The engine employs an L-Jetronic fuel injection system and a camshaft angle sensor instead of a distributor. Adding 37 kg 82 lb to the weight of a comparable model with soft top, the hard top takes 12 seconds to raise or lower; in a departure from the competition, it does not take any of the existing trunk space when folded down. Car and Driver magazine and numerous owners confirmed the missing power, and Mazda was forced to offer to buy back the 2001 cars due to those misleading power claims. The body is a conventional, but very light, unibody shell. A 6-speed automatic transmission, with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, is optional.
The base weight increased to 990 kg 2180 lb. . Performance was improved slightly, the additional power being partly offset by the extra weight. By the early 1980s, roadsters had all but vanished from the market, sacrificed to the increasing safety and anti-pollution regulations everywhere. For Europe, two engines are offered: the same 2. Technologies like traction control and stability control were added to increase driveability.
Other features included a special suspension, upgraded transmission and clutch assemblies, upgraded drivetrain components, Racing Hart 17-inch wheels, special interior trim, and special exterior paint. The upgraded tires and suspension allowed the new model to pull 0. Power output of the new engine was quoted at 105 kW 140 hp with 119 ft·lbf 161 N·m of torque. Inducing oversteer is easy and very controllable. The Duo 101 design, so named as either a soft-top or hard-top could be used, incorporated many key stylistic cues inspired by the Lotus Elan, a 1960s roadster widely considered as one of the best-handling sports cars of its day.
The project was moved to Japan for final engineering details and production issues to be decided. The exterior styling harkens back to the original design while adopting a clean, more muscular profile. Overall dimensions were 3970 mm 156. Standard transmission was 5-speed manual. The new generation was slightly more aerodynamic than the original, with a Cd figure of 0. The intake cam was changed to a solid lifter design with a stronger cam.
Still in the 2004 model year, a division of Mazda in Japan produced a limited run of 350 Roadster Coupés with an integral hardtop roof, effectively making this a coupé instead of a roadster. The intake and exhaust system also received a minor upgrade. After some minor changes in the design, the project received final approval on January 18, 1986 and the car was now codenamed P729. It comes with a longitudinally mounted four cylinder engine coupled to a manual transmission an automatic transmission is available as an option. No Roadster Coupes were exported outside Japan.
Designs were presented on paper. An optional hardtop was made available at the same time, in reinforced engineering plastic. This lower-powered model did not receive all the additional chassis bracing of the new 1. With the minimum of options, the 2001 model weighed 1065 kg 2350 lb. In Japan, the car was not badged as a Mazda, as the company was experimenting with the creation of different marques for deluxe models, similar to Nissan's Infiniti and Toyota's Lexus.
The body structure was reworked to incorporate the roof for a substantial increase in chassis rigidity and a weight increase of 10 kg 22 lb. In the United States, Mazda erroneously quoted the power figure for the Japanese and Australian model in early catalogues. It was built with a fiberglass body, a 1. The new car had grown slightly in width compared to the earlier model with dimensions: length 3955 mm 155. The body was strengthened, gaining 16% in bending rigidity and 22% in torsional rigidity. Traction control is an option available on some models. The upgraded engine was rated at 157 kW 201 hp.
Drag coefficient was indicated as 0. The driveline, braking, suspension and engine internals remained standard. Despite the success in maintaining enough external similarities, the third generation shares no components with the second generation, except for the side-panel turning-lights on the European-spec models. The seats were also upgraded, incorporating more support in the side bolsters, and taller headrests. The prototype was completed in August 1985.