Mazda unveils 2 lightweight MX-5 concepts at SEMA show

The ink is barely dry on purchase orders for the 2016 Mazda MX-5, and the automaker has already unveiled a pair of cool concepts that show off what the tiny two-seater is capable of.

On display at the 2015 SEMA show in Las Vegas, the MX-5 Spyder and MX-5 Speedster concepts are built on the new MX-5 that recently went on sale and take the "lightweight, fun-to-drive roadster doctrine a step further, reducing even more weight while accentuating open-air driving."

Weighing in at 2,299 lb.s and 2,079 lbs., respectively, the MX-5 Spyder and MX-5 Speedster concepts both boast the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines found in North American spec MX-5s—cars sold elsewhere come equipped with a 1.5-litre engine as standard—and add adjustable coilover suspension setups, Brembo brakes, and lightweight wheels.

The MX-5 Spyder features a bikini top and a carbon fibre aero kit, while the MX-5 Speedster scraps its A-pillars and windshield, and adds carbon fibre doors and seats.

Mazda worked closely with a handful of aftermarket parts suppliers to create both concepts, and hope they will mark the beginning of strong aftermarket support for the roadster.

"Both MX-5 Spyder and MX-5 Speedster (concepts) are uncompromising designs that highlight the core strengths of MX-5," Maazda North American design manager Ken Saward said in a release.

"With the all-new 2016 MX-5, we have a clean sheet to show how the aftermarket can go wild on our flagship sports car while staying true to its mission."