Spy Shots: ’06 Mazda Miata
Will the rotary come to the roadster or vice versa?
by Hans Lehmann/Hidden Image (2004-05-24)

The next generation of Mazda's Miata, one of the world's best-selling roadsters, is due in late 2005 or early 2006. The first Miata came on the market in 1989 in Japan and later to the U.S. and Europe, where it became also a great success.

Here are photos of a first prototype mule of the current Miata's successor during tests at Germany's Nürburgring. To judge from the prototype's front end, the new model is likely to resemble the RX-8, with a styling only moderately like last year's Ibuki concept car.

http://thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/tmb/8041_image.jpghttp://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/tmb/8042_image.jpg



Link HERE (http://thecarconnection.com/index.asp?n=178&sid=178&article=7156)

Front looks like a stingray about to eat you. That little mouth is eh...

And why is the rear totally stock like the current model?

I hope they make the next one a little bigger so that tall people can also drive it.

Originally posted by CleanSC
Front looks like a stingray about to eat you. That little mouth is eh...

And why is the rear totally stock like the current model? ditto!!!!

pic #2... looks like a 4X4.. off roading anyone?

looks like some spyshots on a current car modded?

Originally posted by The_Hitman
pic #2... looks like a 4X4.. off roading anyone?

it's not 4x4. it's called crossover :D

that front end especially without any coverups makes me think that the front will be a lot different and what is on that car now is just a "front" for now

Originally posted by Richie
I hope they make the next one a little bigger so that tall people can also drive it.

:agreed:

You got that right.....I'm 6' 2", 275 lbs. and the current car is virtually impossible.

Looks like a current Miata with the front quarter of an RX-8 glued on the front.:egads:
The two parts don't match at all.

:thumbdn:

Originally posted by JLSC4
Looks like a current Miata with the front quarter of an RX-8 glued on the front.:egads:



That's because that's exactly what it is.
I have my reservations about this.... Why would they be so careless as to let a concept out, uncamoflauged?

As someone said before, I think this is just a test mule for the engineering and mechanical aspects.
The actual car will look nothing like this.

Originally posted by JLSC4
Looks like a current Miata with the front quarter of an RX-8 glued on the front.:egads:
The two parts don't match at all.

:thumbdn:

You're right, JLSC4....this is either a doctored picture or a doctored car. Look at that huge panel gap between the front fender and door. and look how much bigger the front wheel well is than the rear.

SexySC, it seems puzzling, at least to me, why Mazda would test a new Miata redesign with RX8 sheetmetal grafted onto the front....at the very least, this would give completely false aerodynamic CD results.

The Renesis was tested on an extended Miata mule way back in the developmental stage.
Obviously the RX8 is not an extended Miata.

I believe that this is simply a test mule for the engineering/mechanical components.