Match made in heaven!!!

Tea 1000

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/mazda-and-alfa-co-develop-roadster
Could this be the perfect blend?

Leonard Hofstadter

Let's just hope it doesn't turn out like the last Italian-Japanese effort - remember the Alfa Arna:eek:?

If they take the best bits of both then it will be an unbelievable combination - I can't wait!

Tea 1000

captainspeed wrote: »

Let's just hope it doesn't turn out like the last Italian-Japanese effort - remember the Alfa Arna:eek:?

If they take the best bits of both then it will be an unbelievable combination - I can't wait!

I'm confident it'll turn out well. Alfa are on better form of late, and Mazda engineers are fussy about how the chassis of the MX5 is to be set up, so I don't see many fall-outs during the project.
I wonder will they go the Toyota-Subaru way or will they be separated in a few ways? It mentions engines will be different, but that could change as finances come into play!
It'll be an interesting project to keep an eye on, and along with the GT86/BRZ, finally the focus on drivers cars will be off BMW-only! Choice is always good!

pred racer

Alfa do the design and styling,
Mazda build it and make sure it works.......perfect.
Sounds too good to be true.

Leonard Hofstadter

pred racer wrote: »

Alfa do the design and styling,
Mazda build it and make sure it works.......perfect.
Sounds too good to be true.

If it actually happens though it will be amazing.

It's funny when you think about it, the EU rules were supposed to have killed off interesting cars (because they pollute too much) yet this year we're getting the Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ and now there's this!

It's ironic how just as BMW is going off making cars that are the 'Ultimate Driving Machine' other manufacturers are moving in to take over - now what we really need is an affordable RWD saloon with decent handling:)!

dr.fuzzenstein

captainspeed wrote: »

Let's just hope it doesn't turn out like the last Italian-Japanese effort - remember the Alfa Arna:eek:?

If they take the best bits of both then it will be an unbelievable combination - I can't wait!

It's in there somehwere:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmWWixyuRmw

Bigus

Wow an Alfa built in Japan
from car magazine

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Industry-News/Alfa-Romeo-roadster-to-be-twinned-with-Mazda-MX-5/


Alfa Romeo twinned with Mazda MX-5: the lowdown

The statement said: 'The study calls for both Mazda and Fiat to develop two differentiated, distinctly styled, iconic and brand-specific light weight, roadsters featuring rear-wheel drive. The Mazda and Alfa Romeo variants will each be powered by specific proprietary engines unique to each brand.

'The project assumption is that both vehicles will be manufactured at Mazda’s Hiroshima, Japan, plant with production for Alfa Romeo envisaged starting in 2015.'

CAR understands that the positioning of the Alfa Romeo will be akin to the Duetto driven by Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate. A simple, no-frills sports car in the mould of the MX-5. Rear-wheel drive is guaranteed and the roadster will benefit from Mazda's SkyActiv programme of weight-saving and fuel-sipping technology, so it should be lightweight and responsive in the best MX-5 tradition.

The final agreement will be finalised in the second half of 2012 - and this could be the precursor to numerous joint initiatives in Europe. Both companies said they were willing to discuss further cooperations, as they seek to find greater volumes and efficiencies.

ShadowHearth

mazda should just make mx5 on their own and stay the **** away from fiat.

TestTransmission

ShadowHearth wrote: »

mazda should just make mx5 on their own and stay the **** away from fiat.

Honda are making a replacement s2000 aswell which is good to see, gonna be a hybrid apparently.

ShadowHearth

TestTransmission wrote: »

Honda are making a replacement s2000 aswell which is good to see, gonna be a hybrid apparently.

when i sow CRZ i was like: SWEET!

when i found out is hybrid: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA FFS!

unkel

Alfa have been saying for about a decade that they are bringing back RWD cars (and I don't mean exotica like the 8C)

Bigus wrote: »

production for Alfa Romeo envisaged starting in 2015.

So maybe the plan is that it could possibly start in 3 years time?

I ain't holding my breath

spiggotpaddy

http://on-msn.com/YhgaXf

Well It's now official.

Tea 1000

Excellent. That 1.75 Ti engine will be a peach coupled with an Alfa-styled MX5 chassis! Don't even need to see it to know it'll be a gem!