NEW CARS

Mazda MX-5 1.5 Gets More Power as UK Says Goodbye to the 2.0-Litre

The Mazda MX-5 is entering a new chapter in the UK, and it is a bittersweet one for fans of lightweight sports cars. Mazda has confirmed a modest power increase for the 1.5-litre MX-5 just as the more powerful 2.0-litre version disappears from the British market.

For the updated model, the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine now produces 134bhp and 114lb-ft of torque. That represents an increase of 4bhp and 3lb-ft over the outgoing engine. The numbers are hardly transformative, but Mazda insists that the changes are about more than simply chasing peak output.

The bigger story is what has been lost. The 2.0-litre MX-5, which produced 181bhp and 151lb-ft, is being phased out of the UK because of increasingly stringent emissions regulations. Existing cars will continue to be available until remaining stock is exhausted, with Mazda UK expecting that to happen around January.

That leaves the 1.5-litre as the sole engine choice for buyers seeking a new MX-5 in the UK.

Mazda Says the 1.5-Litre Is the Engine the MX-5 Was Designed Around

While losing the 2.0-litre engine will disappoint enthusiasts who value outright performance, Mazda is keen to point out that the smaller engine has always been central to the character of the current-generation MX-5.

The company says the 1.5-litre engine’s combination of low weight, responsiveness and accessible performance better represents its Jinba Ittai philosophy—the Japanese concept of creating a close connection between horse and rider.

That philosophy has been fundamental to the MX-5 since the original model arrived in 1989. Rather than relying on huge horsepower figures, the roadster has traditionally focused on low weight, agile handling, rear-wheel drive and driver involvement.

The updated 1.5-litre engine continues that formula, albeit with a little more muscle.

Mazda has also revised the engine’s sound in an effort to make the car feel more engaging from behind the wheel. At the same time, CO2 emissions have been reduced by 1g/km.

Mazda MX-5 Gets Chassis Upgrades

The biggest hardware change may not be under the bonnet.

The range-topping Homura and Homura Plus versions of the 1.5-litre MX-5 will now receive Bilstein dampers and a front strut brace. These components were previously associated with the more powerful 2.0-litre model.

The upgrades should give the 1.5-litre roadster a more focused chassis, with improved body control and sharper responses when the road starts to twist.

For enthusiastic drivers, that could make the reduced engine output easier to accept. The MX-5 has never needed huge power to be entertaining, and a lighter engine combined with upgraded suspension could preserve much of the car’s appeal.

There is, however, one significant omission.

The 2.0-litre MX-5’s asymmetrical limited-slip differential will not be carried over to the 1.5-litre version. That differential was one of the features that helped make the larger-engined MX-5 particularly attractive to drivers who wanted to exploit its rear-wheel-drive chassis.

As a result, the 1.5-litre may gain some of the 2.0-litre’s chassis hardware, but it will not become a direct replacement for the outgoing performance model.

The 2.0-Litre Mazda MX-5 Is Leaving the UK

The disappearance of the 2.0-litre engine is ultimately being driven by emissions regulations rather than a sudden change in Mazda’s opinion of the engine.

According to Mazda UK, the 2.0-litre MX-5 was already removed from European markets in 2024 because of changing emissions requirements. The UK was able to continue selling the model for longer because of different regulatory derogation timings.

That extension has now ended.

Once the remaining 2.0-litre cars are sold, British buyers will no longer be able to order a new MX-5 with the 181bhp engine.

For a car that has built much of its reputation around mechanical simplicity and driver engagement, the change illustrates the growing difficulty of keeping relatively low-volume sports cars compliant with increasingly demanding emissions rules.

Mazda MX-5 Price and Availability

The updated 1.5-litre Mazda MX-5 is scheduled to arrive in the UK in January, although Mazda has yet to announce its pricing.

The company has nevertheless stressed that affordability remains an important part of the MX-5 formula. Mazda says the roadster is one of only three convertibles available in the UK for less than £30,000.

