One little change to the New MX5 (Yes Keith I used your photo)

My photoshop skills are lacking but. . .. .

I was looking at the New MX5 and realized that Instead of this:

I wanted it to be this:

I actually have another on with the Mazda logo back on it that I moved down a bit from its original location but I like it with out the emblem.

I think it gives the car a bit of attitude. A little bit of Austin Martin if you will.

Anyway. .. . comments? It is ok to hate it

are we talking about just shaving the emblem or cutting the entire clip and extending the hood?

I like the one you did better, but I would be fine just shaving the emblem and calling it a day.

Some sort of grill recessed in to the "guppy mouth" painted to match the body I think would help as well.

I am cutting the frount clip and extending the hood to move the hood lines in line with the "cut lines" of the headlights.

I will post one with the emblem back on. Really no difference. It would be cool if instead of an emblem it was the Mazda symbol using a black sticker.

Here U go.

So the kit would be a urethane bumper cover and a new hood with the optional new grill.

What would be the cost of something so minuscule?

EDIT:

I like it better without the emblem. But then again I am an Engineer and therefor stylistically challenged

Flight Service wrote: So the kit would be a urethane bumper cover and a new hood with the optional new grill. What would be the cost of something so minuscule? EDIT: I like it better without the emblem. But then again I am an Engineer and therefor stylistically challenged

Agreed re the emblem.

Yep new hood and front bumper cover. I would want to see the grill insert but my photoshop skills are lacking.

I think Mazda should offer it from the factory as an option when ordering.

Re the cost I have no clue 2K? plus paint? But it needs to be a Mazda factory option so it can be run in SM

Actually I see one draw back with the new configuration if you have a "minor" incident on the street or on the track you are replacing a hood where as with the OE design you may only be replacing a front fascia. But I still think it looks better.

dean1484 wrote: Actually I see one draw back with the new configuration if you have a "minor" incident on the street or on the track you are replacing a hood where as with the OE design you may only be replacing a front fascia.

Which is exactly why the factory didn't do that.

jstein77 wrote:

dean1484 wrote: Actually I see one draw back with the new configuration if you have a "minor" incident on the street or on the track you are replacing a hood where as with the OE design you may only be replacing a front fascia.

Which is exactly why the factory didn't do that.

I would be curious if this is really a consideration in there design. On the other hand replacing a hood could actually be easier than a fascia. Yes? I don't know about cost though. What is the hood made of in an MX5?

I think it looks slightly better, but is not practical from a constructability or crash damage perspective.

I don't think it would meet minimum crash ratings. I wouldn't want to see the cost of replacing those aluminum hoods for all the little bumper touches. Ouch.

I like the look and I definitely see where you are going with this. We need just a one piece carbon fiber front end that flips up forward instead.

bmw88rider wrote: We need just a one piece carbon fiber front end that flips up forward instead.

Well start making up the mold. I wonder what that would cost? It would be doable and make servicing the car much easier. Kind of like the Corvette yes?

bmw88rider wrote: I don't think it would meet minimum crash ratings. I wouldn't want to see the cost of replacing those aluminum hoods for all the little bumper touches. Ouch.

I assume you are talking about the 5 MPH rating that is supposed to not cause any damage? That would be tough. Make the hood out of plastic?

I wonder what it would look like if you took the hood lines down to the nose clip and left the stock hood. So a "two piece" bumper cover with the area being replace by the hood as a separate piece.

Flight Service wrote: I wonder what it would look like if you took the hood lines down to the nose clip and left the stock hood. So a "two piece" bumper cover with the area being replace by the hood as a separate piece.

We can do that (I can do it later I am in the office at the moment about to leave)

jstein77 wrote:

dean1484 wrote: Actually I see one draw back with the new configuration if you have a "minor" incident on the street or on the track you are replacing a hood where as with the OE design you may only be replacing a front fascia.

Which is exactly why the factory didn't do that.

Agreed. It takes a very small bump to "spring" a hood and render it garbage. A small parking incident would be regrettable.

Plastic would be a challenge for a hood. It's a big panel with fairly high aero loads acting on it, and aluminum with ribs is lighter than plastic would be. Plus it has to crumple well to avoid decapitating the driver on a significant crunch.

dean1484 wrote: Here U go.

What holds the bumper together? It would have to have a piece under the hood, and then the hood latch would have to weave through that piece, and any servicing you do in that area would involve way more work than it really should. BTDT on too many cars that sacrificed ease of service for a cutline that is maybe more appealing.

Personally, I like the Mazda way. The Photoshopped way looks too much like a Hyundai for my tastes. Mazdas have bumpers that come up to the hood. Cheap cars have the hood as the front lip, which makes stamping/moulding a little easier (no body gap to match) while at the same time guaranteeing that the front edge will get chipped and will rust before the car's paid off.

And jeez, I just referenced Mazda as NOT a cheap car company...

dean1484 wrote: I would be curious if this is really a consideration in there design. On the other hand replacing a hood could actually be easier than a fascia. Yes? I don't know about cost though. What is the hood made of in an MX5?

C&D did an article about how automakers work with insurance companies to make cars cheaper to put back together after a collision. Remember the Viper and its $20k clamshell hood?

I'm with Knurled, I like the Mazda way better.

Keith Tanner wrote:

jstein77 wrote:

dean1484 wrote: Actually I see one draw back with the new configuration if you have a "minor" incident on the street or on the track you are replacing a hood where as with the OE design you may only be replacing a front fascia.

Which is exactly why the factory didn't do that.

Agreed. It takes a very small bump to "spring" a hood and render it garbage. A small parking incident would be regrettable. Plastic would be a challenge for a hood. It's a big panel with fairly high aero loads acting on it, and aluminum with ribs is lighter than plastic would be. Plus it has to crumple well to avoid decapitating the driver on a significant crunch.

It also will warp with heat more easily, the reason why Saturn only did plastic skins on the side. Horizontal surfaces were metal.

I must say, this Miata is the first small car I've seen that actually looks good on huge wheels, from this angle. Mazda did a great job with the contours.

Actually... crud. You know what the whole thing reminds me of?

That hard, sharp hood-line wouldn't meet euro pedestrian impact standards.

Why we can never have pretty cars again

@ Keith

You could hinge it at the frount eliminating the latch in the center. Thus also would make access in that area much better.

well