A full rendering of the MX-5 has been posted on Miata.net by Seth Elson, a Mazda employee and product engineer.
Conceptual renderings are a dime a dozen nowadays, but Elson’s imagining looks awfully similar to the camouflaged test car filmed by T.B.C in August. You can really only make out the rear of the car in the short video, but taillights look similarly squinty to the mule’s and the sharp lines naturally carry over to the front fascia.
The test car evidence, combined with the insider source of this rendering, makes it a pretty good bet that the sketch will look similar to the official car.
At best, the model is a bold departure from the ‘family face’ of previous generations. At worst? It’s lost some of the eager, rambunctious appeal of the old car in favor of an aggressive look.
Last month, we reported on statements by Mazda Australia Managing Director Martin Benders, who said the new car “will look nothing like” its ancestors, and will be a more “evolved” version of the brand’s Kodo design philosophy. As we march toward the MX-5’s digital debut, those statements look to be ringing true.
Related: The 2016 Mazda MX-5 to look ‘nothing like’ its predecessor
The aesthetics of the car are just about the only thing left to be confirmed by Mazda, as the Japanese carmaker has already revealed that it will ride on a nimble SKYACTIV chassis that will save the vehicle some 220 pounds. The center of gravity will be lower as well, and thrust will come from either a 126-horsepower 1.8-liter four or a 167-hp 2.0-liter unit.
Rumors of a 99-hp SKYACTIV-G engine have swirled as well, but we probably won’t see the puny powerplant in the U.S.
What do you think of new MX-5’s potential design? Let us know in the comments. You can watch the reveal of the 2016 MX-5 right here, starting at 6pm PST.
