Mazda MX-5 coupe: Speculation begins anew

There are a handful of vehicles that we've been forced to do without here in the States, but the one that hurts just a little bit more than the rest is the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe. Back in 2003, Mazda manufactured a handful of the hardtop MX-5s based on the last generation NB platform and kept them on the shores of automaker's homeland. For those of us not particularly partial to convertibles, it was manna from the automotive Gods and we've been praying for years that Mazda would finally see the light and offer a fixed roof variant of the MX-5 in the U.S.

According to Japan's Best Car, Mazda might be considering a comeback based on the current generation (NC) platform, as shown in the rendering above. While it might only be informed speculation on Best Car's part, they maintain that a launch of the coupe could come as early as 2010, which is right before the MX-5 is due for another refresh. It would be a fitting send off for the current car and would finally give those of us who crave a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive coupe a viable alternative to the more expensive offerings from other automakers.

[Source: Best Car via Auto-Otuko]