- The next Miata will stay true to its lightweight recipe.
- Mazda promises to keep curb weight below 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds).
- That would make it lighter than the Miata ND3 soft top currently sold in the US.
Plenty of digital ink has been circulating about the next Miata, although there are no spy photos of the new roadster. The fifth generation is likely still a few years away, but that hasn’t stopped Mazda from discussing the direction its beloved convertible will take. In an interview with Australian media, company officials assured fans that the MX-5 will not betray its heritage as a light sports car.
Talk with GoAutoMazda Global Sales and Marketing General Manager, Manabu Osuga, shared a magic number: “I can tell you that we are sticking to [the design for] a car weighing under a tonne… using our ‘gram strategy’ as we do in the current series.” Weighing less than 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds), this would make the next Miata lighter than the ND3 currently sold in the United States.
In North America, the car currently weighs 2,366 pounds (1,073 kilograms) in its lightest form. However, it is even lighter in some regions where the MX-5 is offered with a tiny 1.5 liter engine. In fact, in the EU market, Mazda sells the roadster exclusively with the smaller engine. Unfortunately, the 2.0-liter unit had to be dropped from the lineup after failing to meet emissions regulations.
Photo by: Chris Rosales / Motor1
Mazda Claims Hybrids Are Still ‘Very Heavy’
Osuga was referring to the soft-top model, as a potential future RF version with an electrically retractable hardtop would certainly incur a weight penalty. Mazda understands the importance of keeping the Miata as light as possible and has therefore ruled out electrification, at least for now.
“I wouldn’t say there isn’t any possibility [for a hybrid version]. But right now, the technology is very heavy, and if we applied it to the MX-5, we wouldn’t satisfy our fans. In the future, when the technology already exists, then we will think about it. But today, the internal combustion engine is the answer [forward].”
This is an interesting statement, considering Mazda is already facing compliance issues with the Miata in the EU market. The 2.0-liter engine disappeared from the continent a few years ago, but perhaps the upcoming Skyactiv-Z unit will make it possible to install an even larger engine. Set to premiere in the CX-5 hybrid in 2027, the engine will be a 2.5-liter engine developed to comply with Euro 7, which comes into effect later this year.
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Source: Chris Rosales / Motor1
Motorcycle Pickup1: Having a larger non-electric engine in the Miata NE will be just what purists will order. Who knows, this car might be able to break the 200-horsepower barrier, after Mazda came close last year with its Japan-only 12R special edition that produced 197 hp.
Mazda has confirmed that the six-speed manual gearbox will continue to be used, setting it up for success, especially with so few competitors to worry about. BMW will retire the more expensive Z4 this year, with no successor in sight. The Toyobaru twins remained coupes only, leaving the MX-5 on its own merits.
