The Mazda MX-5 Speedster concept was introduced at the 2015 SEMA show in Las Vegas. The car was one of a pair of roadster concepts on display, each powered by the 2.0 SkyActiv-G engine and taking the MX-5 in very different styling directions.
The two cars share the same theme of lightweight open-air performance. The silver Spyder concept uses a window-less, bikini style, fabric roof with two rear attachment points. Speedster does away with the roof altogether. Both cars are examples of taking the idea of lightweight performance to extremes, whilst keeping a sense of their vintage roadster ancestry.
There are quite a few bespoke parts fitted to the Speedster, as well as some more familiar. The windscreen has been replaced with a much smaller wind deflector giving total visibility of the road ahead. There is a matching rear deck cover that sweeps down from the roll bar with concealed storage for two Sparco helmets. Unique door mirrors, unique front grille, Mazdaspeed sideskirts, Mazdaspeed front lip spoiler, and a new design rear diffuser trim with Racing Beat centre exit exhaust complete the exterior look.
Removing the windscreen saves several kilos, and there are more weight savings thanks to the 16" 8J ET45 Rays Extreme Gram Lights alloys. Behind the front wheels there are Brembo four piston brake calipers finished in silver. The tyres are Kumho Ecsta V710 street legal slicks in size 225/50/16. Speedster's ride height is lowered 30mm from standard thanks to adjustable coilovers from KW.
The interior makes use of carbon fibre for the doors and is trimmed in Alcantara and tan leather. The centre console features a custom engine start button amongst some nice leather detailing. Mu-Len carbon fibre & Alcantara lightweight seats were specially developed for the car and are fitted with Sparco harnesses. The use of lightweight materials and the lack of windscreen have helped contribute to a weight loss of more than 113kg, with MX-5 Speedster weighing just 943kg. The Speedster concept is finished off with special badges and a new paint colour called Blue Ether.
Serious Roadster fans will know this isn't the first time Mazda has experimented with Speedster style versions of the MX-5. Before the 2015 SEMA Speedster there was the 1991 M-Speedster, the 2000 HKS turbo powered Mono-Posto, and the 2009 Superlight. These concept cars all followed a similar design. You can see more of the Superlight here
M-Speedster
Mono-Posto
Superlight