That positioning is increasingly significant in a market where affordable two-seat sports cars have become rare.

The MX-5 remains one of the few cars that offers a traditional sports-car recipe—front-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive, two seats, manual transmission and a folding roof—without moving into premium-car pricing.

Is the Mazda MX-5 Still Relevant?

The MX-5’s future is not completely guaranteed.

The current generation is now more than a decade old, and sales in the UK have declined considerably. Around 4,000 examples were sold in 2019, while annual volumes have subsequently fallen to roughly 1,500 cars.

That makes the MX-5 an increasingly unusual proposition in Mazda’s line-up. It is effectively the brand’s halo model, but it operates in a shrinking segment and uses a platform that has been around for many years.

Nevertheless, the MX-5 continues to have something that many modern performance cars have lost: simplicity.

There is no need for hundreds of horsepower, an enormous battery or an elaborate all-wheel-drive system to make the MX-5 entertaining. Its appeal comes from how little car the driver has to manage.

That is also why the 1.5-litre engine could prove to be more than merely a consolation prize for buyers who can no longer have the 2.0-litre.

The 1.5-Litre MX-5 May Be the Purist’s Choice

On paper, dropping from 181bhp to 134bhp looks like a substantial step backwards. There is no getting around the fact that the 2.0-litre MX-5 is considerably faster and has more performance potential.

But maximum power has never been the only measure of an MX-5.

The 1.5-litre engine’s lower weight helps preserve the roadster’s lightweight character, while the additional chassis hardware on higher-specification models could make the updated car even more enjoyable on a winding road.

In an era when sports cars increasingly depend on enormous outputs and sophisticated electronic systems, the MX-5 continues to make a different argument: less can be more.

That makes the updated 1.5-litre particularly interesting. It may not replace the 2.0-litre as the ultimate MX-5 for outright performance, but it could remain the model that most faithfully represents Mazda’s original philosophy.

A Fitting Evolution for the Mazda MX-5

The end of the 2.0-litre MX-5 in the UK marks the end of an important chapter. Its 181bhp engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and limited-slip differential made it one of the most compelling affordable sports cars still available.

But the 1.5-litre MX-5 is not simply being left behind.

With 134bhp, improved engine sound, slightly lower CO2 emissions, Bilstein dampers and a front strut brace on the Homura and Homura Plus trims, Mazda is giving its smallest engine a meaningful update while preserving the qualities that have defined the MX-5 for decades.

Whether that will be enough to keep the MX-5 relevant in the UK remains to be seen. What is certain is that the affordable, lightweight roadster is becoming an increasingly rare species—and that makes the Mazda MX-5 more important than ever.

Mazda MX-5 1.5 Key Specifications

  • Engine: 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder
  • Power: 134bhp
  • Torque: 114lb-ft
  • Power increase: 4bhp
  • Torque increase: 3lb-ft
  • Drive: Rear-wheel drive
  • Updated chassis: Bilstein dampers and front strut brace on Homura and Homura Plus
  • Limited-slip differential: Not available on the updated 1.5-litre
  • CO2 emissions: 1g/km lower than before
  • UK arrival: January
  • 2.0-litre output: 181bhp and 151lb-ft
  • 2.0-litre UK sales: Ending once existing stock is sold
  • UK pricing for updated 1.5-litre: Yet to be announced

Source: Autocar

News

Alfa Romeo Tonale: Why UK Drivers Are Putting the Journey First This Bank Holiday

A new survey commissioned by Alfa Romeo reveals that British motorists are planning to embrace the open road this August Bank Holiday weekend, with millions of drivers expected to cover billions of miles across the UK.

Around one in three UK adults, or 34%, plan to travel by car over the August Bank Holiday weekend, according to new research from Alfa Romeo. Collectively, motorists are expected to cover an estimated 2.3 billion miles, highlighting just how important the car remains for Britain’s traditional weekend escape.

For many drivers, however, the destination is only part of the attraction. The research suggests that the journey itself is becoming an increasingly important part of the weekend getaway, with scenic roads, driving enjoyment and the freedom to explore influencing how people plan their trips.

