Unenviable Position
Developing the next-generation Mazda MX-5 will never be an easy task. However, building one today that’s true to its ethos is something that’s looking more difficult each day. When the original model came out in 1989, it wasn’t bound by a mountain of regulatory hurdles, unlike today.
Of course, the car’s fierce and loyal fanbase wants it to remain light and free of anything that weighs it down. But as Mazda is a volume automaker, simply replicating what it did nearly 40 years ago is nigh-on impossible. Couple that to regulations that are squeezing out combustion power, and we may face a reality that the little roadster could soon become electric.
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An Electric MX-5?
That reality is looming in Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro’s rear-view mirror. Speaking to German publication Auto Motor und Sport, the executive confirmed that the roadster will eventually switch to battery power. But before anyone starts picking up pitchforks, do know that this won’t be happening right away.
Translated from German, Moro said, “The successor must also be ready for a scenario without a combustion engine. The challenge for us is to make the basic structure lighter without using exotic materials like carbon fiber.” From how we understood it, the future MX-5 should, at the very least, be able to accommodate an electric powertrain once the need arises. It probably won’t ride on an EV-only platform, as regulations may change down the line.
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Combustion Power Remains For Now
Moro’s answer doesn’t necessarily mean the next-gen MX-5 will exclusively be battery-powered. After all, Mazda’s technical director, Ryuichi Umeshita, has confirmed that the ‘NE’ model will use the new 2.5-liter SkyActiv-Z engine. However, it remains to be seen if it’ll be a pure combustion setup or will come with some form of hybridization.
With that, fans can breathe a sigh of relief, but the biggest issue remains the weight. Batteries aren’t light, and Mazda is targeting a curb weight below 2,700 lbs. CEO Moro believes it’s possible even without the use of exotic materials.
For reference, the only two-seat electric roadster in the world, the MG Cyberster, tips the scales at 4,079 lbs. Mazda has a lot of weight-saving to do if it wants to keep an electric MX-5 light.
That said, we won’t know the real score until Mazda rolls out the redesigned MX-5. The all-new model isn’t expected until at least 2028, and that’s the optimistic timeline. Given all the regulatory challenges that development is facing at the moment, the current ND MX-5 could hang around until the 2030s.
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