- The next generation Miata will use a larger engine.
- The naturally aspirated 2.5-litre unit is part of the new Skyactiv-Z engine family.
- A Mazda executive suggests that this will be the last MX-5 with a combustion engine.
We’ve written extensively about the next Miata, even though the overhauled roadster isn’t coming in the near future. This is despite the “ND” generation being already more than a decade old. Respectable age is usually a problem in today’s hyper-competitive market, but in the case of the MX-5 it’s actually an asset. Everyone loves a small, lightweight sports car because of its back-to-basics formula, reminiscent of the analog era.
A few months ago, Mazda Europe design director and design boss Joe Stenuit revealed that the new one would take “a few more years” before it hits the market. When this finally happens, it may signal the beginning of the end of the combustion engine. car expert Quoting Mazda Australia CEO Vinesh Bhindi, who reportedly heard from a company executive who visited Down Under a few months ago that the fifth-generation Miata will likely be the last with a gas engine.
“One of the officials who visited us at the beginning of the year said, ‘Yes, there will be a new one. When? We can’t comment.’ He also hinted that it would likely be the last ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) version.
Photo by: Chris Rosales/Motor1
The new Miata will get a bigger engine.
Zoom-Zoom Via various voices from within the company, Mazda has already shared some key details about the “NE” generation. The next MX-5 is expected to use a larger powertrain, namely a 2.5-litre unit from the upcoming Skyactiv-Z engine family. It will remain naturally aspirated and send power to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.
The next Miata is planned to weigh under 1,000 kg (2,204 lb), which will be an impressive feat considering the increasingly long list of mandatory safety features. If the new MX-5 needs to incorporate some form of electrification to comply with stricter emissions regulations, achieving the target curb weight would be downright remarkable. It’s unclear whether a mild hybrid setup is planned, but the “NE” may need some electric assistance to reduce its CO2 level.
The next Miata is unlikely to arrive before 2028
When should we realistically expect a new Miata? The SkyActiv-Z engine will not debut in a production car until late 2027 in the hybrid CX-5. This means the next MX-5 isn’t arriving until 2028 at the earliest. Given the long life cycles of “NC” and “ND”, the new one may last until the 2030s.
However, we are cautious about its future in Europe, given how carmakers operating in the EU region must cut their CO2 Emissions by 90 percent by 2035 compared to 2021 levels. Hopefully, Mazda can work the math in the Miata’s favor and keep it alive on the continent. That said, there is currently a lack of EVs needed to balance out the higher emissions from gas cars.
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Source: Mazda
Motor1’s Opinion: Even if the next-generation Miata does go fully electric at some point, it’s unlikely to happen in the next 10 to 15 years. This leaves enthusiasts with plenty of time to buy one, while still having a combustion engine under the hood.
Mazda has vowed to keep the traditional recipe alive for the fifth-generation model, with the good days coming before the bad times inevitably follow.
