Mazda will have a special treat for visitors at next weekend’s Goodwood Festival Speed as the Japanese carmaker will debut its road legal 205hp MX-5 GT Concept that will not only go on display at its stand, but will also take part in the hillclimb in the ‘First Glance’ category.
The new concept model has been inspired by Mazda’s MX-5 GT race programme with the automaker stating that its debut at Goodwood is “to test customer reaction to a high performance version of the iconic sportscar.”
Built by race specialists Jota Sport, the MX-5 GT is based on the hardtop Roadster Coupe model with its styling partially resembling the MX-5 Super20 displayed at last year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas.
It is finished in a deep orange hue with contrasting black details including the hard top, wheel arches, mirrors and the lower sections of the car.
Aerodynamic enhancements come in the form of a prominent carbon fiber front splitter, a rear diffuser and boot spoiler, while the GT rides on black alloy wheels shod in performance tires from Falken.
Unlike the supercharged MX-5 Super20, the GT Concept makes do with a revised version of the normally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine linked to the car’s standard manual gearbox. Mazda tells us that output has been boosted by 47hp, from 158hp (161PS) to 205hp (208PS).
The GT’s suspension has been uprated to improve handling and is adjustable for different track conditions, while there’s also a new and more sonorous sports exhaust system with two central tailpipes.
The interior of the car has been fitted with Recaro seats and also features a number of carbon enhancements to reduce weight.
Mazda says that for customers who want to buy the car for track use, it comes equipped with road slicks and body-coloured roll hoops behind the seats.
The MX-5 GT Concept will be joined at Goodwood by the Takeri sedan concept as well as the Jota Sport Mazda MX-5 GT4, which competes in the 2012 British GT Championship and is billed as the “world’s fastest and most powerful MX-5” with a top speed of 160mph (257km/h) and a 0-60mph (96km/h) time of just three seconds. The latter will participate in the famed Goodwood hill climb race.
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