Next-generation Mazda MX-5 is being engineered for future electric propulsion.
Lightweight construction remains Mazda’s primary development objective.
Mazda is considering a flagship sports car above the MX-5.
Mazda has confirmed that the next-generation MX-5 is being developed with the flexibility to accommodate electric propulsion. In other words, the iconic roadster is being prepared for tightening global emissions regulations without impacting its longstanding emphasis on lightweight performance.
Mazda President and CEO Masahiro Moro said the successor to the current MX-5 must be future-proof where internal combustion engines may no longer be commercially viable in some markets because of regulatory requirements.
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Rather than relying on expensive materials such as carbon fibre, Mazda engineers are focusing on reducing the weight of the vehicle’s underlying structure through conventional manufacturing methods. The development target is a curb weight between just under 1,000 kg and 1,200 kg, despite the additional challenges associated with EV technology.
If these objectives are achieved, an electric MX-5 could be close in weight to today’s gasoline-powered model. The current European-specification MX-5 weighs approximately 1,003 kg, 1,076 kg in North America (GS soft-top), making it one of the lightest sports cars currently on sale.
Electrification is not expected to replace combustion power immediately. Mazda is also preparing its next-generation Skyactiv-Z 2.5L four-cylinder engine for future applications, and the upcoming MX-5 is widely expected to get its own version. Hybrid technology also remains under consideration, provided it does not compromise the vehicle’s lightweight character. Expectations suggest output could reach approximately 220 hp, representing a notable increase over the current North American-market MX-5’s 181 hp.
The next MX-5 will likely not arrive before 2028, meaning the ND generation, which debuted globally in 2015, will have matured quite a bit. Recent concept vehicles, including Mazda’s Iconic SP, have also provided insight into the company’s evolving sports car design direction.
Beyond the MX-5, Mazda is evaluating the addition of a flagship sports car positioned above its iconic roadster. Moro said he would like the company to introduce a halo model that fully represents Mazda’s engineering philosophy and brand identity. An RX-7 (not quite RX-8) replacement.
According to Moro, the MX-5 will continue serving buyers seeking an accessible driver’s car, while a future flagship would occupy a more exclusive hand-built craftsmanship position in the lineup.
Source: Carscoops
