Miata Mailing List: July 1994, Message #212
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   From: Pamela Norris 
Subject: Miata Racer
   Date: Fri, 8 Jul 1994 20:55:21 -0400


>From the August 1994 Car & Driver:

"Mazda Makes Its Own Racer In-House -- for $750 Extra"

In Japan, the most popular car for aftermarket tuning is the Mazda Miata.
Many shops do Mazda work, and a couple of magazines have even sprung up
for Miata enthusiasts.  One of these aftermarket cars is the M2-1028.
The surprise is that it's made by Mazda.
"M2" refers to a shop set up by Mazda in Tokyo to check out the latest
trends and fashions.  All 30 members of that M2 team are product planners 
from the home office in Hiroshima.  From this M@ team have come widly
createve and bizarre designs for existing Mazda products.  M@ is also in
charge og presenting new model concepts to Mazda.  Among their latest ideas
is a rumored Miata coupe, said to be planned for a 1995 launch in Japan.
The M2-1028 is the 28th project from the team.  The 1028 is a sportier
Miata, one that can be driven on the racing circuit or entered in 
weekend competitions.  The M2 team had five goals for its development:
coupe-like rigidity, a low curb weight, better handling, more torque,
and a more spartan cockpit.
The M2-1028 achieves the body rigidity of a closed coupe via a bar that
connects the front suspension's strut towers, and an aluminum roll cage
around the cockpit.  To shed weight, there's a lighter top, an aluminum 
trunk lid, and fiberglass bucket seats.  The optional hard top is lighter
than the standard Miata's, and it reduces lift and drag thanks to revised
fron and rear spoilers and an inch-lower ride height.  The stripped-down
interior has a minimalist center console, simple door handles, and
redesigned gauges.
Better handling comes from 50-percent stiffer springs, firmer shock
absorbers, and harder bushings.  Moreover, a new set of 185/60R-14
tires have been developed with Bridgestone.  All of these modifications
add up to a claimed 0.93 g of lateral acceleration.  More torque comes
from a thorough reworking of the 1.8 liter four-cylinder, with an increase
in compression from 9.0:1 to 10.6:1, reworked valve timing, a revised 
manifold, a low resistance air cleaner, and a lower mass flywheel.  The
engine's torque increases to 123 pound-feet, up just 8 pound-feet from
stock, but the lighter curb weight makes it feel like a lot more.
The gears are the same as in the standard Miata, but the 1028 has a swell of torque quite unlike that of the regular car.  Even under 200 rpm, there is
still enough torque to start off from standstill in second gear.  Torque
is particularly strong at 5500 rpm, and the 1028 revs more freely than
the 1.6 liter four all the way to its 7000-rpm redline.
The ride, however, is as hard as that of a Porsche 911 Carrera RS.  The non-
power-assisted steering is extremely heavy during parking maneuvers and
cornering, requiring real muscle to keep it in line.  the exhaust note is
not too loud.  There is no heat shielding beneath the center tunnel, so the
cockpit gets quite hot.  Fortunately, an air conditioner remains available.
The 1028's flexible engine and handling were demonstrated at a short local
racing circuit, where the 1028 managed lap times near those of theMazda
RX-7 and Acura NSX.  The 1028 costs only $750 more than the standard Miata,
so it's no wonder why this year's allotment of 300 cars has already sold
out.  Yasushi Ishiwatari.

The price (in Japan) is listed as $26k.  Power is 138 hp  6500 rpm,
height is 47.6 in., weight 2240 lb.  The car pictured is black with
"R-type" bodywork, black-chrome '94 wheels, and padded roll cage.
The engine has a bar connecting the strut towers, aggressive looking
air filter, and flat black valve cover. The interior is spartan --
carpeted center dash, no radio, but a Momo steering wheel.