While the rest of the automotive industry is frantically cramming heavy hybrid batteries into their sports cars, Mazda is firmly drawing a line in the sand. If you were worried that the upcoming NE-generation MX-5 Miata was going to fall victim to the electric revolution, you can officially breathe a massive sigh of relief.
Mazda has officially confirmed that its iconic roadster will remain petrol-powered in its next generation, expected to arrive around 2027. Countering widespread rumors that the new Miata would feature some form of electrification to appease tightening emissions standards, the Japanese marque is doubling down on the formula that made the car a legend in the first place.
Heavy Batteries Kill the Fun
Manabu Osuga, Mazda Motor Corporation’s general manager of global sales and marketing, recently put the EV rumors to rest in an interview with GoAuto.com. He explained that while global environmental and safety regulations are getting tougher, those don’t necessarily correlate to a car designed for “pure fun.”
For Mazda, preserving the MX-5’s legendary handling means ruthlessly cutting weight. Osuga confirmed the engineering team is still employing its famous “gram strategy” to ensure the new car remains under one metric tonne (roughly 2,200 pounds).
“I am not going to say there isn’t any possibility [that we will look at electrification in the future]. But right now, that technology is very heavy, and if we apply that to the MX-5, we will not satisfy our fans,” Osuga explained.
“Eventually, in the future, if the technology is there, then we will think about it. But at this moment, the internal combustion engine is the way forward,” he concluded.
Saving the Manuals (and Adding Displacement!)
So, how is Mazda keeping the internal combustion engine alive without breaking strict new emissions laws? By getting creative under the hood. Mazda Chief Technical Officer Ryuichi Umeshita recently told Road & Track that the next-generation roadster will feature a naturally aspirated petrol engine and, crucially, a manual transmission.
To pass ultra-tough emissions standards like California’s LEV IV and Europe’s Euro 7, Mazda is utilizing its new Skyactiv Z compression-ignition/lean-burn engine. This engine runs in a highly efficient Lambda:1 condition to drastically cut emissions.
Normally, running an engine that lean kills its power output. To prevent the Miata from feeling sluggish, Mazda is actually increasing the engine displacement to a beefy 2.5 liters. This brilliant engineering hack ensures the car stays clean while giving buyers the added firepower they’ve been begging for.
And yes, the stick shift is staying. Umeshita added that despite industry pressure to drop manual gearboxes to meet emissions targets, the manual transmission provides the direct feeling of Jinba Ittai, Mazda’s philosophy of the unity of car and driver. According to the CTO, the manual is “key for the package.”
“We really care about the power-to-weight ratio of this car, and about the balance that fundamental concept offers,” Osuga said. “We will never let go of that.”
