New Mazda MX-5 Miata To Get Bigger Engine And Maybe EV Spec

Mazda’s MX-5 Miata is by far the biggest selling roadster on the planet, boasting well over 1.2 million units sold since 1989. Having already gone through four generations, Mazda’s chief designer Masashi Nakayama, confirmed recently in a Road & Track interview that he is now sculpting the exterior of the brand’s fifth generation model—which will most probably be called the NE model.

But before we progress too far into this story, I think it’s important to let our readers know that Mazda’s top executives all compete in endurance races in Japan piloting a race-spec MX-5, which is a lot more hands on than most other local carmakers, except maybe Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda who also competes in road racing and rallying. These guys are passionate about what they do and it shows in their cars. Mazda executives like Nakayama, and his colleagues including CEO Masahiro Moro, chief technical officer (CTO) Ryuichi Umeshita and former design chief Ikuo Maeda all take turns behind the wheel of an MX-5 in the annual 4-hour endurance race at Tsukuba Circuit.

MX-5 to get larger engine while EV version is on cards

Now back to the car’s design. Apart from the new design, which is expected to be an evolution of the current model, not a revolution, we can expect to see the next-gen get a choice of a larger Skyactiv-Z 2.5-liter internal combustion engined (ICE) version with the same power output as the current 181-hp 2.0 liter, and an optional fully electric model, that would probably arrive a year after the ICE model. No turbo model is being considered.

“The U.S. requested that the car be larger and have more power when I began designing this fourth generation,” he says. I remember when Mazda were designing the 2nd generation back in the 90s, and the design department in those days said exactly the same thing about American requests. “They want it bigger, with more power.” Didn’t happen. To Mazda, that’s not what a Miata is.

It’s all about staying small and lightweight

From the very first generation way back in 1989, the car landed in showrooms with the catchphrase “lightweight sports” and “Jimba Ittai” which means ‘car and driver as one.’ To keep costs and emissions down, the car had to remain small and lightweight. Mazda has endeavored to follow that mantra over the last 35 years, and although the third generation, launched in 2005, did put on weight, the 4th generation ‘ND’ model went on a diet and reverted back towards the original model’s 1000 kg (2200 lb) mark.

And then came the most critical comment so far. “When we consider the next-generation MX-5 Miata, we are thinking of making it less than one tonne in weight, and less than four meters in length,” said Nakayama.

That’s around 2200 pounds and 157 inches in length, which almost mimics the current model’s 154 inches. These are definitive numbers pointing the way to a leaner, lighter next ND-gen 2.0-liter Miata, which makes it over 100 pounds lighter than the current 2330 pound ND-gen model. And because of this philosophy, the new coupe will continue to employ natural aspiration and won’t require more power.

Mazda’s CTO is happy with the car’s current output

Meanwhile, CTO Ryuichi Umeshita asserts that the power-to-weight ratio is sufficient at the moment. “Since we can currently fully utilise and enjoy the engine’s capability and capacity, we don’t believe the car needs any more power. And expect the car to keep its 6-speed manual gearbox.” These are all reasons why the MX-5 has, in the past, won Britain’s Top Gear Car of the Year award.

While Nakayama is finalizing the 5th-gen’s exterior and Umeshita is deciding on which powertrains to employ, don’t expect to see the new model in showrooms any time before 2027.

The bottom line to Umeshita is the car’s subtle yet spritely performance. It is by no means a powerful car, but by efficiently and cleverly using the 2.0-liter engine at higher revs, drivers can enjoy the car’s potential without breaking speeding limits.

Umeshita also tells us that Mazda has thought about producing an electric MX-5. A few years ago, Japanese publications suggested that the next MX-5 would be powered by batteries, but the company decided to stick with gasoline for the time being, to keep weight down. While Mazda currently has one EV, the MX-30 SUV, it is not a big seller, one reason that is sure to delay any potential electric MX-5. A hybrid version was also rumored, but its extra weight in the motor and battery pack would nullify the structural adjustments to minimize weight. So the hybrid is currently shelved.

Although a prototype has not yet been spied testing, it has been suggested that the Iconic SP sports car concept, which debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2023, may serve as a design preview. Fingers crossed that Mazda utilize the SP’s gorgeous proportions.

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