Mazda MX-5 Superlight at Frankfurt

The Mazda MX-5 has, by any measure, been a huge success for Mazda. Born 20 years ago (the Mazda MX-5 20th Anniversary model has just been released in Japan), the MX-5 is the best selling roadster of all time, with sales of over 850,000 in the last 20 years.

And it’s achieved its success by being faithful to its origins. It has stayed a small, light, nimble and fun little car. It hasn’t got big and bloated and been boosted by endless power upgrades or sullied by the latest high-tech. That’s why it’s has remained at the top for so long, and long may it be so.

But with such a success Mazda can’t resist the temptation of seeing what it can do with the MX-5. Thankfully, it hasn’t shoved a great big engine in and added loads of kit to weigh the MX-5 down. Instead, it’s taken the light and nimble ethos of the MX-5 to the extreme, and created the Mazda MX-5 Superlight.

The Superlight does exactly what it says on the box – it’s been lightened by Mazda to produce an MX-5 that offers better performance, better handling, improved economy and lowered emissions. Designed by Mazda’s studio in Oberursel, Germany, the MX-5 Superlight has no windscreen and a tweaked and sorted chassis for even more driving fun.

Mazda are saying that the MX-5 Superlight is just a show car; a concept. But it does raise the prospect of a limited edition MX-5 Superlight if it’s well-received.

It will be.