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Mazda MX-5 SE

2004 Mazda MX-5 SE
Mazda MX-5 SE


18th March, 2004


Offering more performance, a sharper drive and aggressive looks, the turbocharged MX-5 SE at $45,490 delivers unbeatable sports car value.

On sale from this month, the SE joins the normally aspirated six-speed manual and four-speed automatic MX-5 models.

The SE represents the biggest mechanical change to the iconic MX-5 in years, yet it stays true to the original lightweight, pure-bred sports car formula that has seen 700,000 MX-5s sold worldwide. Since late 1989 almost 10,500 MX-5s have been sold locally.

The SE features significant mechanical improvements, including for the first time on an MX-5 in Australia, 17-inch alloy wheels and 205/40R17 unidirectional tyres and a torque-sensing limited slip differential.

Its performance boost, which exploits the car’s class-leading dynamics, comes from a torque-tuned turbocharged and intercooled engine.

The six-speed manual MX-5 SE also boasts a body kit, a large exhaust pipe and coloured brake calipers. The body kit includes a new front spoiler incorporating a more prominent air intake and recessed fog lamps, a boot spoiler and rear under spoiler.

Inside, the interior also features a number of luxury features and can be optioned with leather trim for just $1000.

Fitted with a single-scroll turbocharger with 7.25psi maximum boost and an air-to-air intercooler, the 1.8-litre DOHC engine delivers a broad, strong torque band and more power, while a retuned main exhaust muffler reduces unwanted noise while producing a more sporty exhaust note.

The turbocharged engine develops 121kW (ECE) at 6000rpm – 14 per cent more than the standard car with the peak 1000rpm below the non-turbo engine – and 206Nm at 4500rpm, almost 23 per cent more than standard and peaking 500rpm earlier.

The SE is expected to reduce the 0-100kmh time from 8.4 seconds for the non-turbo model to about 7.8 seconds.

The managing director of Mazda Australia, Malcolm Gough, said: “The MX-5 SE adds a new and very exciting dimension to the world’s best-selling sports car and offers enthusiasts the only affordable, high performance, turbocharged, rear-drive sports car on the market. The SE’s enhanced dynamic package, underpinned by a user-friendly torquey engine, will further demonstrate why the MX-5 has earned its icon sports car status. It offers an unrivalled driving experience and great value”.

Allan Horsley, Mazda motorsport manager and responsible for the 100, locally built, turbocharged MX-5 SPs that sold during 2002 for $55,540, said: “The MX-5 SE is a great all-round package, offering a significant performance increase and impressive improvements in handling, grip and steering".

Other driveline changes introduced with the MX-5 SE include a more efficient radiator, an upgraded clutch, propeller shaft and differential, and harder rubber is used for the engine and differential mounts.

The MX-5’s acclaimed four-wheel double wishbone suspension has been retuned for the SE with modified Bilstein shock absorbers and coil springs now 20 per cent stiffer, ensuring great handling and a controlled ride.

The MX-5 SE rides 7mm lower than the standard car and has new anti-roll bars fitted, with the front bar increasing by 1mm and the rear by 2mm.

Driver’s will also appreciate the SE’s quicker steering with the power rack and pinion system having 2.3 turns lock-to-lock compared with 2.7 turns for the standard car.

An ABS anti-lock system controls the standard ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes.

The SE’s cabin has a number of luxury touches including stainless steel scuff plates and the centre dash features a swirl alloy finish. An alloy look has also been added to the air vents, door handles and gearbox surround.

All MX-5s now feature a larger wind deflector for more comfortable open-top cruising with the deflector also housing two rear speakers boosting the number of speakers to six. The SE also features drilled aluminium pedals.

The seat fabric is new and boasts a striking red seat insert, a theme that is repeated on the doors. The optional leather trim is black, highlighted by red stitching, with the stitching also appearing on the shift knob and parking brake lever.

Other standard equipment includes dual airbags, six-stack CD player, power windows and mirrors, folding roof with a glass rear window and demister, remote central locking and seatbelt pretensioners with load limiters.

The MX-5 SE will be available in three metallic colours – Velocity Red (an exclusive SE colour), Titanium Grey or Sunlight Silver.

Standard MX-5 models received an upgrade late last year that brought new-look 16-inch alloy wheels and interior improvements. The manual has 107kW (ECE) at 7000rpm and 168Nm at 5000rpm.

The non-SE six-speed manual is priced from $40,530 and the automatic $42,030.

Mazda Australia expects to sell about 70 MX-5s a month split between 50 SEs and 20 non turbos.

The MX-5 SE and standard MX-5s, are built in Japan and are protected by a comprehensive 3-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.

