- Mazda hints the next MX-5 could be the last combustion-powered Miata.
- Low weight, a manual gearbox, and NA power remain top priorities.
- Stricter Japanese rules already make today’s MX-5 noticeably quieter.
The Mazda MX-5 has survived changing fashions, shrinking sports car sales and an SUV-obsessed world. But there’s one battle it probably can’t win forever. Mazda has now hinted the next-generation Miata could be the last one powered by a combustion engine before electricity finally takes over.
The suggestion comes from Mazda Australia boss Vinesh Bhindi, who says a visiting company executive confirmed a new MX-5 is definitely on the way, even if nobody’s willing to say exactly when.
Related: The 2027 MX-5 Gains 4 Horsepower In Europe, And Mazda Wants You To Hear Every One
“He also hinted at it possibly being the last ICE (internal combustion engine) version,” Bhindi told Australia’s Car Expert.
Senior Mazda execs have previously admitted the next MX-5 is still years away, despite the current ND generation now entering its twelfth year. Given how long previous generations have remained on sale, its replacement could easily carry the combustion torch well into the 2030s.
Old School By Design
The good news is Mazda doesn’t appear interested in reinventing the Miata while there’s still gasoline in the tank. Company executives have repeatedly stressed that the priorities remain refreshingly old school: keep it light, compact and naturally aspirated. And, perhaps most importantly, keep the manual gearbox option.
Reports suggest the next MX-5 could switch to Mazda’s new naturally aspirated 2.5-liter Skyactiv-Z engine, replacing today’s smaller 2.0-liter unit. It could also gain mild hybrid assistance to meet stricter emissions regulations without adding too much weight.
Ambitious Weight Target
Because weight remains public enemy number one. Mazda wants the next roadster to come in below 1,000 kg (2,205 lbs), an ambitious target considering modern crash standards and the possibility of hybrid hardware. If the engineers can pull that off, it’ll be one of the more impressive feats in the sports car world.
Beyond that, though, the writing seems to be on the wall. If the generation after this one arrives sometime in the mid-2030s, a fully electric MX-5 may no longer be optional due to CO2 legislation in key markets like Europe. Battery technology will almost certainly improve by then, but recreating the featherweight, tossable character that made the Miata famous won’t be easy.
Quieter At Home
We’ve got plenty of years yet before the MX-5 turns into a silent EV, but it is getting quieter in its home market. Tightening Japanese noise regulations have forced Mazda to dial back some of the roadster’s soundtrack, just as Mazda Europe is upping the decibel count on its own MX-5’s. The latest Japanese updates include quieter tires and a larger exhaust silencer, with that chunkier muffler even eating into trunk space on the retractable hardtop RF.
