The world debut of the fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata->ke1185 back on September 3rd wasn’t as much a debut as much as it was a “Hey, what’s up, world! This is what I look like” event. It didn’t give us anything more than a look at the MX-5's new body. That would have been fine for any other car, but this is the Miata we’re talking about here. The full details of the sports roadster are expected to be announced at the Paris Motor Show,->ke227 but that didn’t stop the folks over at Motoring Australia from digging deeper and finding out a few things about the fourth-gen MX-5.

A source close to the Australian auto site revealed that the Miata will weigh only 1,020 kg (2,248 pounds), close to 100 kg (220 pounds) less than its predecessor. Unfortunately, the engineering team failed to meet its goal of making the new Miata weight less than 1,000 kg.

Additionally, the third-generation Miata reportedly has more safety and convenience features, including the company’s new MXD Connect infotainment technology->ke1701. A seven-inch color touchscreen will also be a welcome addition, as will the Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation, head restraint-mounted speakers, and LED lighting.

Here’s where things get interesting. According to Motoring, the entry-level model of the fourth-gen Miata will feature a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder, Skyactiv engine that produces 128 horsepower. Torque figures are still being kept under wraps, but if that number is accurate, that’s marginally better than the third-generation model and its entry-level output of 125 ponies. A separate report also indicated that the U.S.-spec Miata will receive a 2.0-liter engine that produces a little over 145 horsepower. Both models will come with a six-speed transmission with the latter available for an upgrade to a dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission.

Ultimately, we won't know if these numbers are accurate until the Paris Motor Show in October 2014, but these reports get us even more excited for the roadster's full debut.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 Mazda MX-5.

Why It Matters

We've been waiting so long to get the details of the fourth-gen Miata. The September 3rd "debut," if you can even call it that, left us with more questions than answers so these reports provide us with enough speculation to keep us on our toes.

I would love for Mazda just to come out and release the details and spare us all this waiting. But it looks like the company's holding off until Paris to do that. C'mon, Mazda!

2016 Mazda MX-5

Enthusiasts regard the Mazda Miata as one of the greatest driver’s cars in the world. That might be an exaggeration for some, but true gearheads will die defending the honor of the MX-5 Miata. The Miata has been around for over 25 years but has only had four generations, including this one. That speaks to the popularity and timeless nature of the sports roadster.

The fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata will remain a rear-wheel-drive compact roadster with an exterior design inspired by the Shinari Concept unveiled earlier this year. With the new generation, Mazda focused on reducing the overall weight by 220 pounds.

The headlights of the MX-5 were also given a makeover as they now carry a distinct up-slanting teardrop shape with LED lighting.

There are no official details yet on how much power the 2016 Miata will have, but reports indicate that the U.S.-spec model will feature a 2.0-liter engine that produces a little over 145 horsepower and mates to a six-speed transmission.