More Than Half of Drivers Expect to Travel Further

The August Bank Holiday traditionally provides an opportunity for Britons to leave the cities behind and explore more of the country, and this year’s research suggests motorists are prepared to put extra miles on the odometer to do it.

Of those planning to travel, 51% expect to drive further than they normally would on a weekend getaway. Despite the rise of rail travel and other forms of transportation, the car remains the preferred way to enjoy a UK weekend escape for 78% of respondents.

Freedom and flexibility are the biggest reasons for choosing the car, with 47% of those surveyed identifying them as the main appeal. Another 34% say the opportunity to see more of the country is one of the biggest attractions of a road trip.

That combination of flexibility and exploration means the humble road trip remains a compelling proposition for British drivers.

Scenic Routes Are Becoming Part of the Destination

For a growing number of motorists, getting there isn’t simply something to endure before the holiday begins. It is part of the experience.

More than half of respondents, 52%, say they would be willing to drive further than usual to take a more scenic route. Meanwhile, 40% would add up to 30 minutes to their journey if it meant enjoying beautiful scenery along the way.

Almost four in 10 drivers, or 38%, go even further, saying that beautiful scenery during the journey is an essential part of a weekend getaway.

The findings suggest that navigation apps and the fastest possible route aren’t necessarily the only considerations when planning a road trip. For some drivers, a winding country road with spectacular views can be more appealing than shaving a few minutes off the journey.

The Road Can Influence Where Drivers Go

The route itself can also influence the choice of destination. According to the research, 41% of respondents say the roads they need to take influence where they choose to go for a weekend getaway.

For 22%, enjoying the drive is among the most important factors that can make or break a weekend escape.

That puts the driving experience firmly back in the spotlight. Rather than simply viewing a car as transportation between two points, these motorists see the journey as part of the leisure experience.

It is precisely the kind of driving experience Alfa Romeo says it has targeted with the new Tonale.

Alfa Romeo Tonale Targets the Weekend Road Trip

The new Alfa Romeo Tonale is positioned as an SUV for drivers who want practicality without giving up the enjoyment of driving.

The Italian SUV combines Alfa Romeo’s distinctive styling with a chassis, steering and suspension setup designed to deliver a more engaging experience behind the wheel. The company highlights its balanced chassis, direct steering and sporty suspension as key elements of the Tonale’s driving character.

Jules Tilstone, Managing Director of Alfa Romeo UK, said the research shows that the journey remains an important part of the getaway for many British drivers.

“For many British drivers the journey to reach a weekend getaway destination is an important part of the trip itself, with scenic routes and driving enjoyment influencing how they choose to travel,” Tilstone said.

He added that the Tonale is designed to combine the driving experience associated with Alfa Romeo with the practicality required for longer journeys.

Practicality Still Matters on a Long Weekend

While driving enjoyment is clearly important, motorists heading away for several days also need enough space for luggage, passengers and everything else that comes with a bank holiday escape.

The Alfa Romeo Tonale offers up to 500 litres of boot space, which can be expanded to 1,550 litres with the rear seats folded. That gives the compact SUV enough flexibility for longer journeys, particularly when carrying luggage for a family or group of passengers.

Powertrain choice is another part of the Tonale’s appeal. The model is available with hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology, giving buyers different approaches to combining performance, efficiency and everyday usability.

That flexibility is particularly relevant for drivers who may spend a mixture of time navigating urban streets, motorways and scenic country roads during a long weekend.

Drivers Want Time to Switch Off

Perhaps the most revealing statistic in Alfa Romeo’s research is that 54% of respondents consider having time to relax an essential part of a weekend getaway.

The road trip can therefore serve two purposes. It is a practical way of reaching a destination, but it can also provide an opportunity to disconnect from the routine of everyday life.

For drivers who enjoy being behind the wheel, an enjoyable road can become part of that experience. A scenic route, an engaging car and the freedom to stop wherever the mood takes you can turn a straightforward journey into something closer to an adventure.

