I was reading a small topic in Car and Driver and said that it was rumored that the new MX-5 would be available with an optional 2.3 liter engine, as well as the standard 2 liter. It also seems that it will also be adoipting some of the RX-8's traits in terms of looks.

I was wondering if anybody had read or heard anything else on the subject.

 

That seems to be the way it's heading. The optional 2.3 liter will have around 170-180 hp (so much for the Sky/Soltisce outrunning the Miata), and the front should have a very subtle raised nose leading to the grill opening similar to the RX-8's. This is what some people think after seeing the a slight bulge under the prototype's disguise wraps.

 

It will be bigger, and more powerful, with possibly a V6 option, and a manual-folding hard top.

 

The 170-180 hp figures for the solstice/sky is for the BASE models.......

v6 option for the miata is unlikely, but unknown till debut

manual folding hardtop is still unknown right now...still unconfirmed

 

as of now, there is only a base solstice/sky.

 

Too bad all saturns have a "red line" model and pontiacs have a "GXP" model besides the base models.........

you might wanna research both cars.........there's a lot of misconceptions on this forum about the solstice, sky and next gen miata

 

Since the protoype that most magazines have seen or driven is the N/A version, since it will be priced similar to a Miata, and since it'll be the only version available for a year (maybe longer), then it would only be fair to compare the base N/A Solstice/Sky to the Miata with the bigger engine. The Redline/GXP versions, when they come out, can be compared to the Mazdaspeed MX-5 (which MAY also come out later).

BTW, I did a quick search and seems as if the optional engine on the new Miata will be a 2.0 (not 2.3) with 170 hp.

 

Mazda bored their NB motor (1.8L) to 2.0L and extracted 200hp n/a about 3-4 years ago in a prototype engine. Granted it's not 240-hp a la s2k, but 170-hp from 2.0 (or 2.3) seems like quite a step backwards.

 

If it's the motor I am thinking of (C&D article I believe) it was a race tuned motor with ITBs and probably no smog equipment, etc.. I mean the current motor is under 80hp/L and that's a step up from the last one.

 

If i own a car company and 1 of my engineers started designing my engines base on HP/L........he would be the first one i FIRE.

Engineers design engines to fit there function. Only time HP/L is important is if the displacement is limited by legislature.

I would think this is more important to a engineer then HP/L

HP @ rpm
Torque @ rpm
Volume of engine
Weight of Engine
Structural design/strength
Reliability
Mileage
Fuel usage types
applications of the engine

Easy example:

Imagine driving the Honda Pilot with the S2000 engine. Ya you can say your Pilot has a high HP/L, but think about how jacked up the car will feel.