Interior in Alcantara essential for the NM+ by Gorgona Carsin the exclusive setting of the Milano Monza Open-Air Motor Show 2023.
Gorgona Cars unveil the new NM+, which aims to be the quintessence of the two-seater barchetta concept. And which represents an evolution of the NM Concept, presented in September 2022.
Essential Alcantara interiors for the NM+ by Gorgona Cars, source Alcantara press office
NM+ by Gorgona Cars with Alcantara interior
The NM+ (the “+” indicates the two-seater cabin) is made from a Mazda MX-5 NA completely restored, modernized in the mechanics, perfected in the frame and in the components, as well as finished with exclusive materials. A light and powerful speedster, faithful to the mechanical architecture of the original model – made up of a four-cylinder front engine, manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive – and designed to enhance pure analogue driving pleasure.
Under the bodywork, slender and tapered, is the Skyactiv-G engine of the latest generation MX-5, the most efficient and high-performance naturally aspirated 2-litre power unit ever produced by Mazda. Derive from MX-5 ND also transmission with 6-speed manual gearboxthe self-locking rear differential and the PPF, the aluminum cross member that acts as the backbone of the entire powertrain.
Entirely redesigned body superstructures
From the very beginning of its conception, the NM was conceived to be offered in two versions: a single-seater, more extreme; and a two-seater, more usable. Simultaneously with the creation of the NM+, all the superstructures of the vehicle – the cockpit tonneau cover, the front fairings and the aerodynamic humps behind the seats – have been entirely redesigned and lightened.
The new NM+ body add-ons are now made of carbon fiber and, thanks in part to their optimized design, weigh around half of the glass-fibre add-ons seen on the NM concept. The rear humps in particular have been reshaped to be more streamlined and aerodynamic.
Essential Alcantara interiors for the NM+ by Gorgona Cars, source Alcantara press office
The tonneau cover of the passenger compartment now incorporates the fairing inside which the instrumentation is set: the driver and passenger areas are separated by a central bridge which ideally allows for two distinct living cells and which helps to shield the passenger compartment from turbulence, as well as being suitable for any type of customization (the modular construction of the superstructure, however, allows you to choose the vehicle without the central bridge). The front fairing has also been redesigned, now more protective and can be integrated with a transparent aero-screen, for maximum protection from the wind.
The design of the aforementioned superstructures involved talented automotive companies from Turin: among them are SPEED, a company active in the fields of product design and engineering services, Huron, engaged in the field of cnc milling and 3d printing, and Jm, which created the components in composite material with which the NM+ is equipped.
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Lightness and strength above all
The NM+ boasts a much stiffer chassis than the to that of the starting car: most of the credit goes to the new “brancardo alto”, whose upper edge reaches about half the height of the original door, allowing for a tub-shaped passenger cell. The safety of passengers also benefits from this, as they are better protected in the event of a side impact. The new sill high meant it was necessary to modify the geometry of the original doors, which are now smaller and lighter.
While to protect the passengers in the event of a rollover there is a rollbar built with motorsport criteria, hidden under the aerodynamic humps and with the function of stiffening the entire rear axle. Furthermore, new, particularly robust steel side members are welded under the floor of the car, incorporating the original ones. As on racing cars, then, the various portions of the frame have weldings of
additional reinforcement. Added to all this are the front and rear reinforcing bars. The aforementioned modifications to the chassis allow the NM+ to have almost double the torsional stiffness compared to the original MX-5 NA.
Interior in Alcantara essential for the NM+ by Gorgona Cars
Redesigned fluid dynamics and perfect weight balance
In its front portion, the rigid tonneau cover folds downwards, ideally disappearing under the front aluminum bonnet, creating a semi-lunar-shaped slot: this element has the technical function of extracting the air coming from the faired engine compartment, part of the flat bottom with which the car is equipped and which ends with a rear extractor.
Furthermore, through the window obtained in the front firewall, the semi-lunar opening allows you to see the 2.0 Skyactiv-G 4-cylinder engine, installed in a particularly rearward position to favor an optimal weight balance between the two axles and high-level driving dynamics. The front splitter and the tapered side rear-view mirrors contribute to giving a touch of sportiness and modernity to the whole. The rear hood with integrated nolder, on the other hand, gives momentum to the side silhouette.
Essentiality as added value
All the originally chromed bodywork details, as well as many of the interior ones, are in black, to the advantage of visual contemporaneity. The light alloy wheels on which the NM+ rests are the very light and iconic Enkei RPF1 da 15”gummed with Yokohama A052 tyres, to the extent of 205/55. The technical equipment includes a specific sports set-up, adjustable in rebound and compression, and a new braking system.
Interiors? No radio, climate control or other frills; only the monocoque seats of the Portuguese remain LusoMotors RCCmodern and very light, the flyer by momo with a small diameter, the instruments – set between the front fairing and the rigid tonneau cover –, pedals, gearshift and handbrake. Dashboard, door panels and seat cushions are covered with Alcantara: this precious material, excellence of Made in Italy, it was chosen for its well-known durability, for its pleasant tactile effect and for its intrinsic lightness.