And it’ll have to; MX-5s typically last on sale for a good eight to nine years. Are you a fan of the look? Sound off in our comments below. Unveiled at simultaneous events in Barcelona, Monterey in California and Tokyo, the new MX-5 is the most significant relaunch in the roadster’s history, says Mazda. They’re keen to hark back to the simplicity of the smash-hit original. Sounds good to us. Even better news is that it’s the smallest MX-5 yet and at 3915mm long, it’s now truly supermini compact. It’s 105mm shorter than the Mk3 and 20mm lower to the ground, giving it a low-slung, road-hugging stance. It’s a centimetre wider, too, making the two-seater convertible look planted. The overhangs front and rear shrink by a good 90mm, having the effect of pushing the axles towards the extremities. MK4 IS LIGHTER THAN MK3 The shrinkage combines with the use of lightweight aluminium for the bonnet, boot lid and bumper assemblies front and rear to trim the kerbweight. Good news indeed, Mazda claiming a 100kg drop model-for-model from the outgoing 2005 car. That suggests a kerbweight around 1050kg. No official weight is issued yet, but it’s not quite as light as the 995kg Mk1. Clearly, this modest weight reduction should benefit, well, just about everything, really. Handling, performance, economy and emissions should all improve by lugging around less unnecessary heft. It’s all part of the company’s Gram Strategy, which we heard much about on the previous MX-5 launched nine years ago. Engineers scrupulously went through the rear-drive architecture, shaving grammes here, redesigning nodes there. ITS SPORTS CAR CROWN? The omens are good. As well as reducing weight overall, Mazda says it has concentrated the bulk as near as possible in the middle of the car. Weight balance is claimed to be 50:50 front:rear and as much of that mass is pushed towards the centre of the car.