2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Coming With 181 HP Engine

In March it was reported the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata was set to get a slight bump in power and now more details have surfaced on the Miata’s upgraded four-cylinder engine.

Japanese automotive publication Car Watch recently sampled the Japanese-spec 2019 Miata, confirming rumors the sports car  has been slightly re-engineered for the new model year. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder will receive a number of improvements, including different valve springs, lighter pistons and connecting rods and a larger throttle body, which have helped to raise the redline from 6,800 RPM in the 2018 model year vehicle to 7,500 RPM. This will also come with an increase in power from 167 hp to 181 hp. Rounding out the updates will be a dual mass flywheel and a new muffler with a meaner exhaust note.

Other small changes are also set to arrive, including a telescoping steering wheel (a first for the Miata, surprisingly) and new exterior and interior options. Road & Track reached out to Mazda to comment on whether or not these improvements will be applied to US-spec Miatas, but were told they couldn’t comment on the matter at this time. We’d be very surprised if the US-spec Miata didn’t receive similar changes to the domestic version for 2019, however.

We’ll have full, official details on the 2019 Mazda Miata as soon as they become available.

[Source: Car Watch via Road & Track]

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