2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Shows Off Perfect 50/50 Weight Balance

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Posted by Nicole Wakelin

 

The 4th generation 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata made its debut earlier this year in Monterey, California, with a live-streamed event broadcast across the globe. It received a whole new design that follows the cues set by the rest of the Mazda lineup while still looking like an MX-5.

 

It also maintained its perfect 50/50 weight distribution while coming in at tipping the scales at only 2,332 pounds. The design team focused on reducing weight through what they called a “gram strategy” that looked at everything on the car to see if even the smallest savings could be achieved.

 

The Mazda team decided to show off the car’s perfect balance in this video which features commentary by engineer Dave Coleman and MX-5 program manager Rod McLaughlin. They took their new pride and joy and stuck it on an aluminum balance beam to see if the car would stay perfectly centered with a man in the driver’s seat.

It’s a fairly complicated stunt. Even though you know it’s going to work (or they wouldn’t have been showing this video), you’ll still hold your breath a little as the guys walk away from the balance beam and leave the car on its own. Bet the guy in the driver’s seat was holding his breath, too.




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