The goal was to return the Mazda MX-5 Miata to its humble lightweight 1989 origins. Mazda engineers spent thousands of working hours trying to make this happen, using all of their know- how and the best technologies available. A 2,000 pound curb weight was the ultimate prize. Did this happen? Not quite, but the results are still mighty impressive. Mazda has just announced that the new 2016 MX-5 Miata, when equipped with a manual transmission, has a total curb weight of 2,332 pounds.

Opt for the automatic gearbox and that weight increases to 2,381 pounds. Still, Mazda is claiming the new MX-5 is down by an average of about 150 pounds compared to its immediate predecessor. However, the lightest 2016 MX-5 has a power-to-weight ratio of 0.066 hp-per-pound. That's actually slightly worse than the 2015 car, 0.067 hp-per-pound. Is the little roadster's weight loss as dramatic as you'd hoped? Just for the record, the Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S, the MX-5's main and really only rivals, has a curb weight of at least 2,758 pounds. Point being, the 2016 MX-5 is still what a proper roadster ought to be.