Miata Mailing List: May 1993, Message #84
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   From: (none)
Subject: Re: Redesigned Miata
   Date: (none)

I've also heard that the 1994 will have a larger engine (1.8 liters)
and possibly some enhanced spoilers.  Hopefully they wont spoil the
car.  The engine could be the 1.8 liter in the Protege or the 1.8
liter V6 from the MX3.  The V6 is probably unlikely since Miata
Magazine said that the entire engine compartment (exhaust and intake) 
would have to be redesigned which is very costly and unlikely in view
of the financial problems in the Japanese car industry.  The 1.8 liter
from the Protege might be possible but I also don't know whether the
entire engine compartment design would have to be changed.  Mazda
might just bore out the current 1.6 liter to 1.8 which would make the
most economical sense.  This would increase the HP and torque about
12%.  There are many ways, however, to increase the HP by 12% in the 
current model by various after market add ons.  One concern is the 
effect of the mandated 1994 pasenger side airbag on the amount of 
storage space in the car and its possible effect on the dashboard and 
the interior space of the car.  Lets hope that Mazda is as conservative 
as possible and probably will be since the car is still selling well.  

One other question regards the so called smoother ride of the 1993s.  I
drove one and it was only very very slightly different than my 1990. I
was under the impression that there was some change in the shocks. 
Someone said that they thought that there was a change in the rear
antisway bar.  Is that true?  If so I agree that it doesn't make much
sense since it might affect the handling. I wasn't able to comparing
the handling of the 1993 to the 1990.  However, I do know that on
the 1993 Black Special Edition, Mazda advertises that it has special
Bilstein shocks and smaller rear antisway bars.  Are you sure that the
non-special Edition cars also have a smaller rear antisway bar as well?

By the way, I wasn't crazy about the so called red interior of the
1993 Black Special Edition.  It is dark maroon and "it doesn't just
seem right".  The tan interior on a Black 1993 Package C appeals   to
me personally as a better combination for Black.  Maybe I'am biased, but 
I still think that Classic Red or White with a Black interior look great.

Herb Samuels