The Japanese automaker Mazda has announced earlier this week that the MX-5 GT4 will be offered as a customer car for 150,000 pounds. The vehicle was developed in collaboration with Jota Sport and has participated in the Avon Tyres British GT Series where this year at Brands Hatch it managed to get its first podium finish. Although it looks similar to the popular MX-5, the vehicle is almost entirely different than the version you see on the roads today. Perhaps the biggest change would have to be the 2.0-liter turbocharged MZR engine that pumps out twice the power of the engine found in the road-legal model. This engine is linked to a fully sequential 6-speed paddle-shift Hewland gearbox. Other modifications include a racing clutch, adjustable traction control and AP Racing brakes.
The Mazda MX-5 GT4 has also been put on a very strict diet as it now weighs just 1,000 kg (2,204 lb) which is 175 kg (385 lb) less than the standard model. They have managed to shave off this weight by installing carbon fiber door, front & rear diffuser, rear wing, while the standard glass windows was ditched in favor of a window made from polycarbonate. Inside the cabin it has a dashboard also made from lightweight carbon fiber.
Let’s remember that the standard MX-5 performs the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint in a decent 7.6 seconds, but this GT4 version needs just 3 seconds to do this, and it will continue accelerating until the odometer hits 160 mph (257 km/h). Taking into account that this is a proper racer, the MX-5 GT4 had to meet the strict FIA safety regulations so it comes with a roll cage, fire extinguisher and other safety features as well. The car is going to compete with similar models offered by rival companies such as Aston Martin, Lotus and Ginetta.
