More powerful Mazda MX-5 confirmed for Oz

Mazda Australia has confirmed it will release an upgraded Mazda MX-5 in September, powered by the higher-output 2.0-litre engine released in Japan earlier this month.

Apart from the significantly more powerful 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine -- which lifts its output from 118kW at 6000rpm to 135kW at 7000rpm, and offers 5Nm more torque at 205Nm – Japan’s 2019 MX-5 brings a host of other upgrades.

These include a reach-adjustable steering wheel for the first time, the option of a brown fabric hood dubbed Caramel Top, an optional beige leather interior, black wheels and black side mirrors.

Importantly, the upgraded MX-5 will bring more of Mazda’s i-ActiveSense driver safety aids, including the company’s proprietary autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system with pedestrian detection, dubbed SCBS, and traffic sign recognition (TSR).

Asked at this week’s CX-8 launch whether Mazda will upgrade Australia’s MX-5 in line with the Japanese-market model when the MY19 version arrives here in September, Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak said: “When have we not?”

The 2.0-litre engine’s extra urge comes via lighter pistons and con-rods, larger diameter throttle body, bigger exhaust valves, fatter exhaust piping, a dual-mass flywheel and revised muffler.

Mazda says all this makes the world’s most popular two-seat sports car not only go harder but sound better while using less fuel. However, it’s unclear how much the power hike affects its current 2.0-litre model’s claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 7.1 seconds.

It also remains to be seen how many of these engine mods are applied to the smaller 1.5-litre engine in the entry-level MX-5 soft-top roadster (the retractable-hardtop RF comes exclusively with 2.0-litre power).

Some reports suggest the MX-5’s base 1.5-litre four will also gain revised internals plus an upgraded intake port, fuel pump, injectors and fuel-injection system.

However, while official Australian government documents lodged on June 5 confirm our MX-5 2.0-litre will develop 135kW at 7000rpm, Mazda’s Japanese website shows the 1.5-litre engine’s outputs remain almost unchanged at 97kW at 7000rpm and 152Nm at 4500rpm.

Mazda Australia’s second MX-5 update in six months follows a mild upgrade released in March this year, when the fourth-generation ND MX-5 gained more equipment, revised suspension, better sound insulation and minor price increases.

Base MX-5 pricing is now $33,440 – exactly $2000 more than the Toyota 86 coupe – and with a new Hyundai Veloster imminent any price hikes are likely to be restricted to upstream 2.0-litre models and options like the new beige leather and brown soft-top.