  
MX-5
MX-5 SE
Specifications   
Engine   
Engine type  1.8 litre 4 cylinder in-line 16V DOHC 1.8 litre 4 cylinder in-line 16V DOHC
   with Sequential Valve Timing (S-VT) with intercooled turbocharger
Engine capacity cc 1,839 1,839
Bore and stroke mm 83.0 x 85.0 83.0 x 85.0
Compression ratio  10.0 : 1 9.5 : 1
Maximum power   
man kW 107 @ 7,000rpm 121 @ 6,000rpm
auto kW 102 @ 6,500rpm -
Maximum torque   
man Nm 168 @ 5,000rpm 206 @ 4,500rpm
auto Nm 170 @ 5,000rpm -
Fuel system 
Electronic fuel injection with knock sensor 
Fuel tank capacity litres
48 
Fuel consumption man (combined ADR 81/01)  
  l/100km 8.9 9.1
  auto (combined ADR 81/01)  
  l/100km 9.5 -
Recommended fuel   Premium unleaded Premium unleaded
Transmission Ratios   
1st man/auto 3.760 / 2.450 3.760 / -
2nd   2.269 / 1.450 2.269 / -
3rd   1.645 / 1.000 1.645 / -
4th   1.257 / 0.730 1.258 / -
5th   1.000 / - 1.000 / -
6th   0.843 / - 0.843 / -
Reverse   3.564 / 2.222 3.564 / -
Final drive   3.636 / 4.100 3.636 / -
Chassis and Suspension   
Brake type front
Ventilated disc 
  rear
Solid disc 
Suspension front & rear Independent double wishbone with coil springs, cylindrical double acting shock absorbers (Bilstein on SE model) and torsion bar stabilisers 
Steering  Power assisted (engine revolution sensing) rack and pinion 
Turning circle   
kerb to kerb m 9.2 10.4
lock to lock  2.7 2.3
Tyres man 205/45 R16 83W 205/40 R17 80W
  auto 195/50 R15 82V -
Wheels man 16 x 6.5 JJ (Alloy) 17 x 7.0 J (Alloy)
  auto 15 x 6.0 JJ (Alloy) -
Spare tyre/wheel Space saver  
Dimensions   
Overall length mm 3,975 3,983
Overall width mm 1,680 1,680
Overall height mm 1,225 1,225
Wheelbase mm 2,265 2,265
Ground clearance   
unladen mm 130 123
Track   
front mm 1,415 1,415
rear mm 1,440 1,440
Kerb weight   
man kg 1,086 1,122
auto kg 1,081 -

 
MX-5
MX-5 SE
Features
 
 
Transmission
 
 
6-speed manual
std
std
4-speed automatic
opt
-
Exterior
 
 
Alloy wheels
std
std
Soft top with rear glass window
 
 
and electric demister
std
std
Detachable hard top
 
 
with electric demister
opt
opt
Body coloured power mirrors
std
std
Power windows
std
std
Body kit including:
 
 
front bumper (skirt)
-
std
rear bumper (skirt)
-
std
rear boot spoiler
-
std
Coloured brake calipers
-
std
Chrome exhaust extension
std
std
Front suspension strut tower
 
 
brace bar (manual transmission only)
std
std
Body coloured front and rear bumpers
std
std
Power aerial
std
std
Instrumentation
 
 
Tachometer, temperature gauge
 
 
and electronic odometer
std
std
Low fuel warning light
std
std
Oil pressure gauge
std
std
Critical function warning lights/chimes
std
std
Lights
 
 
Halogen headlamps
std
std
Front fog-lamps
std
std
Interior dome lamp
std
std
Cargo room lamp
std
std
Instrument panel light dimmer
std
std
Interior
 
 
Audio system with:
 
 
AM/FM digital tuner
std
std
CD player, single disc
std
-
CD player, in-dash 6-disc
-
std
speakers, number of
6
6
Digital clock inc. in audio system
std
std
Front 2-speed wipers with intermittent function
std
std
Cloth 'sports' bucket seats and door inserts
std
std
Leather 'sports' bucket seats
-
opt
Front seats with:
 
 
rake and slide adjustment
std
std
integral head restraints
std
std
passenger's side seat back pocket
std
std
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
std
std
Leather-wrapped gear shift knob
 
 
(manual transmission only)
std
std
Leather-wrapped handbrake handle
-
std
Stainless steel scuff plates
-
std
Drilled aluminium pedals and footrest
-
std
Front door map pockets (driver and passenger)
std
std
Driver's side vanity mirror
std
std
Lockable glove box
std
std
Remote boot and fuel releases
 
 
housed in lockable centre console
std
std
'Windblocker' aero board
std
std
Driver's left footrest
std
std
Cupholders
std
std
Safety and Theft Prevention
 
 
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
std
std
Torque-sensing Limited-Slip Differential (LSD)
-
std
Front SRS airbags (driver and passenger)
std
std
3 point ELR seat-belts with pretensioners
 
 
and load-limiters
std
std
Collapsible steering column
std
std
Driver's power window - one touch (down only)
std
std
Remote operated central locking
 
 
and boot release (2 transmitters)
std
std
Engine immobiliser
std
std
Day/night rear vision mirror
std
std
High backed bucket seats
std
std
High mount stop lamp
std
std
Side impact door beams
std
std
Front and rear crumple zones
std
std







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