AZS2KDancer

It still looks like Mazda kept the smiley face. No likey. The Alpha looks better so far.

ZDan

What's an "Alpha"?

RMurphy

It's the version released before the Beta. I hear they come in soups too.

It's a typo. Sometimes the fingers type what they want regardless of the brain knowing better. It's like typing its when you mean it's or here when you mean hear. We know the difference and we know which is correct; we just goof sometimes. Well...not me. I never goof. It's always the autocorrect that gets it wrong.

SpudRacer

As usual, the Italian bodywork looks stunning and 2,200 lbs is incredible. But.......they said 160 hp in the U.S. version. That puts the car at 13.75 lbs per hp. Maybe 8 second 0-60? Solidly in boring territory. And like most forced induction engines, it makes peak power @ a relatively low 5,500 rpm. So no 4.77 differential to give it mechanical advantage. Too bad they didn't at least least get the power to weight ratio down to the 10.0 lb mark. With 250 hp, this would have been a "must have". As is, it's just a nice looking alternative to a Miata. C'est la vie. At least the engineering should be reliable.

Syn

Agreed, but (and I know it's not necessarily relevant) just like any other stock turbocharged car you can very cheaply replace the turbo to take care of the power deficit. Hopefully the car comes with oversized injectors, fuel pump, and a clutch + drivetrain that can handle +50-100% horsepower without being touched. In that case you could get a car with Italian bodywork, 2200 lbs, and somewhere between 6.875-8.4lbs per hp for a couple thousand more dollars invested. Obviously this investment goes up quickly if the car is built with weak components.

mosesbotbol

Back the 80's, Callaway developed a turbo GTV6 (Alfa 2.5 V6 engine). The story goes that Callaway ran the engine at red line to see how long it could go before breaking and that engine went further than any engine they had modified to date; including Corvette. Will the new stuff be as good? Alfa has been making aluminum hemi engines longer than just about anyone.

I agree with most on here, that both versions are going to need a little more power, but let's see how it comes out. It could be a "foot to the floor" all the time kind of ride which would be typical and appropriate for this genre of car.

ZDan

FR-S/BRZ are at that power/weight, 0-60 in ~6.5, nowhere near 8 seconds. Honestly, it will be quick enough for me for DD duty. The way I drive the S on the street (practically never in VTEC), it's a ~16 lb/hp car, doesn't detract from the every-day fun-to-driveness at all. I'd definitely rather see a lot more cars like this than all the oversized/overweight/overpriced "sports" and sporty cars the market is flooded with.

SpudRacer

And oh yeah, didn't mean to slight the Mazda designers. The Japanese body work is a stunner too. Evolutionary but very much a step forward in attractiveness. Both roadsters look like more expensive cars than they are. Too bad GM didn't endow the Kappa triplets with this sort of design quality.