We Now Know What’s Under The Hood Of The Mazda MX-5

While we discovered the new 2016 Mazda MX-5 a few weeks ago and marvelled at its sleek lines, its smaller-than-ever dimensions and its dramatic weight loss, we were left with one important unanswered question: what exactly was sitting under the hood of the thing?

The manufacturer wanted to keep us in the dark a while longer, and what better place than the Paris Auto show to finally spill the beans on this important piece of information?

• Also: 2016 Mazda MX-5: More Distinctive and Deluxe
• Also: Mazda MX-5 25th Anniversary: They Sold Like Hotcakes

We now finally know that a 1.5L Skyactiv four-cylinder engine will sit right in front of the MX-5’s transmission in every base-model MX-5 everywhere in the world.

Everywhere, except in North-America.

Here, in the land of the ‘’no replacement for displacement’’, we only get access to the 2 litre Skyactiv mill, an engine that is optional in the other markets. This powerplant is found in the Mazda3, Mazda6 and CX-5. In the other vehicles, it makes 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, but it will almost certainly be upgraded before being used in the roadster. A stab in the dark, we guess that it will have between 165 and 180 horsepower.

Whatever the exact number is, we can’t wait to drive it with the top down!