SEMA 2016: Mazda teases featherweight MX-5s

Mazda has announced it will show two concepts at this year's Las Vegas modified car show.

The firs, is a racer for the road based on last year's MX-5 Speedster concept that has carved yet another 45kg off the already ultra-lightweight kerb weight. The 2016 MX-5 now weighs in at just 899kg.

Painted in a colour the car-maker is calling White Ether, it looks as if the roofless roadster concept has shed last year's already cut-down windscreen in the pursuit of weight-saving.

The concept might also use the new state-of-the-art affordable composites Mazda has been developing.

It's not known if Mazda has indulged in under-bonnet tinkering for the rehashed Speedster concept, but even without more power, if the regular car's 118kW/200Nm 2.0-litre engine is left untouched, the weight savings alone will see the concept hit 100km/h in around five seconds -- perhaps even less.

The next concept, called the MX-5 Kuro, is completely new for SEMA.

Based on the MX-5 RF, the concept comes painted in a menacing matte dark grey paintjob because "Kuro" in Japanese means "charcoal".

Featuring a set of lightweight 17-inch RAYS alloy wheels, and with suspension lifted from the MX-5 Cup racer, it's thought the Kuro has been created as a track-day weapon.

Expect more teases ahead of both cars' official SEMA unveilings next month.