with a tan interior and genuine leather seats. The steering wheel, parking-brake lever and shift knob are all wooden and made by NARDI.
Excellent driving pleasure
The new Roadster offers sharply enhanced driving performance when compared with the original Roadster, thanks to the powerful inline four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine (1.6-liter or 1.8-liter) and excellent driving stability, made possible by a highly rigid body and chassis. A six-speed manual transmission, available in 1.8-liter engine models, further enhances the fun of sports driving.
1. Engine
Both the type BP 1.8-liter and type B6 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engines deliver quick acceleration and smooth response at all speeds. Refined intake and exhaust systems improve output and torque as well.
| Engine type | Type BP-ZE 1.8-liter DOHC | Type B6-ZE 1.6-liter DOHC |
| Max. power (ps/rpm JIS net) | 145/6,500 | 125/6,500 |
| Max. torque (kg-m/rpm JIS net) | 16.6/5,000 | 14.5/5,000 |
2. Drivetrain
Manual transmission versions of 1.8-liter engine models feature a newly-developed six-speed that enables more sporty performance than the five-speed manual transmission of 1.6-liter engine versions. By establishing a cross ratio between the second and fourth gears, it maximizes engine performance for superb acceleration and high revs at high speed, as well as lower fuel consumption. The five-speed manual transmission available in 1.6-liter engine models features smooth and direct gear shifting. Both the six-speed and five-speed manual transmissions adopt a short-stroke type stick shift that enables shifting with just a flick of the wrist.
A four-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission (4EC-AT) is available on both the 1.8-liter and 1.6-liter engine models. The 4EC-AT achieves smoother shifting and enhances the sporty driving feel with improved acceleration capabilities and shift quality.
Manual transmission models* now feature a Torsen Limited Slip Differential (LSD) that supplies maximum power to the right and left wheels independently.
(*)Standard and M package models do not feature an LSD.
The power unit and rear differential are connected by an aluminum Power Plant Frame (PPF) that improves response to accelerator input by sharply reducing distortion of the drivetrain during on-and-off acceleration.
3. Chassis
The new Roadster inherits the four-wheel double wishbone suspension of the original Roadster and improves on the already excellent road grip and steering response through a revised structure with more rigid main components. 1.8-liter engine models feature more rigid suspension support, and therefore sharper steering response, through use of front and rear crossbars. The RS model was specially developed with greater focus on driving performance and is equipped with specially-tuned Bilstein dampers, a front-suspension tower bar, and 195/50R15 tires that achieve enhanced controllability.
All models offer the superb braking performance of a four-wheel disc-brake system that is ventilated in the front.
Rack and pinion steering is featured on all models. Models with power steering offer a direct and responsive steering feel with the lock-to-lock set at 2.6 turns.
4. Body
Overall body and suspension rigidity is improved through use of the highly rigid and protective "MAGMA" body. Improved rigidity maximizes suspension performance and minimizes body torsion and vibration, despite the open-car design, resulting in excellent steering stability and riding comfort.
Weight increases were minimized by applying reinforcement to the most effective points and by offsetting increases with various measures including the use of a light aluminum bonnet.
Vinyl soft top models are equipped with a rear glass window and a defogger(except on standard models) for improved rear visibility. Despite the heavier rear glass window, the redesigned soft-top mechanism is lighter than that of the original Roadster and easier to open and close since the rear-window zipper has been eliminated.
Superb safety features
The new Roadster offers excellent active safety features to help prevent accidents and outstanding passive safety features to help protect the driver and the passenger in the event of an accident.
1. Active safety
The new Roadster enhances safety by offering highly responsive performance, thanks to its stable suspension and reliable braking system. A four-wheel anti-lock braking system (4W-ABS), which delivers excellent braking performance even in bad road conditions, is standard on models with automatic transmissions and optional on all models with manual transmissions except the standard model.
Door mirrors are equipped with a rain flow control function that improves visibility by reducing the number of rain drops on the mirror surface. A high-mount brake lamp comes standard on all models to reduce the likelihood of rear collisions.
2. Passive safety
- Highly rigid and safe "MAGMA" body
The MAGMA body features a rigid cabin and front and rear crumple zones that effectively absorb impact energy. Dual door beams and side sills with enhanced rigidity help prevent cabin intrusion in the event of side impact. The Roadster has passed Japan's new Side Collision Safety Standard and satisfies requirements of the new European Collision Safety Standard (offset front collision and side collision), which is due to take effect in the autumn of 1998.
- Dual SRS airbag system
All models feature driver and passenger side SRS airbags.
- Seat belt with direct clamp and load limiter
The seat belts of both seats feature direct clamps and load limiters. In the event of an accident, the direct clamps instantly restrain the occupants by preventing the belts from feeding any further. When the load on the seat belts reach a certain level, the load limiters come into effect to loosen the belts and reduce strain on the occupants' chests.
Improved functionality for daily use
The new Roadster delivers enhanced practicality with more convenient and comfort-enhancing functions and features.
-Trunk capacity is greatly increased from 124 to 144 liters (VDA standard). A trunk side box on the floor of the trunk serves as a convenient storage space for small items.
- Interior storage space for small items is increased:
•Center console box
•Cup holders (two, inside center console box)
•Instrument panel pocket
•Card holder (inside center console box)
•Door pockets (both doors)
•Large, lockable glove compartment
- Wind-Blocker on the backs of the seats reduce the amount of air flowing from the rear to the front floor during open-air driving. Driving is thus more comfortable, with improved cabin heating efficiency. Multi mesh pockets are attached to the Wind-Blocker, except in standard model.
- All models are equipped with manual air-conditioners, however non-air conditioning version is available standard model.
- All models, excluding the standard models, have power windows.
- Power door locks are standard on VS models and available on Special Package and RS models equipped with the optional BOSE sound system.
- A BOSE sound system with FM/AM electronic tuner/CD player is standard on VS models. Comprised of a 200W high-power amplifier and four speakers, this system recreates a realistic sound space even while driving with the soft top down. It is optional on Special Package and RS models equipped with the optional power door lock system.
- The All-In-One AV Navigation System, consisting of a VICS-compatible navigation system, FM/AM electronic tuner, cassette player and CD player, is available as an option on VS models. It is also available as an option on Special Package and RS models equipped with the optional BOSE sound system.
- All models feature an electrically-powered antenna except for standard models, which are equipped with a detachable rod antenna.
«Manufacturer's suggested retail prices without consumption tax ( in Tokyo/Hiroshima/Osaka areas)» (In thousand yen)
| Engine | Grade | Transmission | Price |
| 1.6-liter DOHC | Standard (Non-air conditioning model) | 5MT | 1,594 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 5MT | 1,770 | |
| M Package | 5MT | 1,860 | |
| 4EC-AT | 2,003 | ||
| Special Package | 5MT | 1,960 | # |
| 4EC-AT | 2,058 | ||
| 1.8-liter DOHC | S | 6MT | 2,185 |
| 4EC-AT | 2,233 | ||
| RS | 6MT | 2,295 | |
| VS | 6MT | 2,395 | |
| 4EC-AT | 2,443 |
* "#" indicates models with photographs included in this press release.
