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2019 Mazda Miata officially announced with 181 horsepower

It turns out the rumors and leaks are true. The 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata will indeed get a slight performance increase. This fall, the car's naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four will make 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. That's a 26 horsepower and 3 pound-feet bump over the 2018 model. It may not sound like a lot on paper, but consider the fact that it's a nearly 17 percent increase in power in a car that weighs just 2,332 lbs. When the current ND generation debuted a few years back, the Miata actually took a slight hit to power. It was offset by a sizable weight loss program, but it didn't stop people from making a fuss. These days, it's not often that a newer model actually loses power compared to the outgoing car. The new car now makes roughly the same power as the old turbocharged Mazdaspeed MX-5 from 2004. Peak power for the 2019 model comes at 7,000 rpm while peak torque arrives at 4,000 rpm. That's 1,000 more and 600 fewer revs respectively. The Miata's redline is now 7,500 rpm, up from 6,800. It should make the car feel more lively through the rev range and should drop the car's 0-60 mph time back under 7 seconds. The 2019 model only weighs 7-pounds more than the outgoing model, so it's essentially a non-issue. In order to get the extra juice, Mazda engineers did some significant work to the engine's internals. Piston mass has been reduced 27 grams while the connecting rods are down 41 grams. The exhaust system and inner exhaust manifold have been modified to reduce pumping losses by 30 percent. The intake and fuel injectors have been changed, too. A new dual-mass flywheel replaces the single-mass unit. This should help better manage engine vibrations and responsiveness. Lastly, the final drive ratio has been increased from 3.454 to 3.583. Other gear ratios remain unchanged. There are other minor but welcome changes for 2019. The steering wheel now telescopes, a boon for drivers with long legs. The doors are easier to open and feature revised door stops. The cupholders and seat levers have both been updated. Finally, there are new 17-inch wheels and a new brown canvas soft top. How all these changes will affect the car remain to be seen. While many people have been clamoring for more power, some of us here at Autoblog feel the Miata may lose some of its current character with such a significant shift in power and torque. Either way, we're as excited as ever to get behind the wheel. Related Video:

Mazda3 five-door vs. Mazda CX-3

As a talking point, it won't rival North Korea, world hunger or Mideast peace, but the ongoing tug between car and crossover continues to resonate in the hallways of Autoblog HQ. And it might also generate some discussion on Mazda showrooms, where the Mazda3 five-door and Mazda's CX-3 crossover are parked within a few feet of each other. Not only do they enjoy proximity on the showroom, but they enjoy/suffer (your choice, depending on POV) pricing proximity on the window sticker. The Mazda3 five-door is the more mature model of the two, having been introduced to a world market in fall 2003. With a commonsense footprint enclosed by almost-organic, upscale sheetmetal, the Mazda3 – especially in 5-door form – punches well above its weight in the still-nascent hatchback category. With a redesign (third-generation) introduced in 2014, along with a more recent refresh, the newest sedan and hatchback merge Mazda's KODO design philosophy with a responsive platform, available 2.5-liter drivetrain and a comfortable – if not expansive – interior. What the Mazda3 5-door (photo at left) does not give you is the crossover's high hip point, despite having ground clearance almost identical to the CX-3 subcompact crossover. And while the stated passenger volume of the Mazda3 and CX-3 is almost identical, those cubes are arranged differently; the Mazda3 offers an interior package more linear, while the CX-3 is more upright. Mazda's subcompact CX-3 (photo at top) is a more recent entry, having been developed from the Mazda2 architecture and hitting the street two years ago. It sits below Mazda's CX-9 and CX-5 in the Mazda pecking order. And it is tiny, on a wheelbase of just 101 inches and offering an overall length of just 168 inches. It is seven inches shorter than the Mazda3, with a wheelbase five inches shorter. The net effect is a more compressed environment for passengers, along with the very real challenge of fitting something inside – such as a bicycle – even when that something has its front wheel removed. In the city, I like the CX-3's compactness, and relatively unrestricted visibility when compared to the Mazda3's overall length and lower seating. But when both are equipped with their six-speed automatics, and the Mazda3 is spec'd with its available 2.5 liter DOHC four, there's almost no comparison in their performance. With that spec the hatchback has Mazda's well-hyped zoom, while the CX-3 makes do with nothing but a 4-cylinder boom.

Mazda considering a 'hyper' Mazda3 with the 250-hp 2.5-liter turbo four

Mazda boss Akira Marumoto said last year there'd be no Mazdaspeed version of the new Mazda3 because the hot hatch segment wasn't a priority for the carmaker. Then Mazda engineer Dave Coleman told Road & Track that without "an engine on the shelf that would fit properly," an MPS variant made no sense. The first reader comment on our Coleman post read, "Engine — you have it; cue up the 2.5T." Mazda might have been listening. Program manager Kota Beppu told Autocar he'd like a "hyper" Mazda3, the outlet figuring the 2.5-liter four-cylinder turbo would make the most sense for power. Autocar wrote "the project had not been officially signed off, [but] insiders suggest that is a formality." When Car and Driver queried Mazda and its sources about the report, the magazine realized "the company is seriously considering a high-performance hot hatch." What's more, "Drew Cary, senior manager for brand communications, said, 'We encourage people to ask for it, though. Our planners and executives are watching and listening to fans.'" The turbocharged 2.5-liter SkyActiv-G four-cylinder — which doesn't sell in Europe — makes 250 hp on premium gasoline and 310 pound-feet of torque in the Mazda6, CX-5 and CX-9. A next-generation SkyActiv-G is predicted on the way next year, bringing more boost and power. Even as is, we're talking a chunky lump of power to send to the front wheels, and Beppu mentioned torque steer. The new Mazda3's all-wheel drive would alleviate that bugbear. Unlike the raw, fast-twitch reflexes of the last Mazdaspeed3 from 2013, Beppu says a new model "needs to be responsible and friendly ... more friendly than a Golf GTI." And, "It should be fast." The polished looks and interior address the necessary perceptions. CD's done the math on the current 2.5-liter and predicts a five-second sprint to 60 miles per hour, which is Volkswagen Golf R and Honda Civic Type R territory, so GTI comparisons could be a case of aiming low. Imagine a 300-hp engine with a touch more torque and a six-speed manual ... If Mazda follows through with such a product, it could take two years to get the green light. However, we're told that Mazda's Los Angeles research and development center has already built a proof-of-concept to encourage and anticipate that green light.