Why the Car Still Matters for UK Getaways

The research provides an interesting snapshot of Britain’s relationship with the automobile. Even as motorists face rising running costs, changing powertrain technology and increasing alternatives to private-car travel, the freedom offered by a car remains difficult to replace for leisure journeys.

The ability to choose when to leave, alter the route, discover smaller destinations and carry everything needed for a weekend away gives the car an inherent advantage.

And for more than half of those surveyed, the willingness to take a longer or more scenic route demonstrates that speed isn’t always the priority.

Sometimes, the best part of a road trip is simply the road.

Alfa Romeo Tonale: A Road-Trip SUV With Driving Enjoyment in Mind

With 2.3 billion miles expected to be covered across the UK during the August Bank Holiday weekend, British motorists will spend plenty of time behind the wheel.

Alfa Romeo’s research suggests that many of them won’t necessarily want the quickest possible journey. Instead, scenic roads, flexibility and the enjoyment of driving are increasingly important elements of the getaway.

That is the space in which the Alfa Romeo Tonale is looking to make its mark: combining SUV practicality, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains and usable cargo capacity with the sharper driving character traditionally associated with the Alfa Romeo brand.

For motorists who believe that a weekend escape should begin the moment the engine starts, that could make the Tonale an interesting alternative to the more conventional family SUV.

And this August Bank Holiday, with millions of drivers heading onto Britain’s roads, there may be no better reminder that sometimes the journey really is just as important as the destination.

Source: Alfa Romeo

Auctions

Ayrton Senna’s Honda NSX Is Going to Auction—and It Could Be Worth Nearly $1 Million

Few road cars are as deeply connected to Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna as the first-generation Honda NSX. Now, one of the most significant examples is heading to auction, offering collectors a rare opportunity to own a sports car that was personally driven by the three-time Formula 1 world champion.

The red Honda NSX with a black roof, chassis number T000233, is scheduled to cross the auction block on October 31. With documented ties to Senna, appearances in films and documentaries, and a remarkable history spanning Portugal, the UK, Japan and Italy, the car could become one of the most valuable Honda NSX models ever sold at public auction.

RM Sotheby’s estimates the value of Senna’s Honda NSX at between £500,000 and £800,000, equivalent to approximately €584,000 to €934,000.

The Honda NSX Ayrton Senna Helped Develop

Senna’s relationship with Honda began in 1987, when the Japanese manufacturer supplied engines to Team Lotus. In 1988, Senna moved to McLaren-Honda and immediately won his first Formula 1 world championship.

At roughly the same time, Honda was working on a project that would dramatically change the perception of Japanese performance cars: an all-new mid-engine sports car designed to challenge established European supercars such as the Ferrari 328 and Porsche 911.

That car would become the Honda NSX.

Senna was much more than a celebrity associated with the project. Honda gave him access to development prototypes, allowing the Brazilian driver to test the car and provide detailed feedback.

During testing, Senna reportedly criticized the rigidity of the NSX prototype’s body structure. His comments prompted Honda engineers to substantially increase structural rigidity, with the final development reportedly gaining around 50 percent more rigidity than the earlier prototype. Suspension tuning was also revised.

The result was a sports car that became famous not only for its performance, but also for its balance, precision and everyday usability.

Senna’s Famous NSX Test at Suzuka

One of the most famous pieces of footage associated with the Honda NSX shows Senna driving the car aggressively around Suzuka Circuit.

Rather than treating the NSX as a publicity prop, Senna explored the limits of the car, demonstrating the handling characteristics that would eventually become one of the model’s defining qualities.

The footage has since become an important part of the NSX’s mythology. Senna can be seen driving the car hard while wearing casual clothing and loafers—a fitting reminder that the NSX was conceived as a supercar that could be driven on the road rather than simply displayed in a garage.

For Honda, having a driver of Senna’s caliber involved in development was invaluable. For enthusiasts, his involvement has become an integral part of the first-generation NSX’s legacy.

The NSX Senna Drove in Portugal

The NSX heading to auction is particularly significant because it was not merely one of the prototypes Senna tested during development.

Chassis number T000233 was imported by Honda into Portugal, where Senna owned a home at the Quinta do Lago resort.

The car was registered on March 22, 1991, carrying Portuguese license plate SX-25-59. Whenever Senna was in Portugal, Honda made the NSX available to him.

Unlike many celebrity-owned cars that spend much of their lives hidden away, this Honda NSX was reportedly used regularly by Senna.

He even drove it to the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril. At that race, Senna qualified third and ultimately finished second, adding another remarkable connection between the car and his Formula 1 career.

Senna Used the NSX Like a Supercar Should Be Used

The car also appeared in the documentary “Ayrton Senna: Racing Is In My Blood,” where Senna can be seen putting the NSX through its paces.

The footage captures the rear tires spinning as smoke pours from behind the car, offering a glimpse of Senna’s character away from the Formula 1 paddock.

But perhaps the most famous images of the car have nothing to do with a racetrack.

A series of photographs shows Senna washing the red NSX with a garden hose while wearing jeans and a casual shirt. The seemingly ordinary scene became one of the most recognizable images of Senna away from Formula 1.

Those photographs helped establish the particular red NSX as an automotive icon in its own right.

What Happened to Senna’s Honda NSX After 1994?

Following Senna’s death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, the NSX remained in Portugal for a period of time.

Registration records and Honda certification documentation provide evidence supporting the car’s history and connection to Senna.

The NSX eventually changed hands several times. In 2013, it moved to the United Kingdom before returning to Japan in 2024.

Its history did not end there.

In 2019, the car returned to Imola to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Senna’s death. Former Minardi team principal Giancarlo Minardi drove the NSX as part of the tribute.

For its latest chapter, the current owner brought the car back to the UK ahead of its upcoming auction.

Why This Honda NSX Is So Valuable

The first-generation Honda NSX is already one of the most collectible Japanese performance cars of its era. But this particular example combines several factors that make it exceptionally desirable.

First, there is the direct connection to Ayrton Senna, one of the most celebrated drivers in Formula 1 history.

Second, the car has a documented history supported by registration records and Honda certification.

Third, it has appeared in film and documentary footage, including material showing Senna himself driving the car.

Finally, it is connected to one of the most important engineering stories in Honda’s history. Senna’s feedback during the development of the NSX helped influence the production car’s structural rigidity and chassis characteristics.

That combination of provenance, celebrity ownership, motorsport history and engineering significance is extremely difficult to replicate.

A Nearly $1 Million Honda

RM Sotheby’s estimate of £500,000 to £800,000 places the Senna NSX in a completely different category from an ordinary first-generation NSX.

At the top of the estimate, the car could approach £800,000, or roughly €934,000.

That figure illustrates just how much provenance can transform a collectible automobile.

A standard NSX is already regarded as one of the defining Japanese sports cars of the 1990s. An NSX that was personally used by Ayrton Senna, appeared in famous photographs and documentaries, and can be traced through official documentation represents something much more significant.

It is effectively a piece of Formula 1 history on four wheels.

The Ayrton Senna Honda NSX Could Become a Collector-CAR Icon

The original Honda NSX was created to challenge the world’s best sports cars while delivering the reliability and usability associated with Honda. More than three decades later, the model has become a modern classic.

This particular NSX takes that story to another level.

It is not simply a rare Japanese supercar. It is the car associated with one of Formula 1’s greatest drivers, a driver who played a meaningful role in shaping the NSX during its development and later used an example on the roads of Portugal.

When chassis T000233 goes under the hammer on October 31, collectors will be bidding not only on a Honda NSX, but on a documented piece of Ayrton Senna’s life outside Formula 1.

If the car reaches the upper end of RM Sotheby’s estimate, it could become one of the most expensive Honda NSX examples ever sold—and potentially one of the most historically significant Japanese cars to reach the collector-car market.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

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